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Becoming a criminal lawyer is no joke. You must take entrance exams during 10+2 education and complete a four-year undergraduate course in a university. Afterward, you must pass the bar exam, and only then can you pursue a three-year degree to become a criminal lawyer.
Even then, you must strive to learn as much as possible, like how the criminal law sentencing act (SA) works and other legislation. Needless to say, it can be a massive challenge.
If you’re sure that you’re up for the challenge, there might be other questions in your mind. Particularly, you may ask yourself, “How much does a criminal lawyer earn in Australia?” Here’s what you’d want to know.
Average salary of criminal lawyers in Australia
According to AU.talent.com, the average annual salary of criminal lawyers in Australia is around USD$92,804.07. SalaryExpert’s data is close to this figure (USD$102,735.30), while Payscale’s figure is a lot lower (USD$69,649.26). Put simply, the annual salary of criminal lawyers in Australia varies according to the data source, but a reasonable estimate would be USD$90,000.
In addition, SalaryExpert also forecasts a 19% increase in salary in the next five years. Now that tells you there’ll be no stagnation anytime soon.
Of course, several factors may affect the salary of a criminal lawyer. Location, for example, is a huge factor. Perth criminal lawyers would definitely have a different wage than those in Sydney. Similarly, the number of years of experience of a criminal lawyer has a lot to do with their pay.
Criminal lawyer salary by experience
A criminal lawyer’s salary is inherently high, but it can become even higher the longer you’ve been in the business. According to SalaryExpert, an entry-level criminal lawyer with 1 to 3 years of experience can earn an average of USDD$71,983.44. On the other hand, senior-level lawyers with over 8 years of experience have an average annual salary of USD$127,935.93.
The numbers may differ according to the source. AU.talent.com’s data is close to SalaryExperts figures—USD$88,207.00 for entry-level and USD$106,567.00 for senior-level positions.
Keep in mind that the value of experience in this line of business can vary, depending on your clientele. Some would pay a lot for lawyers with several years of experience, while others don’t value experienced lawyers as much. Nevertheless, it’s true that those with experience will generally have higher pay. Furthermore, these figures likely don’t include income tax. Therefore, your actual net pay may be lower than these numbers.
Criminal lawyer salary after taxes in Australia
The Australian Tax Office (ATO) collects taxes based on a marginal tax rate. With this system, residents must pay a certain amount for every additional dollar they earn past a threshold.
The ATO collects a marginal tax rate of 19% for income thresholds of USD$18,201 to USD$45,000. This essentially means for every dollar you earn past USD$18,201, you must pay 19 cents (19% of one dollar). The marginal tax rate increases as the threshold increases.
Currently, ATO’s marginal tax rate system goes like this:
- 0% rate from USD$0 to USD$18,200
- 19% rate from USD$18,201 to USD$45,000
- 5% rate from USD$45,001 to USD$120,000
- 37% rate from USD$120,001 to USD$180,000
- 45% rate from USD$180,001 and over
With this in mind, assuming a criminal lawyer earns USD$90,000 as gross income, the net pay would equate to USD$70,283.00. The amount of USD$19,717.00, of course, must be paid as tax yet doesn’t include Medicare.
Medicare is Australia’s health insurance scheme, though it exists in other countries as well. It works similarly to other schemes in that you must regularly pay to enjoy its benefits. The price of Medicare, however, is based on a percentage of your taxable income, 2%, to be exact. Therefore, a criminal lawyer with Medicare must pay an additional USD$1,800.00.
But of course, one must keep in mind that the monetary value of such a career isn’t the only benefit of being a criminal lawyer. Medicare, for example, might be covered by the law firm.
Other benefits of being a criminal lawyer in Australia
Although some criminal lawyers work independently, the majority work for a law firm. In such cases, on top of their salary, they also receive several benefits such as:
- Disability insurance
- Employee assistance programs
- Wellness programs
- Health savings
- Medical and dental plans
- Legal services
- Pet insurance
- Identity-theft protection
- Reimbursement for certification costs and tuition (4)
Certain law firms also offer incentives like profit sharing, retention bonuses, and stock options, all of which may increase your overall compensation. That’s why choosing a law firm requires careful consideration.
Wrapping Up
With this, you now have an idea of how much you’ll earn if you were to take the career path of a criminal lawyer. It may not be the highest paying job in Australia, much less in the world, but it’s a high-paying job nonetheless. Moreover, you also get to enjoy other benefits that come from working in a law firm. Overall, it’s a rewarding career.
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