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Solicitor salary benchmarks by region (England and Wales)
Regional salary ranges for qualified solicitors at mid-size firms across England and Wales. Figures show the typical mid-point of the range; individual roles may sit higher or lower depending on firm size, billing targets, and benefits.
London
| Practice area | NQ (0–1 PQE) | Mid-level (4–5 PQE) | Senior (8–15 PQE) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial Law | £57k–£83k | £76k–£112k | £100k–£169k |
| Corporate Law | £57k–£83k | £76k–£112k | £100k–£169k |
| Family Law | £51k–£73k | £67k–£99k | £89k–£149k |
| Employment Law | £55k–£79k | £73k–£107k | £96k–£161k |
| Private Client | £55k–£79k | £73k–£107k | £96k–£161k |
| Residential Property | £52k–£76k | £69k–£102k | £91k–£154k |
| Personal Injury | £52k–£76k | £69k–£102k | £91k–£154k |
| Criminal Law | £44k–£64k | £59k–£86k | £78k–£131k |
South East
| Practice area | NQ (0–1 PQE) | Mid-level (4–5 PQE) | Senior (8–15 PQE) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial Law | £44k–£64k | £59k–£86k | £77k–£130k |
| Corporate Law | £44k–£64k | £59k–£86k | £77k–£130k |
| Family Law | £39k–£57k | £52k–£76k | £68k–£115k |
| Employment Law | £42k–£61k | £56k–£82k | £74k–£124k |
| Private Client | £42k–£61k | £56k–£82k | £74k–£124k |
| Residential Property | £40k–£58k | £53k–£78k | £70k–£118k |
| Personal Injury | £40k–£58k | £53k–£78k | £70k–£118k |
| Criminal Law | £34k–£50k | £45k–£67k | £60k–£101k |
South West
| Practice area | NQ (0–1 PQE) | Mid-level (4–5 PQE) | Senior (8–15 PQE) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial Law | £43k–£63k | £57k–£84k | £76k–£127k |
| Corporate Law | £43k–£63k | £57k–£84k | £76k–£127k |
| Family Law | £38k–£55k | £51k–£74k | £67k–£112k |
| Employment Law | £41k–£60k | £55k–£81k | £72k–£122k |
| Private Client | £41k–£60k | £55k–£81k | £72k–£122k |
| Residential Property | £39k–£57k | £52k–£77k | £69k–£116k |
| Personal Injury | £39k–£57k | £52k–£77k | £69k–£116k |
| Criminal Law | £34k–£49k | £44k–£65k | £59k–£99k |
East of England
| Practice area | NQ (0–1 PQE) | Mid-level (4–5 PQE) | Senior (8–15 PQE) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial Law | £40k–£58k | £53k–£78k | £70k–£118k |
| Corporate Law | £40k–£58k | £53k–£78k | £70k–£118k |
| Family Law | £36k–£51k | £47k–£69k | £62k–£104k |
| Employment Law | £38k–£56k | £51k–£75k | £67k–£113k |
| Private Client | £38k–£56k | £51k–£75k | £67k–£113k |
| Residential Property | £37k–£53k | £48k–£71k | £64k–£108k |
| Personal Injury | £37k–£53k | £48k–£71k | £64k–£108k |
| Criminal Law | £31k–£45k | £41k–£61k | £54k–£92k |
East Midlands
| Practice area | NQ (0–1 PQE) | Mid-level (4–5 PQE) | Senior (8–15 PQE) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial Law | £40k–£58k | £53k–£78k | £70k–£118k |
| Corporate Law | £40k–£58k | £53k–£78k | £70k–£118k |
| Family Law | £36k–£51k | £47k–£69k | £62k–£104k |
| Employment Law | £38k–£56k | £51k–£75k | £67k–£113k |
| Private Client | £38k–£56k | £51k–£75k | £67k–£113k |
| Residential Property | £37k–£53k | £48k–£71k | £64k–£108k |
| Personal Injury | £37k–£53k | £48k–£71k | £64k–£108k |
| Criminal Law | £31k–£45k | £41k–£61k | £54k–£92k |
West Midlands
