Barristers and judges salary in the UK (2025/26)
Official UK Average earnings data 2025
£34,253
Typical Annual pay range
Employment patterns
- 91% of Barristers work full-time
- 64% are self-employed
- 97.9% of employees have permanent contracts
Understanding Barristers and judges pay in the UK
The typical barristers and judges in the UK earns a median salary of £34,253 in 2025/26. These figures come from the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), so they reflect actual reported pay rather than self-reported estimates or job-advert ranges.
The middle half of barristers and judges earnings fall between £21,705 and £60,096 a year. That is a wide range, a sign that pay climbs steeply with experience, specialism and employer, so the median is a starting point rather than a ceiling.
The mean (average) salary is higher, at £43,732. When the mean sits above the median like this, a smaller group of high earners is pulling the average up, which is why the median is the better guide to what a typical barristers and judges actually takes home.
Employment patterns shape these numbers too: Around 64% of Barristers are self-employed, well above most occupations, so the employee pay above will not capture earnings for those working for themselves.
Where you work changes the picture: barristers and judges pay ranges from £25,610 in East of England up to £68,676 in West Midlands, a difference of £43,066 (168%). The full regional breakdown is below.
Dig deeper: see barristers and judges pay in West Midlands or read how we source and check this data.
How pay varies by region
West Midlands is the highest-paying region for barristers and judges at £68,676 — 100% above the UK median. East of England is lowest at £25,610.
UK median £34,253
| Region | Median payUK median £34,253 | Median | Mean | vs UK median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Midlands | £68,676 | £68,676 | £67,857 | +100% |
| South East | £58,851 | £58,851 | £56,808 | +72% |
| North West | £50,951 | £50,951 | £55,757 | +49% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £42,072 | £42,072 | £43,788 | +23% |
| Scotland | £36,977 | £36,977 | £47,348 | +8% |
| North East | £32,827 | £32,827 | £35,054 | -4% |
| London | £28,113 | £28,113 | Value unavailable | -18% |
| East of England | £25,610 | £25,610 | £25,260 | -25% |
| Region | Median | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| West Midlands £68,676 | £68,676Mean £67,857 | +100% |
| South East £58,851 | £58,851Mean £56,808 | +72% |
| North West £50,951 | £50,951Mean £55,757 | +49% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber £42,072 | £42,072Mean £43,788 | +23% |
| Scotland £36,977 | £36,977Mean £47,348 | +8% |
| North East £32,827 | £32,827Mean £35,054 | -4% |
| London £28,113 | £28,113 | -18% |
| East of England £25,610 | £25,610Mean £25,260 | -25% |
Sorted highest median to lowest. The vertical line marks the UK median (£34,253); ‘Vs UK median’ compares each region’s median to it. Suppressed values mean ONS withheld this figure because the sample was too small to publish.
Make it local
Calculate take-home pay for your region
Choose a region above to see local barristers and judges pay and calculate your monthly take-home after tax on the local salary page.
Back to region listHow barristers and judges pay has changed over time
UK median annual pay for barristers and judges by year (ONS ASHE).
Median salary
▪ 25th–75th percentile range
Pre-2021 figures mapped from SOC 2010 via ONS concordance table
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