Lawyer salaries across Europe: How much do they earn?

 Lawyers may be needed for a variety of different reasons in different countries. This could include criminal charges, divorce, company mergers, buying property, or immigration issues.

Legal services can be expensive, as lawyers often earn more than the average salary. So, how much do lawyers earn in Europe? What are lawyer salaries like across European countries? How well are lawyers paid compared to other professions in each country?

While ‘lawyer’ is the most common term, legal professionals may have different titles and roles depending on the country. According to the University of Law, in the United Kingdom, a solicitor provides specialist legal advice and is usually the first point of contact for clients. Most of their work takes place outside of court, though they may occasionally attend court when required.

A barrister, on the other hand, represents clients in court. Most barristers are self-employed and work in chambers, unlike solicitors, who are typically employed by law firms, private companies, or public bodies.

Drivers of a wide salary range

Lawyer salaries vary widely based on several factors. According to the Law Society of England and Wales, key influences include experience, type of firm, area of specialisation, and location within the country.

The sector also plays a significant role on salaries—solicitors working in commerce and industry typically earn more than those employed in government or private practice.

For example, in the UK, the average salary of solicitors ranges from €35,450 (£30,000) for starters to €94,530 (£80,000) for experienced, according to the British National Careers Service.

Data from the ERI Economic Research Institute shows that experience also has a major impact on lawyer salaries. Across 25 European countries, lawyers with over eight years of experience earn, on average, 80 per cent more than those with just one to three years in the profession.

According to ERI, as of August 2025, the average annual gross salary for lawyers across 26 European countries ranges from €24,897 in Turkey to €187,285 in Switzerland.

Germany:

As of April 2024, according to the German Federal Statistical Office, the average gross monthly earnings for a lawyer in highly complex roles is €8,950, amounting to €107,400 annually. The median monthly earnings are €7,871, or €94,452 per year.

According to ERI, the average gross salary for lawyers is €116,954 in Germany. Salaries range from €80,549 for starters to €145,869 for experienced professionals.

‘Starters’ refers to those with 1–3 years of experience, while ‘experienced’ includes those with over 8 years. This ERI classification applies across all countries.

Germany offers the highest lawyer salaries among Europe’s five largest economies, ranking fourth out of the 25 countries analysed.

United Kingdom:

The median gross annual earnings for full-time solicitors and lawyers are €61,000 (£51,624) as of April 2024, according to the UK’s Office for National Statistics (ONS).

National Careers reports that the average salary of solicitors ranges from €35,450 in the early years to €94,530 for the more experienced lawyer.

According to ERI, the average gross salary for lawyers in the UK is €103,297 (£87,419). This represents €71,143 for early career lawyers to  €128,385 for the more experienced lawyers.

The UK ranks second among the top economies, but only ninth among 25 countries in the list.

France:

According to INSEE, France’s official statistical office, the average monthly salary in 2023 for lawyers (called avocats) is €8,300. With 12 monthly payments, this amounts to an annual salary of €99,600.

According to ERI, the average gross salary for lawyers is €91,630, rising to €114,218 for experienced professionals, while starters earn around €63,071.

Italy and Spain:

No official salary statistics are available specifically for lawyers in Italy and Spain. Spain’s National Statistics Institute (INE) reports an average salary of €44,805 for legal professionals, but this figure represents the entire legal sector.

According to ERI, lawyers earn an average of €86,190 in Spain and €85,258 in Italy. Experienced lawyers in both countries can make slightly over €105,000.

Nordic countries:

Lawyers in the Nordic countries are also well-paid in nominal terms. According to ERI, the average salary for lawyers in Denmark is €127,903, placing the country second on the list. Statistics Denmark reports that standardised monthly earnings for lawyers are €9,997 (DKK 74,586), which amounts to €119,961 annually.

ERI shows that the average annual salary for lawyers is €108,766 in Finland, closely followed by Norway at €106,630. Sweden, however, offers comparatively lower salaries at €86,772.

According to official statistics offices, the basic monthly salary for lawyers in Norway in 2024 was €6,361 (NOK 74,380), amounting to €76,332 annually.

In Sweden, the average monthly salary in 2023 was €5,275 (SEK 58,600), adding up to €63,301 per year. For business and corporate lawyers, the monthly average rises to €5,985.

Other countries where lawyers earn over €100,000 annually

According to ERI, lawyers in Belgium (€117,220), Ireland (€113,262), the Netherlands (€111,446) and Austria (€102,636) also earn over €100,000 annually. Belgium ranks third, Ireland fifth, and the Netherlands sixth on the list.

Lawyer salaries ranging from €50,000 to €70,000

Lawyer earnings tend to decline in Southern and Eastern Europe. In six countries, average annual salaries for lawyers range from €50,000 to €70,000. The lowest salaries are in: Portugal (€67,037), Poland (€65,917), Greece (€61,782), Czechia (€54,804), Slovakia (€50,915) and Estonia (€50,134).

Lawyer salaries below €50,000

In several other countries, lawyers earn below €50,000 per year. These are Hungary (€44,543), Lithuania (€43,995), Bulgaria (€43,972), Romania (€40,801), and Turkey (€35,648).

How do lawyer salaries compare to other professions?

When lawyer salaries are compared to national wage averages (where data is available), it’s clear that they generally earn more—and in some countries, significantly more.

For example, in the UK, “the median gross annual earnings for full-time employees” were £37,430 (€44,228) in April 2024, whereas this was £51,624 (€61,000) for lawyers and solicitors. This rises to £59,423 (€70,215) for barristers and judges.

For example, in the UK, the median gross annual earnings for full-time employees in any job was £37,430 (€44,228) as of April 2024. Lawyers and solicitors earned an average of £51,624 (€61,000), while barristers and judges earned even more, £59,423 (€70,215). Among 380 occupations in the UK, barristers and judges rank 13th, while lawyers and solicitors rank 39th.

In Germany, among more than 1,300 job titles, lawyers rank 39th in terms of median earnings and 35th based on average earnings.

Lawyers are the 6th best-paid profession in France

In France, lawyers (avocats) earn significantly more than most professions. Among roughly 350 job titles, they rank as the sixth highest-paid. In Norway, they rank 30th out of 350 professions.

In Sweden, lawyers earn 47 per cent more than the national average salary.

These comparisons do not take into account the cost of living or taxation, both of which play a key role in the actual take-home.