Attorney Average Salary in Hong Kong 2024
How much money does a person working as Attorney make in Hong Kong?
LOW
31,400
HKD AVERAGE
68,300
HKD HIGH
109,000
HKD
A person working as Attorney in Hong Kong typically earns around 68,300 HKD. Salaries range from 31,400 HKD (lowest) to 109,000 HKD (highest).
Salary Variance
This is the average salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Attorney salaries in Hong Kong vary drastically based on experience, skills, gender, or location. Below you will find a detailed breakdown based on many different criteria.
Attorney Pay Scale and Salaries in Hong Kong
Salary Structure and Pay Scale Comparison
64,800 HKD or more
56,800 to 64,800 HKD
39,100 HKD or less
39,100 to 56,800 HKD
 31,400 HKD |
65,300 HKD |
109,000 HKD |
Median Salary, maximum and minimum salary, minimum wage, starting salary, and the salary range
Salary Range, Minimum Wage, and Starting Salary
Salaries for the position Attorney in Hong Kong range from 31,400 HKD (starting salary) to 109,000 HKD (maximum salary). It should be noted that the given figure is not the legally mandated minimum wage; rather, it represents the lowest figure reported in a salary survey that included thousands of participants and professionals from all regions of the country.
Median Salary
With a median salary of 65,300 HKD, half of the professionals who work as Attorney in Hong Kong earn less than this amount, and the other half earn more. The median salary denotes the middle value of salaries. Ideally, you would want to belong to the group earning more than the median salary, located on the right side of the salary distribution graph.
Percentiles and Salary Scale
The median is closely associated with two other values known as the 25th and 75th percentiles. By examining the salary distribution chart, it can be determined that 25% of professionals employed as Attorney in Hong Kong earn less than 52,700 HKD, while 75% earn more. Similarly, the chart shows that 75% earn less than 75,300 HKD while 25% earn more.
Pay Scale Structure
To provide a better understanding of expected salaries, we categorized the frequently occurring salaries into different ranges. This approach provides a more precise representation of salary distribution for the job title Attorney in Hong Kong compared to simply calculating the average. The majority of reported salaries, approximately 65%, fall within the range of 39,100 HKD to 56,800 HKD. About 20% of salaries are below the 39,100 HKD mark, while 10% fall within the range of 56,800 HKD to 64,800 HKD. Only 5% of individuals have salaries exceeding 64,800 HKD.
Salary Comparison by Years of Experience / Attorney / Hong Kong
How do experience and age affect pay?
| 0 - 2 Years | 35,700 HKD | |
| 2 - 5 Years | +34% | 47,700 HKD |
| 5 - 10 Years | +48% | 70,400 HKD |
| 10 - 15 Years | +22% | 85,900 HKD |
| 15 - 20 Years | +9% | 93,600 HKD |
| 20+ Years | +8% | 101,000 HKD |
The experience level is the most important factor in determining the salary. Naturally, the more years of experience the higher the wage. We broke down salaries by experience level for people working as Attorney and this is what we found.
Employees with less than two years of experience earn approximately 35,700 HKD.
While someone with an experience level between two and five years is expected to earn 47,700 HKD, 34% more than someone with less than two year's experience.
Moving forward, an experience level between five and ten years lands a salary of 70,400 HKD, 48% more than someone with two to five years of experience.
Additionally, professionals whose expertise span anywhere between ten and fifteen years get a salary equivalent to 85,900 HKD, 22% more than someone with five to ten years of experience.
If the experience level is between fifteen and twenty years, then the expected wage is 93,600 HKD, 9% more than someone with ten to fifteen years of experience.
Lastly, employees with more than twenty years of professional experience get a salary of 101,000 HKD, 8% more than people with fifteen to twenty years of experience.
Typical Salary Progress for Most Careers
Salary Comparison By Education / Attorney / Hong Kong
How do education levels affect salaries?
Displayed below is the average salary variance between different education levels of professionals working as Attorney.
| Bachelor's Degree | 40,700 HKD | |
| Master's Degree | +57% | 63,900 HKD |
| PhD | +68% | 107,000 HKD |
We all know that higher education equals a bigger salary, but how much more money can a degree add to your income? We broke down salaries by education level for the position Attorney in order to make a comparison.
Level 1: Bachelor's Degree
Employees at this education level have an average salary of 40,700 HKD.
Level 2: Master's Degree
At this level, the average salary becomes 63,900 HKD, 57% more than the previous level.
Level 3: PhD
At this level, the average salary becomes 107,000 HKD, 68% more than the previous level.
Is a Master's degree or an MBA worth it? Should you pursue higher education?
A Master's degree program or any post-graduate program in Hong Kong costs anywhere from 184,000 HKD to 551,000 HKD and lasts approximately two years. That is quite an investment.
You can't really expect any salary increases during the study period, assuming you already have a job. In most cases, a salary review is conducted once education is completed and the degree has been attained.
Many people pursue higher education as a tactic to switch to a higher-paying job. The numbers seem to support the theory. The average increase in compensation while changing jobs is approximately 10% more than the customary salary increment.
