Salaries for Legal Secretaries in Australia - Where can I earn the most money?

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Salary is always an important factor when looking for work. Perhaps you are in a full time job in Australia and are considering a move, or perhaps you are a traveller visiting our country and deciding where to start your working holiday.  Another important factor to consider is how much work is available for legal secretaries in each of the major centres.

Sydney

Sydney is Australia's largest legal market. It's also the most expensive city to live in so it's no surprise that Sydney attracts the highest salary for legal secretaries.  We are currently at the end of 2010 and writing about salaries in the legal industry as they are now.  For those looking to enter the Australian legal market with no experience you can expect a salary of around $30,000 - $35,000 package (pkg) which is inclusive of superannuation.  For someone with a couple of years experience $40,000 - $60,000 pkg depending on the length and type of experience.  Senior secretaries are commanding $65,000 - $72,000 pkg in the Sydney market which is a great salary at recruitment stage!  Many firms offer excellent benefits packages on top of salary.

Melbourne

Melbourne is Australia's next largest legal market.  All of the top tier firms have a presence here as well as some international firms having small offices in the CBD.  Melbourne salaries are traditionally lower than that of Sydney, however at the moment they aren't too far off.  Senior legal secretaries are earning $60,000 - $68,000 pkg at most firms.  Intermediates are roughly $40,000 - $55,000 pkg and junior secretaries are around the $30,000 pkg mark.

Brisbane

Brisbane ranks as number three, also attracting all top tier firms and many firms experiencing an increase in work in the energy and resources sector in recent times.  Senior legal secretaries in Brisbane are looking at around $62,000 pkg at recruitment stage.  The intermediate level is around $48,000 - $55,000 pkg and junior secretaries are entering the market from $25,000 pkg.

Perth

Perth has a huge focus on the energy and resources and oil and gas sectors and attracts all top tier firms and many of Australia's major national firms at a mid tier level. Junior secretarial salaries in Perth start around the $28,000 pkg mark and moving to $35,000 - $45,000 pkg once intermediate level experience is obtained.  Senior secretarial salaries in Perth can be up to $65,000 pkg and sometimes more if working in-house for some of the mining companies.

Adelaide

Adelaide has only one top tier presence and that is Minter Ellison, however they have a very strong legal market with many national mid tier firms and smaller Adelaide based practices.  The legal market in Adelaide is smaller than other centres.  Legal secreatarial salaries remain quite high in Adelaide compared to the cost of living, with senior secretaries earning roughly $60,000 - $65,000 pkg.

It is important to research the cost of living in each city before making your move. A good place to start would be www.realestate.com.au or www.domain.com.au to get an idea of rent prices in each city.