Solicitors and lawyers vs Barristers and judges: Salary Compared
A Solicitors and lawyers earns more — a median £56,977 vs £50,915 for a Barristers and judges. That is £6,062 more per year (12%). Real ONS ASHE figures, April 2025.
Quick answer
In the UK, a Solicitors and lawyers is paid more than a Barristers and judges: median gross pay of £56,977 versus £50,915 — a £6,062 (12%) gap. Source: ASHE 2025 provisional, April 2025 reference period, ONS, OGL v3.
Pay compared, side by side
Gross annual pay for full-time UK employees, ASHE 2025 provisional, April 2025 reference period, ONS, OGL v3.
| Measure | Solicitors and lawyers | Barristers and judges |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | £29,279 | — |
| 25th percentile | £42,015 | £30,085 |
| Median | £56,977 | £50,915 |
| 75th percentile | £77,509 | — |
| 90th percentile | — | — |
SOC 2020 codes: Solicitors and lawyers = 2412; Barristers and judges = 2411.
Regional pay gap
The pay gap is widest in West Midlands, where a Solicitors and lawyers earns a median £48,093 versus £73,570 for a Barristers and judges — a -£25,477 difference. Regional medians are published by ONS where the sample is large enough.
Frequently asked questions
- Does a Solicitors and lawyers or a Barristers and judges earn more in the UK?
- A Solicitors and lawyers earns more. The median UK gross annual pay is £56,977 for a Solicitors and lawyers versus £50,915 for a Barristers and judges — a difference of £6,062 (12% more). Source: ONS ASHE, April 2025.
- What is the typical salary range for a Solicitors and lawyers?
- Most Solicitors and lawyers earn between £42,015–£77,509 (25th–75th percentile), with a median of £56,977. Top earners (90th percentile) reach higher.
- What is the typical salary range for a Barristers and judges?
- The median pay for a Barristers and judges is £50,915; ONS suppressed some percentiles for this occupation.
- Where do these pay figures come from?
- From the Office for National Statistics Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE 2025 provisional, April 2025 reference period, ONS, OGL v3) — gross annual pay for full-time employees by 4-digit SOC 2020 occupation, published under the Open Government Licence. These are medians, not guarantees: individual pay varies by employer, region and experience.
Data: Office for National Statistics — Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), ASHE 2025 provisional, April 2025 reference period, ONS, OGL v3. Open Government Licence v3.0. Figures are medians for full-time employees and do not guarantee individual pay. A Gera Systems product.