If you can afford the costs of higher education, the return on investment is definitely worth it. You should be able to recover the costs in roughly a year or so.
Typical Salary Difference by Education for Most Careers
Salary and Compensation Comparison By Gender / Attorney / Hong Kong
Though gender should not have an effect on pay, in reality, it does. So who gets paid more: men or women? For the people who work as Attorney in Hong Kong, the average difference between the salary of male and female employees is 12%.
| Male | 72,300 HKD | |
| Female | -11% | 64,400 HKD |
Salary Comparison By Gender in Hong Kong for all Careers
Average Annual Salary Increment Percentage / Attorney / Hong Kong
How much are annual salary increments in Hong Kong for individuals working as Attorney? How often do employees get salary raises?
Individuals working as Attorney in Hong Kong are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 8% every 29 months. The national average annual increment for all professions combined is 4% granted to employees every 29 months.
Hong Kong / All Professions
The term Annual Salary Increase usually refers to the increase in 12 calendar month period, but because it is rare that people get their salaries reviewed exactly on the one-year mark, it is more meaningful to know the frequency and the rate at the time of the increase.
How to calculate the salary increment percentage?
The annual salary Increase in a calendar year (12 months) can be easily calculated as follows: Annual Salary Increase = Increase Rate x 12 / Increase Frequency
Worldwide Salary Raises: All Countries and All Jobs
Salary Packages and Schemes
Not all compensation increases are reflected directly in the salary. Some companies offer upgraded packages to their staff instead of cash money. The figures displayed here account only for direct increments to the base salary.
Bonus and Incentive Rates / Attorney / Hong Kong
How much and how often are bonuses being awarded?
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32% of surveyed staff reported that they haven't received any bonuses or incentives in the previous year while 68% said that they received at least one form of monetary bonus.
Those who got bonuses reported rates ranging from 5% to 9% of their annual salary.
| Received Bonus | 68% | |
| No Bonus | 32% |
Types of Bonuses Considered
Individual Performance-Based BonusesThe most standard form of bonus, where the employee is awarded based on their exceptional performance.
Company Performance BonusesOccasionally, some companies like to celebrate excess earnings and profits with their staff collectively in the form of bonuses that are granted to everyone. The amount of the bonus will probably be different from person to person depending on their role within the organization.
Goal-Based BonusesGranted upon achieving an important goal or milestone.
Holiday / End of Year BonusesThese types of bonuses are given without a reason and usually resemble an appreciation token.
Bonuses Are Not Commissions!
People tend to confuse bonuses with commissions. A commission is a prefixed rate at which someone gets paid for items sold or deals completed while a bonus is in most cases arbitrary and unplanned.
What makes a position worthy of good bonuses and a high salary?
The main two types of jobs | |
| Revenue Generators | Supporting Cast |
Employees that are directly involved in generating revenue or profit for the organization. Their field of expertise usually matches the type of business. | Employees that support and facilitate the work of revenue generators. Their expertise is usually different from that of the core business operations. |
Example: | Example: |
Revenue generators usually get more and higher bonuses, higher salaries, and more frequent salary increments. The reason is quite simple: it is easier to quantify your value to the company in monetary terms when you participate in revenue generation.
Bonus Comparison by Seniority Level
Top management personnel and senior employees naturally exhibit higher bonus rates and frequencies than juniors. This is very predictable due to the inherent responsibilities of being higher in the hierarchy. People in top positions can easily get double or triple bonus rates than employees down the pyramid.
Average Hourly Wage / Attorney / Hong Kong
390 HKD per hourThe average hourly wage (pay per hour) for individuals working as Attorney in Hong Kong is 390 HKD.This is the rate they get paid for every worked hour.
About The Hourly Pay Rate
The hourly wage is the salary paid in one worked hour. Usually, jobs are classified into two categories: salaried jobs and hourly jobs. Salaried jobs pay a fixed amount regardless of the hours worked. Hourly jobs pay per worked hour. To convert salary into hourly wage the above formula is used (assuming 5 working days in a week and 8 working hours per day which is the standard for most jobs). The hourly wage calculation may differ slightly depending on the worked hours per week and the annual vacation allowance. The figures mentioned above are good approximations and are considered to be the standard. One major difference between salaried employees and hourly paid employees is overtime eligibility. Salaried employees are usually exempt from overtime as opposed to hourly paid staff.
What is the minimum hourly rate of pay?
The minimum pay rate per hour for people working as Attorney in Hong Kong is 180 HKD. This is the minimum as per the gathered data in the salary survey not the minimum hourly rate mandated by law.
