Supreme Court judges' salaries in Australia vary by state and role, but typically range from around $500,000 to over $600,000 annually for a Chief Justice, with standard Puisne Judges earning slightly less, around $500,000 to $530,000, following recent pay increases across different jurisdictions. For example, a WA Supreme Court Puisne Judge earns $527,541, while the WA Chief Justice earns $608,134 as of late 2025.
Supreme Court Judge salaries in Australia vary by state and level, but generally range from around $500,000 to over $600,000 annually, with Chief Justices earning more; for example, a Victorian Chief Justice earns $598,248 (Nov 2025) and a Puisne Judge in SA earns $517,650 (Sept 2024), reflecting a national framework where salaries are benchmarked, though specific figures depend on the jurisdiction.
The highest-paid judge is generally considered to be Judy Sheindlin ("Judge Judy"), a retired TV personality, who earned a massive $47 million annually for her courtroom show, making her the world's highest-paid TV host at her peak, though official court judges earn significantly less. For actual court systems, top salaries go to Chief Justices, like those in Australia or the US Supreme Court (around $250k-$600k USD equivalent), but these don't compare to Judge Judy's television earnings.
In his time, he was the youngest Advocate General, the youngest Chief Justice of a High Court and the youngest Judge of the Supreme Court of India. Justice Hidayatullah was sworn in as the Acting President of India on 20th July 1969 and served in that capacity till late V.V.
Earnings and hours
This is higher than the all jobs average (44 hours per week). Median weekly earnings are $2,708.00 per week.
The highest-paid judge is generally considered to be Judy Sheindlin ("Judge Judy"), a retired TV personality, who earned a massive $47 million annually for her courtroom show, making her the world's highest-paid TV host at her peak, though official court judges earn significantly less. For actual court systems, top salaries go to Chief Justices, like those in Australia or the US Supreme Court (around $250k-$600k USD equivalent), but these don't compare to Judge Judy's television earnings.
Lawyer salaries in Australia vary significantly with experience and specialization, averaging around $100,000 - $150,000 AUD, but entry-level roles start lower (around $70k-$90k) while senior corporate or specialized lawyers (like IP, Tech, or in top-tier firms) can earn well over $200,000, with corporate law often commanding the highest figures, especially in major cities like Sydney and Melbourne.
Twitty graduated from the College of Charleston with a degree in political science. She previously worked for the Greenville County Bond Court as a night clerk. After completing a training program and passing a certification examination, Twitty was sworn in as a judge at the age of 25.
The Supreme Court of India comprises the Chief Justice of India and not more than 33 other Judges appointed by the President of India. Supreme Court Judges retire at the age of 65.
The highest judge in Australia is the Chief Justice of Australia, currently The Honourable Stephen Gageler AC, who presides over the High Court of Australia, the nation's highest court. He took office in November 2023, succeeding the first female Chief Justice, Susan Kiefel, and serves as the head of the Australian judiciary.
The Australian Constitution does not set out specific qualifications required by federal judges and magistrates. However, laws made by the Commonwealth Parliament provide that, to be appointed as a federal judge, a person must have been a legal practitioner for at least five years or be a judge of another court.
The average annual salary for Barristers in Australia is $100,969. Bonuses may be available in addition to this – the amount received in bonuses depends on a range of factors.
A magistrate's salary in Australia varies by state but is generally high, with recent figures showing around $420,000 in the ACT, over $360,000 in WA (2023), and potentially upwards of $445,000 in NSW (2024), though some reports show lower figures or different pay scales for various roles, reflecting substantial remuneration for senior judicial roles.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg spent a lifetime flourishing in the face of adversity before being appointed a Supreme Court justice, where she successfully fought against gender discrimination and unified the liberal block of the court. She was born Joan Ruth Bader on March 15, 1933 in Brooklyn, New York.
57 years is the upper age limit for appointment as a judge of the district court in India. 55 years is the upper age limit for appointment as a judge of the subordinate judiciary in India. 60 years was the upper age limit for appointment as a judge of High Court before it was increased to 62 years in 2021.
Edelman was appointed to the Supreme Court of Western Australia in April 2011 following the retirement of Justice Peter Blaxell. He took the oath of office on 22 July 2011. It was reported that, at the age of 37, Edelman was the youngest person to join the Supreme Court bench.
Stephen Breyer. Stephen Gerald Breyer (/ˈbraɪ. ər/, BRY-ər; born August 15, 1938) is an American lawyer and retired jurist who served as an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court from 1994 until his retirement in 2022. He was nominated by President Bill Clinton, and replaced retiring justice Harry Blackmun.
The Constitution states that Justices "shall hold their Offices during good Behaviour." This means that the Justices hold office as long as they choose and can only be removed from office by impeachment. Has a Justice ever been impeached? The only Justice to be impeached was Associate Justice Samuel Chase in 1805.
A 23-year-old tribal woman who cleared the Tamil Nadu Civil Judge exam — just two days after giving birth. 👏 Her father works as a housekeeper. Her husband stood by her every step of the way. And she dedicated her success to their support.
Yes, $130k is a very good salary in Australia, placing you well above the median income and in the top earnings bracket, but whether it's "comfortable" depends heavily on your location (high-cost cities like Sydney/Melbourne vs. regional areas) and lifestyle, as high rents can still strain finances, though it generally allows for a solid middle-class life with budgeting.
It will come as no surprise to see that legal professionals are among the top 10 salary earners in Australia. On average, lawyers earn more than Chief Executive Operators and Managing Directors. However, they are well behind specialist medical practitioners such as surgeons and anaesthetists.
The barristers earning the most money typically specialize in high-stakes areas like Commercial Law, Tax Law, and Intellectual Property (IP) Law, especially when they become Senior Counsel (Silks) and handle complex, high-value litigation or advisory work for major corporations, with top practitioners potentially earning over a million dollars annually.
Judy Sheindlin might be the highest paid star in television, but her $47 million-per-year salary isn't so outrageously high, according to a real judge.