Solicitor Salary UK (2026)
The UK median Solicitor salary is £58,000 per year. Entry-level: £35,000 · Senior: £140,000. Also known as: Associate Solicitor, Senior Solicitor, Legal Counsel.
UK-wide salary distribution
Solicitor hiring market in the UK
Demand for Solicitors in the UK has been steady — neither contracting nor expanding sharply — with employer hiring tracking broadly in line with replacement need. The highest-paying UK city on this site for the role is London at £74,240 median, which is roughly what a competent mid-level practitioner can expect to earn there with three to five years of experience.
Pay progression for a Solicitor in the UK is rarely linear. Most of the gain happens at three points: the move from entry-level to mid (typically in years 2–3), the move into senior or principal positions (years 6–8), and — for those who pursue it — a lateral jump into management, consulting or independent contracting. Sitting in the same role waiting for inflationary increases is by some distance the slowest path; changing employer every three to four years remains the dominant pay-rise mechanism in the UK labour market.
Solicitor salary by UK city
| City | Lower quartile | Median | Upper quartile | vs UK avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | £53,760 | £74,240 | £108,800 | +28% |
| Cambridge | £48,300 | £66,700 | £97,750 | +15% |
| Oxford | £47,460 | £65,540 | £96,050 | +13% |
| Reading | £47,040 | £64,960 | £95,200 | +12% |
| Edinburgh | £45,360 | £62,640 | £91,800 | +8% |
| Bristol | £44,520 | £61,480 | £90,100 | +6% |
| Brighton | £44,100 | £60,900 | £89,250 | +5% |
| Milton Keynes | £44,100 | £60,900 | £89,250 | +5% |
| Aberdeen | £43,680 | £60,320 | £88,400 | +4% |
| Southampton | £43,680 | £60,320 | £88,400 | +4% |
| Manchester | £42,840 | £59,160 | £86,700 | +2% |
| Leeds | £42,000 | £58,000 | £85,000 | +0% |
| Birmingham | £41,160 | £56,840 | £83,300 | -2% |
| Glasgow | £40,740 | £56,260 | £82,450 | -3% |
| Cardiff | £39,900 | £55,100 | £80,750 | -5% |
| Nottingham | £39,480 | £54,520 | £79,900 | -6% |
| Liverpool | £39,060 | £53,940 | £79,050 | -7% |
| Sheffield | £39,060 | £53,940 | £79,050 | -7% |
| Newcastle | £38,640 | £53,360 | £78,200 | -8% |
| Belfast | £37,800 | £52,200 | £76,500 | -10% |
Take-home pay calculator · 2024/25
Solicitor
£42,515/yr · £818/wk · effective rate 26.7%
| Gross salary | £58,000 |
| Pension (5%) | −£2,900 |
| Income tax | −£9,472 |
| National Insurance | −£3,113 |
| Net take-home | £42,515 |
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Core skills for Solicitors
- SRA qualification
- Contract law
- Legal research
- Client advisory
Frequently asked questions
What is the average Solicitor salary in the UK?
The average UK Solicitor salary is £58,000 per year (ONS 2025). The lower quartile is £42,000 and the upper quartile is £85,000.
Where do Solicitors earn the most in the UK?
Solicitors earn most in London (£74,240 median), followed by Cambridge (£66,700) and Oxford (£65,540). See the full city table above.
What qualifications does a Solicitor need?
Core skills and qualifications for Solicitors include: SRA qualification, Contract law, Legal research, Client advisory. Entry-level roles start at around £35,000; senior positions reach £140,000+.
Is Solicitor a good career in the UK?
The career outlook for Solicitors is medium. Salaries have grown broadly in line with wage inflation, with experienced professionals in high-cost cities (London, Cambridge, Oxford) earning 15–30% above the UK median.