SOC 2419 Business, media and public service professionals

Legal professionals n.e.c. Salary

Median salary £71,841 per year (2020). Based on ONS ASHE data.

Gross pay, before deductions. See take-home pay on £72,000 after tax and National Insurance →

For legal professionals n.e.c., £77,582 is the typical (median) pay. That is well above the UK full-time median of £39,039 — +99% versus the national average. Experienced legal professionals n.e.c. (top 25%) earn over £107,212.

About this role

Legal professionals n.e.c. provide expert legal advice, representation and services. They interpret legislation, prepare legal documents, represent clients and ensure compliance with the law across civil, criminal, commercial or specialist areas of practice.

Key responsibilities

Advising clients on legal rights, obligations and options
Preparing legal documents, contracts and court papers
Representing clients in negotiations, mediations or court proceedings
Conducting legal research and case analysis
Ensuring compliance with professional conduct rules and regulations

Qualifications and entry routes

Solicitors require a law degree (or GDL) plus SQE and qualifying work experience. Barristers require a law degree (or GDL), vocational component and pupillage. All must be admitted to the relevant professional register.

Career outlook

Competitive entry but strong demand for qualified professionals, particularly in commercial, technology, employment and regulatory law.

Key skills

Legal analysis Negotiation Written and oral advocacy Attention to detail Client management

Common industries

Law firms
In-house corporate legal teams
Public sector
Judiciary
Regulatory bodies

Data coverage

SOC code 2419

Data source ONS ASHE

Years available 2015–2020

Estimated jobs 44,000

Median Salary

£71,841

Mean Salary

£87,266

Jobs (000s)

44k

Data Years

6 years

Salary Range (2020)

P25: £50,116Median: £71,841P75: £107,212

P10: £36kP25: £50kMedian: £72kP75: £107kP90: --

Estimated Career Progression

Based on salary percentile distribution for this occupation

Entry Level

£36,293

0-2 years

Mid Level

£50,116

3-7 years

Senior

£107,212

8-15 years

Potential career growth: +195% from entry to leadership

Salary Trend (2015-2020)

Adjust for inflation

Nominal growth: +12.2%Real growth: +4.1%

Gender Pay Comparison (2020)

Gender pay gap: 31.3%

Full-time vs All Employees (2020)

All Employees

£71,841

Full-time Only

£77,582

Full-time premium: +£5,741

Legal professionals n.e.c. salary: common questions

How much do legal professionals n.e.c. earn in the UK?

Legal professionals n.e.c. earn a median of £77,582 a year (ONS ASHE 2020). The middle half earn between £50,116 and £107,212.

Is £77,582 a good salary in the UK?

What is the starting salary for legal professionals n.e.c.?

Entry-level legal professionals n.e.c. typically start near the lower end of the range. The bottom 25% earn up to £50,116, and the lowest-paid 10% earn under £36,293.

Have legal professionals n.e.c. salaries kept up with inflation?

Since 2016, median legal professionals n.e.c. pay has risen from £69,048 to £77,582 — +12% in cash terms, or +4.0% after CPIH inflation. That is ahead of inflation over the period.

Is there a gender pay gap for legal professionals n.e.c.?

Male legal professionals n.e.c. earn a median £91,525 and female legal professionals n.e.c. £62,832 — a gap of +31% in 2020.

Figures: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, gross annual pay. UK full-time median £39,039 (2020).