Salary comparison with similar jobs
| Job Title | Average Salary |
| Legal |  -100% | |
| Administrative Law Judge | 97,000 HKD |  +42% |
| Arbitrator | 41,500 HKD | -39% |
| Associate Attorney | 42,400 HKD | -38% |
| Attorney | 68,300 HKD | -0% |
| Bailiff | 21,000 HKD | -69% |
| Barrister | 17,300 HKD | -75% |
| Blockchain Lawyer | 50,900 HKD | -26% |
| Candidate Attorney | 38,100 HKD | -44% |
| Conciliator | 32,100 HKD | -53% |
| Contracts Associate | 22,600 HKD | -67% |
| Contracts Manager | 40,500 HKD | -41% |
| Contracts Negotiator | 32,700 HKD | -52% |
| Contracts Specialist | 22,500 HKD | -67% |
| Conveyancing Secretary | 18,500 HKD | -73% |
| Corporate Counsel | 51,500 HKD | -25% |
| Counsel | 47,900 HKD | -30% |
| Court Clerk | 15,700 HKD | -77% |
| Court Judicial Assistant | 26,200 HKD | -62% |
| Court Liaison Specialist | 30,300 HKD | -56% |
| Court Reporter | 27,100 HKD | -60% |
| Court Representative | 20,800 HKD | -70% |
| Crown Prosecution Service Lawyer | 96,900 HKD | +42% |
| Data Privacy and Protection Lawyer | 57,000 HKD | -17% |
| Digital Forensics Lawyer | 55,400 HKD | -19% |
| E-discovery Lawyer | 62,100 HKD | -9% |
| General Counsel | 90,600 HKD | +33% |
| Genetics Lawyer | 67,000 HKD | -2% |
| Immigration Executive | 48,400 HKD | -29% |
| In House Counsel | 47,300 HKD | -31% |
| Intellectual Property Lawyer | 63,500 HKD | -7% |
| Intellectual Property Specialist | 32,300 HKD | -53% |
| Judge Advocate | 75,900 HKD | +11% |
| Law Clerk | 16,100 HKD | -76% |
| Lawyer | 69,600 HKD | +2% |
| Legal Administrative Assistant | 18,200 HKD | -73% |
| Legal Advisor | 41,300 HKD | -40% |
| Legal Assistant | 18,300 HKD | -73% |
| Legal Associate | 31,600 HKD | -54% |
| Legal Compliance Officer | 44,000 HKD | -36% |
| Legal Consultant | 41,200 HKD | -40% |
| Legal Content Writer | 36,100 HKD | -47% |
| Legal Counsel | 49,200 HKD | -28% |
| Legal Data Analyst | 37,100 HKD | -46% |
| Legal Data Privacy Officer | 35,400 HKD | -48% |
| Legal Editor | 32,000 HKD | -53% |
| Legal Executive | 61,700 HKD | -10% |
| Legal Executive Secretary | 18,600 HKD | -73% |
| Legal IP Officer | 17,200 HKD | -75% |
| Legal Officer | 21,200 HKD | -69% |
| Legal Operations Manager | 72,700 HKD | +6% |
| Legal Process Outsourcing Professional | 40,800 HKD | -40% |
| Legal Project Manager | 81,400 HKD | +19% |
| Legal Risk Analyst | 62,900 HKD | -8% |
| Legal Secretary | 18,700 HKD | -73% |
| Legal Services Director | 78,400 HKD | +15% |
| Legal Services Manager | 77,700 HKD | +14% |
| Legal Support Worker | 12,900 HKD | -81% |
| Legal Technology Consultant | 31,300 HKD | -54% |
| Legislative Liaison | 32,200 HKD | -53% |
| Litigation Attorney | 80,500 HKD | +18% |
| Litigation Paralegal | 41,100 HKD | -40% |
| Litigation Support Specialist | 44,400 HKD | -35% |
| Magistrate Judge | 108,000 HKD | +58% |
| Paralegal | 26,100 HKD | -62% |
| Patent Attorney | 49,700 HKD | -27% |
| Privacy Compliance Officer | 31,900 HKD | -53% |
| Privacy Lawyer | 55,200 HKD | -19% |
| Social Media Lawyer | 53,100 HKD | -22% |
| Staff Attorney | 55,000 HKD | -20% |
| Venture Capital Lawyer | 71,300 HKD | +4% |
| Web Content Lawyer | 54,900 HKD | -20% |
Government vs Private Sector Salary Comparison
Where can you get paid more, working in a private company or the government? The difference between the public or government sector salaries and the private sector salaries in Hong Kong is 10% on average across all career fields.
| Private Sector | 35,600 HKD | |
| Public Sector | +10% | 39,300 HKD |
Salary Statistics and Calculation Guide
What is considered to be a good and competitive salary for the job title Attorney in Hong Kong?
A good and competitive compensation would range anywhere between 65,300 HKD and 75,300 HKD. This is a very rough estimate. Experience and education play a very huge part in the final earnings.
Gross Salary (before tax) and Net Salary (after tax)
All salary and compensation figures displayed here are gross salary figures, that is the salary before tax deductions. Because taxes may differ across sectors and locations, it is difficult to accurately calculate the net salary after tax for every career.
Base / Basic Salary
The base salary for a careers like Attorney in Hong Kong ranges from 31,400 HKD to 52,700 HKD. The base salary depends on many factors including experience and education. It is not easy to provide a figure with very little information, so take this range with a grain of salt.
What is the difference between the median and the average salary?
Both are indicators. If your salary is higher than both the average and the median then you are doing very well. If your salary is lower than both, then many people earn more than you and there is plenty of room for improvement. If your wage is between the average and the median, then things can be a bit complicated. We wrote a guide to explain all about the different scenarios. How to compare your salary
