How much does a judicial law clerk make?
The median judicial law clerk in the United States earns $64,920 per year, about $31.21 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all judicial law clerks earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 23-1012.
Judicial law clerk salary range
Pay for judicial law clerks spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $46,180 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $113,140. The average (mean) wage of $72,950 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $46,180 | $22.20 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $52,870 | $25.42 | |
| Median (50th) | $64,920 | $31.21 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $80,420 | $38.67 | |
| 90th percentile | $113,140 | $54.40 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for judicial law clerks (SOC 23-1012), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Judicial law clerk salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Judicial law clerks earn the most in Massachusetts at $143,350 a year, and the least in Oklahoma at $44,990. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $143,350 | 500 |
| New York | $133,320 | 850 |
| Connecticut | $98,670 | 270 |
| Oregon | $86,870 | 30 |
| North Dakota | $85,530 | 40 |
| Washington | $80,240 | 580 |
| Arkansas | $80,150 | 50 |
| California | $79,030 | 1,800 |
| Idaho | $75,540 | 60 |
| Tennessee | $75,190 | 400 |
| Minnesota | $71,070 | 410 |
| Maryland | $70,110 | 370 |
| Nevada | $69,600 | 70 |
| Maine | $67,890 | 30 |
| Alaska | $67,580 | 140 |
| Colorado | $67,230 | 140 |
| Missouri | $66,060 | 100 |
| Virginia | $65,940 | 380 |
| Delaware | $64,720 | 100 |
| Iowa | $64,260 | 90 |
| Louisiana | $63,180 | 90 |
| Texas | $63,130 | 220 |
| Michigan | $62,260 | 280 |
| Arizona | $60,170 | 250 |
| New Jersey | $58,890 | 530 |
| Indiana | $57,140 | 70 |
| Florida | $55,180 | 1,300 |
| Georgia | $55,120 | 560 |
| Wisconsin | $54,250 | 180 |
| West Virginia | $52,120 | 260 |
| Utah | $51,900 | 630 |
| Pennsylvania | $50,590 | 970 |
| South Carolina | $50,330 | 230 |
| Ohio | $49,840 | 240 |
| Nebraska | $49,570 | 110 |
| Montana | $47,320 | 40 |
| Hawaii | $47,010 | 330 |
| Kansas | $45,720 | 40 |
| Oklahoma | $44,990 | 130 |
State median wages for judicial law clerks (SOC 23-1012), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for judicial law clerks
The BLS projects employment of judicial law clerks to grow 2.8% from 2025 to 2035. That is about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 14,000 jobs in 2025 moving toward 14,400 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 1,500 openings a year for judicial law clerks. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a judicial law clerk
The typical entry-level education for judicial law clerks is a doctoral or professional degree, according to the BLS.
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a judicial law clerk earns
Firm size, practice area, years of experience, and metro area drive the spread. Large firms and major markets pay far above small-town or entry-level roles.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Massachusetts, $143,350) and the lowest (Oklahoma, $44,990) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 13,290 people work as judicial law clerks in the United States. At $64,920 a year, the job pays above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Judicial law clerk salary FAQ
How much does a judicial law clerk make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a judicial law clerk is $31.21. The middle half of judicial law clerks earn between $25.42 and $38.67 per hour.
What is the highest judicial law clerk salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of judicial law clerks earn more than $113,140 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a judicial law clerk make a year?
The median annual salary for a judicial law clerk is $64,920. The average (mean) wage of $72,950 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a judicial law clerk a well paid job?
At $64,920 a year, a judicial law clerk earns above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 13,290 people work as judicial law clerks in the United States.
Which state pays judicial law clerks the most?
Massachusetts has the highest median salary for judicial law clerks at $143,350 a year. New York ($133,320) and Connecticut ($98,670) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a judicial law clerk a good career?
Employment of judicial law clerks is projected to grow 2.8% from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 1,500 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a judicial law clerk?
The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for judicial law clerks as a doctoral or professional degree, so a college degree is usually expected.
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