What a family lawyer salary looks like on the Australian salary index

Family lawyer salary: where it sits on the Australian salary index

When you search for "family lawyer salary" in Australia, you won't find a single official figure pinned to a modern award. Unlike a legal clerk or a graduate lawyer, a qualified family lawyer is not classified under the Legal Services Award 2020. That award sets minimum rates for legal clerical and administrative employees, law graduates, and law clerks—roles that support legal work but are not the practising solicitor. So where does a family lawyer’s pay land on the Salary Index scale?

The award floor is not the family lawyer floor

The Legal Services Award 2020 (MA000116) gives us a useful baseline for legal support roles. From 1 July 2026, a Law Clerk at Level 6 earns a minimum of $1,369.20 per week, or $36.03 per hour. That annualises to about $71,198 before tax and super. On the index, that’s roughly 66—well below the national line of 100. A Law Graduate at Level 5 earns $1,291.80 per week (index about 62). These are the award minima, but a family lawyer with a practising certificate is not covered by these classifications. Their salary is set by market forces, enterprise agreements, or individual contracts.

Using the industry index as a guide

Family lawyers work in the Professional, Scientific and Technical Services sector. According to the industries page, that sector has an index of 114.7. That means average full-time ordinary-time earnings in that sector are about 14.7% above the national line. If the national line is $108,352 per year (index 100), the sector average is roughly $124,000. That is a broad average—it includes engineers, accountants, architects, and all sorts of professionals. A family lawyer early in their career might earn less; a partner in a boutique family law firm could earn much more.

State differences matter

Where you practise as a family lawyer affects your pay. The states page shows that the ACT has an index of 109.9, Western Australia 106.9, and New South Wales 101.2. Victoria and Queensland sit just below the national line at 98 and 97.9 respectively. A family lawyer in Canberra or Perth might command a higher salary to match the local cost of living and demand. In Tasmania, the state index is 88.6, so family lawyer salaries there may be lower on average. These state indices are for all full-time workers, but they give a rough sense of regional pay differences.

How the salary index works for family lawyers

The how the index works page explains that the index is your yearly gross ordinary-time earnings divided by the national line ($108,352) times 100. So if you earn $120,000 as a family lawyer, your index is about 111. If you earn $150,000, it’s about 138. If you earn $90,000, it’s about 83. The index lets you compare your pay to the national benchmark regardless of inflation or year.

What affects a family lawyer’s pay?

Several factors push a family lawyer’s salary up or down:

• Experience: A graduate solicitor might start around $70,000–$80,000 (index 65–74). After five years, that can rise to $100,000–$130,000 (index 92–120). Senior associates and partners can exceed $200,000 (index 185+).
• Firm size: Large national firms tend to pay more than small suburban practices. Community legal centres pay less but offer other benefits.
• Location: As noted, state indices vary. A family lawyer in Sydney may earn more than one in Hobart, but the cost of living also differs.
• Specialisation: Family lawyers who handle complex property settlements, international parenting disputes, or high-net-worth divorces often earn premium rates.
• Billable hours: Many family lawyers are paid a base salary plus bonus tied to billable hours. This can significantly boost total remuneration.

Superannuation and tax considerations

From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12% on earnings up to $270,830 per quarter. So a family lawyer earning $120,000 would have $14,400 contributed to super each year, on top of their salary. That is not included in the salary index, which measures ordinary-time earnings before super. When comparing offers, remember to factor in super.

Tax for the 2026–27 year (resident, with tax-free threshold) is nil on the first $18,200, then 15% up to $45,000, 30% up to $135,000, 37% up to $190,000, and 45% above that. Plus a 2% Medicare levy. A family lawyer earning $120,000 would pay roughly $29,467 in tax and Medicare, leaving about $90,533 take-home. That is an estimate—it ignores HELP repayments, salary sacrifice, or the Medicare levy surcharge.

Where to find more specific family lawyer salary data

Because family lawyer pay is not set by a single award, you need to look at job advertisements, legal recruitment salary surveys, or industry reports. The pay guides on this site explain how to read award rates, but for family lawyers, the best source is the market itself. The topics page aggregates discussions on various professions, including law.

Summary

A family lawyer salary is not pinned to a public award classification. The closest benchmark is the Professional, Scientific and Technical Services industry index of 114.7. Most family lawyers likely earn between index 80 and 150, depending on experience, location, and firm. The national line of 100 ($108,352) is a useful reference point. If you are a family lawyer, your pay probably sits above the national minimum wage (index 48.2) and above the award rates for legal support staff (index 62–66). But without a specific award classification, the exact figure remains uncertain—and that is normal for many professional roles in Australia.