Criminal Lawyer Salary: How to Convert Hourly Rates to Annual Pay
A criminal lawyer earning $50 per hour working 38 hours a week would have an annual salary of $98,800 before tax and super, with super paid on top at 12%.
Understanding the Criminal Lawyer Salary Landscape
When researching a criminal lawyer salary, it is important to know that rates vary widely depending on experience, location, and whether you work in private practice, a community legal centre, or government. The Fair Work Ombudsman’s Legal Services Award 2020 sets minimum rates for legal clerical and administrative employees, law graduates, and law clerks, but many criminal lawyers are employed under enterprise agreements or individual contracts that pay above the award. For a broad benchmark, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reported average weekly earnings for full-time adult employees at $2,083.70 per week in May 2026, which equates to roughly $54.31 per hour for a 38‑hour week. This figure can serve as a reference point for professional salaries, though actual criminal lawyer salaries may be higher or lower.
Converting Hourly Rates to Annual Salary
The standard method to convert an hourly rate to an annual salary is straightforward: hourly rate × hours per week × 52. This article assumes a full‑time employee works 38 ordinary hours per week, as defined under the Legal Services Award and the National Employment Standards. For example, if a criminal lawyer earns $50.00 per hour, the calculation is:
$50.00 × 38 hours × 52 weeks = $98,800 per year.
If you are paid fortnightly, simply multiply your weekly pay by two. Weekly pay is the hourly rate times 38 hours. For the same $50.00 rate, weekly pay is $1,900.00, and fortnightly pay is $3,800.00 before tax and super.
Minimum Wage and Award Rates
From 1 July 2026, the National Minimum Wage increased to $26.44 per hour ($1,004.90 per week for 38 hours). The Legal Services Award provides higher minimum rates for legal roles. According to the Fair Work Ombudsman’s pay guide, the minimum hourly rates for full‑time employees under the award are:
- Level 1 – Legal clerical and administrative employee: $28.24
- Level 2: $29.45
- Level 3: $31.11
- Level 4: $32.67
- Level 5 (including law graduate): $33.99
- Level 6 – Law clerk: $36.03
Criminal lawyers who are classified as solicitors may fall under different award classifications or be award‑free, but these rates provide a baseline. Many criminal lawyers earn significantly more, especially with experience and in metropolitan areas.
Casual Loading and Superannuation Paid on Top
If you work as a casual criminal lawyer, you are entitled to a 25% loading on top of the minimum hourly rate. This loading replaces entitlements like paid annual leave and sick leave. When using the timesheet, you can check the casual loading checkbox to automatically add 25% to your base rate. Never enter a rate that already includes the loading – always enter the base rate before loading.**
Superannuation is paid on top of your ordinary earnings. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee rate is 12% of ordinary time earnings, up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830. For a full‑time criminal lawyer earning $98,800 per year, the employer must contribute an additional $11,856 into a super fund. This means your total employment cost is $110,656, but the super is not part of your take‑home pay. The super and packaging page explains how salary packaging can affect your super.
Tax on Your Criminal Lawyer Salary
Your annual salary is subject to income tax and the Medicare levy. For the 2026‑27 financial year, the resident tax rates are:
- $0 – $18,200: Nil
- $18,201 – $45,000: 15% on excess over $18,200
- $45,001 – $135,000: 30% on excess over $45,000
- $135,001 – $190,000: 37% on excess over $135,000
- $190,001 and above: 45% on excess over $190,000
A Medicare levy of 2% generally applies. For a $98,800 salary, the tax would be approximately $22,267 plus Medicare of $1,976, giving a total of $24,243, leaving a take‑home pay of about $74,557 per year. Use the take‑home pay calculator for a precise estimate.
Using the Timesheet Tool
The timesheet, which is the home page of this site, lets you enter your base hourly rate and toggle casual loading. It then calculates your annual salary, fortnightly pay, estimated tax, and super. This tool is ideal for quickly comparing different rates, such as when negotiating a criminal lawyer salary. For award‑specific rates, refer to the pay guides published by the Fair Work Ombudsman.
Important Notes
This article uses the Fair Work Ombudsman’s Legal Services Award and the ABS Average Weekly Earnings as references. The formula annual = hourly × hours per week × 52 assumes the same rate every week with no unpaid overtime, penalty rates, or allowances. Super is estimated at 12% of ordinary earnings paid on top, and tax uses the 2026‑27 resident scale with the full tax‑free threshold. The Medicare levy uses the 2025‑26 single reduction thresholds as the 2026‑27 thresholds were not confirmed. This is an estimate, not a determination of your actual pay or tax.
Open the same rate on the home timesheet. Read the reference tables before treating a figure as your pay.