▼14%
AU$70,872
Avg. Base Salary (AUD)
/ year
Avg. Base Salary (AUD)
10%
A$54k
MEDIAN
A$71k
90%
A$112k
The average salary for a Criminal Defense Lawyer is AU$70,872 in 2025
Base Salary
AU$54k - AU$112k
Bonus
AU$31 - AU$25k
Profit Sharing
AU$0 - AU$3k
Total Pay
AU$55k - AU$114k
Is Average Criminal Defense Lawyer Salary in Australia your job title? Find out what you should be paid
Use our tool to get a personalized report on your market worth.What's this?
EXPLORE BY:
Featured Content
‹
Remote Work
New research shows how to set pay for remote employees
Gender Pay Gap
New research shows that each woman experiences the disparity of gender pay gap in different ways, depending on her position, age, race and education.
Compensation Best Practices Report
From compensation planning to variable pay to pay equity analysis, we surveyed 4,900+ organizations on how they manage compensation.
Salary Budget Survey Report
See how organizations are shifting their salary budgets this year.
Retention Report
Get strategies you can use to retain top talent and learn how impactful employee retention really is.
Variable Pay Playbook
Before you decide whether variable pay is right for your org, get a deeper understanding of the variable pay options and the cultural impact of pay choices.
›
What is the Pay by Experience Level for Criminal Defense Lawyers?
What Do Criminal Defense Lawyers Do?
Criminal Defense Lawyer Tasks
- Present cases in court representing the local, state or federal government.
- Review reports, evidence, and conduct research.
- Question witnesses, victims or others involved in the case.
Find your market worth – how it works:
Common Health Benefits for a Criminal Defense Lawyer
Medical
13%
Dental
10%
Vision
7%
None
87%
Gender Breakdown for Criminal Defense Lawyers
Female
52.0%
Male
48.0%
This data is based on 25 survey responses. Learn more about the gender pay gap.
FAQs About Criminal Defense Lawyers
What is the highest pay for Criminal Defense Lawyers?
Our data indicates that the highest pay for a Criminal Defense Lawyer is A$112k / year
What is the lowest pay for Criminal Defense Lawyers?
Our data indicates that the lowest pay for a Criminal Defense Lawyer is A$54k / year
How can Criminal Defense Lawyers increase their salary?
Increasing your pay as a Criminal Defense Lawyer is possible in different ways. Change of employer: Consider a career move to a new employer that is willing to pay higher for your skills. Level of Education: Gaining advanced degrees may allow this role to increase their income potential and qualify for promotions. Managing Experience: If you are a Criminal Defense Lawyer that oversees more junior Criminal Defense Lawyers, this experience can increase the likelihood to earn more.