Barristers and judges vs Counsellors Salary

How do Barristers and judges and Counsellors salaries compare in the UK? Here is a detailed side-by-side breakdown using the latest ONS data.

Barristers and judges earns £25,255 more per year (89% higher)

Barristers and judges

£53,657
per year (gross)
Take-home: £41,678
vs

Counsellors

£28,402
per year (gross)
Take-home: £23,969

Detailed Comparison

MetricBarristers and judgesCounsellorsDifference
Median Annual£53,657£28,402+£25,255
Mean Annual£61,906£28,062+£33,844
Take-Home (Net)£41,678£23,969+£17,709
Monthly (Gross)£4,471£2,367+£2,104
Weekly (Gross)£1,032£546+£486
Hourly£25.80£13.65+£12.15

Salary Range Comparison

PercentileBarristers and judgesCounsellors
10th (Entry)£21,879£12,873
25th£31,204£19,249
50th (Median)£53,657£28,402
75th£71,492£34,590
90th (Senior)£0£0

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more, a Barristers and judges or a Counsellors?
A Barristers and judges earns more. The median salary for a Barristers and judges is £53,657, whilst a Counsellors earns £28,402 — a difference of £25,255 per year.
What is the salary difference between a Barristers and judges and a Counsellors?
The difference is £25,255 per year. Barristers and judges is the higher-paid role.
What is the take-home pay difference?
After tax and National Insurance, a Barristers and judges takes home approximately £41,678 per year, whilst a Counsellors takes home £23,969. The net difference is £17,709.
Should I become a Barristers and judges or a Counsellors?
From a salary perspective, Barristers and judges offers higher median pay. However, career choice depends on many factors including interests, qualifications, work-life balance and long-term prospects.

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