Barristers and judges: average salary and pay in the UK
Full-time barristers and judges in the UK earned a median £50,915 in the year to 5 April 2025, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE): 30% more than the £39,039 median for all full-time jobs.
What the figures show
That ranks 53rd of 382 occupations on this measure.
Median full-time pay: women £50,987 a year, men £49,843 a year.
About 66% of the roughly 29,000 employee jobs are full-time.
Since 2021 the median has risen 43.0% (from £719.20), faster than the 27.2% for all jobs.
The Annual Population Survey counts 39,400 people in this line of work across the UK.
Pay distribution, 2025 provisional
| Gross pay | Full-time, annual | Full-time, weekly | Full-time, hourly | All, annual | All, weekly | All, hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | – | £574.20* | £15.53 | – | £419.30* | £15.52 |
| 20th percentile | £28,443* | £735.10* | £19.93* | £19,163* | £545.10 | £19.61 |
| 25th percentile | £30,085* | £805.80* | £22.03* | £21,705* | £598.00 | £20.93* |
| 30th percentile | £34,423* | £990.10* | £24.95* | £23,771 | £667.70 | £23.78 |
| 40th percentile | £38,099* | £1,078.70 | £28.53 | £27,987* | £795.80* | £28.41 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £50,915* | £1,183.20 | £32.73 | £34,253* | £1,028.30* | £32.68 |
| 60th percentile | £57,479* | £1,244.70 | £34.49* | – | £1,145.60 | £36.04 |
| 70th percentile | £64,679* | – | – | £54,703* | £1,244.10* | £40.04* |
| 75th percentile | – | – | – | £60,096* | £1,370.10* | – |
| Mean | £56,773* | £1,464.00 | £39.38 | £43,732* | £1,186.40 | £38.29 |
Pay since 2021
| ASHE year | Full-time, annual median | Full-time, weekly median | Full-time, hourly median | All, annual median | All, weekly median | Jobs (thousands, indicative) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 revised | – | – | – | – | £719.20* | 14* |
| 2022 revised | £52,473* | £1,077.40* | £28.82* | £46,282* | £932.70* | 17* |
| 2023 revised | £50,302* | £957.80* | £25.41* | £44,863* | £868.90* | 15* |
| 2024 revised | £61,782* | £1,159.90* | £30.60* | £54,876* | £1,058.80* | 17* |
| 2025 provisional | £50,915* | £1,183.20 | £32.73 | £34,253* | £1,028.30* | 29 |
Barristers and judges by region
UK: 39,400 (± 7,700), April 2025 to March 2026.
Annual Population Survey (Nomis)
What barristers and judges do
Barristers and judges prepare and conduct court cases on behalf of clients, preside over judicial proceedings, and pronounce judgements within a variety of court settings and tribunals. (ONS SOC 2020, 2411)
Also covers: advocate, barrister, chairman (appeals tribunal, inquiry), coroner, crown prosecutor, district judge, legal advocate, sherriff (Scottish Courts), circuit judge, crown advocate, JP (stipendiary), king's counsel, official referee, probate registrar, procurator fiscal, queen's counsel, solicitor advocate and county court registrar (30 titles in the ONS coding index).
- Becomes acquainted with the facts of a case through reading statements, law reports, and consulting with clients or other professionals
- Advises client on the basis of legal knowledge, research and past precedent as to whether to proceed with legal action
- Drafts pleadings and questions in preparation for court cases, appears in court to present evidence to the judge and jury, cross examines witnesses and sums up why the court should decide in their client’s favour
- Hears, reads and evaluates evidence, and instructs or advises the jury on points of law or procedure
- Conducts trials according to rules of procedure, announces the verdict and passes sentence and/or awards costs and damages
Entry to training requires a qualifying law degree or postgraduate diploma. Entrants then undertake a one year Bar Professional Training Course followed by pupillage in one of the Inns of Court. The system for training of advocates in Scotland requires a postgraduate Diploma in Professional Legal Practice, followed by two years’ training as a solicitor and period of professional training lasting several months. The position of judge is obtained by appointment of those who have substantial post-qualifying experience in legal practice.
Related
Legal professionals (median £50,306) · Solicitors and lawyers · Legal professionals n.e.c. · salary percentile · UK average weekly earnings growth · Median
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026