Barristers and judges roles in the UK earn a median of £53,500 per year, equivalent to £31.27 per hour as of 2025. Pay decreased 14.8% compared to the previous year. Regionally, pay ranges from £47,500 in Yorkshire and The Humber to £73,500 in West Midlands. Pay has risen over the past 5 years. The ONS national median for this occupation is £50,915/yr (5% above our computed national average).
Median Annual Pay
£53,500
as of 2025
High confidenceMedian Hourly Pay
£31.27
per hour
Year-on-Year Change
-14.8%
vs 2024
Annual Pay Range
£35,000 – £71,500
25th – 75th percentile
There is currently not sufficient data available for this occupation to say anything about the labour market.
Median annual pay for Barristers and judges across UK regions.
Source: ONS ASHE. Based on broad UK regions (NUTS1).
| Region | Median Pay |
|---|---|
| West Midlands | £73,500 |
| London | £59,500 |
| South East | £53,500 |
| East | £52,000 |
| Scotland | £51,500 |
| South West | £49,000 |
| North West | £48,500 |
| East Midlands | £48,500 |
| Wales | £48,500 |
| North East | £48,000 |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | £47,500 |
| UK | £53,500 |
Annual pay fell by -14.8% from 2024 to 2025.
National average (NUTS1 actuals) based on ONS ASHE April snapshot.
Annual percentage change in median pay for Barristers and judges.
Percentage change from the prior year's April figure.
The median salary for a Barristers and judges in the UK is £53,500 per year (about £31.27 per hour), based on official ONS data for 2025.
Most Barristers and judges earn between £35,000 and £71,500 a year (the 25th to 75th percentile of UK pay).
Barristers and judges pay fell by -14.8% from 2024 to 2025.
The highest median pay for Barristers and judges is in West Midlands, at £73,500 per year.
For job seekers
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For employers & recruiters
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.
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.
Salary data is sourced from official UK pay datasets and updated periodically.