Judge salary in Australia
The median full-time salary for a judge is $234,000 per annum, before tax, up $48,500 since 2018.
Judicial pay is set by independent remuneration tribunals rather than negotiated, so it moves when those determinations change and not otherwise. The level of court matters most, because a magistrate, a judge of a District or County Court and a judge of a Supreme or federal court sit on different scales. There is no bonus or performance pay, and allowances for travelling on circuit are the main variation between one posting and another.
How to negotiate a higher judge salary
- Know the market rate before you ask. The median full-time judge salary is $234,000; use that, not a guess, as your anchor, and adjust for your experience and employer.
- Lead with what's scarce, not just tenure. Skills like Legal research and Regulatory and administrative law tend to command a premium over general judge experience, name them specifically when you ask.
- Time it deliberately. Reviews, the end of a project you delivered, or taking on responsibility beyond your job description are stronger moments to ask than an arbitrary date on the calendar.
- Ask for a number, not a raise. "Based on the market rate and [specific contribution], I'd like to move to X" gets a clearer answer than "I think I deserve more."
Judge salary questions
How much do judges earn in Australia?
The median full-time salary for a judge is $234,000 a year before tax. Seniority, specialisation, sector and the award or agreement you're employed under all move it.
Is judge pay rising or falling?
The median judge salary is up $48,500 since 2018. Figures from 2025 onward on this page are a projection, not a measured result.