| Practice area | NQ (0–1 PQE) | Mid-level (4–5 PQE) | Senior (8–15 PQE) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial Law | £42k–£61k | £56k–£82k | £73k–£124k |
| Corporate Law | £42k–£61k | £56k–£82k | £73k–£124k |
| Family Law | £37k–£54k | £49k–£72k | £65k–£109k |
| Employment Law | £40k–£58k | £53k–£78k | £70k–£118k |
| Private Client | £40k–£58k | £53k–£78k | £70k–£118k |
| Residential Property | £38k–£55k | £51k–£74k | £67k–£112k |
| Personal Injury | £38k–£55k | £51k–£74k | £67k–£112k |
| Criminal Law | £33k–£47k | £43k–£63k | £57k–£96k |
North West
| Practice area | NQ (0–1 PQE) | Mid-level (4–5 PQE) | Senior (8–15 PQE) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial Law | £43k–£62k | £57k–£83k | £75k–£126k |
| Corporate Law | £43k–£62k | £57k–£83k | £75k–£126k |
| Family Law | £38k–£55k | £50k–£74k | £66k–£111k |
| Employment Law | £41k–£59k | £54k–£80k | £72k–£120k |
| Private Client | £41k–£59k | £54k–£80k | £72k–£120k |
| Residential Property | £39k–£57k | £52k–£76k | £68k–£115k |
| Personal Injury | £39k–£57k | £52k–£76k | £68k–£115k |
| Criminal Law | £33k–£48k | £44k–£65k | £58k–£98k |
Yorkshire and the Humber
| Practice area | NQ (0–1 PQE) | Mid-level (4–5 PQE) | Senior (8–15 PQE) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial Law | £43k–£62k | £57k–£83k | £75k–£126k |
| Corporate Law | £43k–£62k | £57k–£83k | £75k–£126k |
| Family Law | £38k–£55k | £50k–£74k | £66k–£111k |
| Employment Law | £41k–£59k | £54k–£80k | £72k–£120k |
| Private Client | £41k–£59k | £54k–£80k | £72k–£120k |
| Residential Property | £39k–£57k | £52k–£76k | £68k–£115k |
| Personal Injury | £39k–£57k | £52k–£76k | £68k–£115k |
| Criminal Law | £33k–£48k | £44k–£65k | £58k–£98k |
North East
| Practice area | NQ (0–1 PQE) | Mid-level (4–5 PQE) | Senior (8–15 PQE) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial Law | £39k–£56k | £52k–£76k | £68k–£114k |
| Corporate Law | £39k–£56k | £52k–£76k | £68k–£114k |
| Family Law | £34k–£50k | £45k–£67k | £60k–£101k |
| Employment Law | £37k–£54k | £49k–£72k | £65k–£109k |
| Private Client | £37k–£54k | £49k–£72k | £65k–£109k |
| Residential Property | £35k–£51k | £47k–£69k | £62k–£104k |
| Personal Injury | £35k–£51k | £47k–£69k | £62k–£104k |
| Criminal Law | £30k–£44k | £40k–£59k | £53k–£89k |
Wales
| Practice area | NQ (0–1 PQE) | Mid-level (4–5 PQE) | Senior (8–15 PQE) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial Law | £39k–£56k | £52k–£76k | £68k–£114k |
| Corporate Law | £39k–£56k | £52k–£76k | £68k–£114k |
| Family Law | £34k–£50k | £45k–£67k | £60k–£101k |
| Employment Law | £37k–£54k | £49k–£72k | £65k–£109k |
| Private Client | £37k–£54k | £49k–£72k | £65k–£109k |
| Residential Property | £35k–£51k | £47k–£69k | £62k–£104k |
| Personal Injury | £35k–£51k | £47k–£69k | £62k–£104k |
| Criminal Law | £30k–£44k | £40k–£59k | £53k–£89k |
Figures are mid-size firm benchmarks derived from LawBoard market intelligence and may not reflect every firm or role. For a personalised estimate including firm size and specialism, use the estimator above.
Salary estimates are modelled from real legal market data. For statistics on the regulated legal workforce in England and Wales, see the SRA's published key facts.