Judicial Law Clerk Salary in the United States (2026)
Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data · Updated 2026 · Medium Demand
| State | Avg Salary | vs National | Demand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $96,534 | +55.0% | Medium |
| District of Columbia | $94,666 | +52.0% | Medium |
| California | $88,438 | +42.0% | Medium |
| New York | $85,946 | +38.0% | Medium |
| Alaska | $82,210 | +32.0% | Medium |
| Massachusetts | $80,964 | +30.0% | Medium |
| New Jersey | $79,718 | +28.0% | Medium |
| Washington | $77,850 | +25.0% | Medium |
| Connecticut | $75,982 | +22.0% | Medium |
| Maryland | $71,622 | +15.0% | Medium |
| Rhode Island | $71,622 | +15.0% | Medium |
| New Hampshire | $70,999 | +14.0% | Medium |
| Oregon | $69,754 | +12.0% | Medium |
| Colorado | $68,508 | +10.0% | Medium |
| Virginia | $68,508 | +10.0% | Medium |
| Vermont | $67,262 | +8.0% | Medium |
| Delaware | $65,394 | +5.0% | Medium |
| Illinois | $65,394 | +5.0% | Medium |
| Maine | $63,526 | +2.0% | Medium |
| Nevada | $63,526 | +2.0% | Medium |
| Minnesota | $62,280 | +0.0% | Medium |
| Utah | $62,280 | +0.0% | Medium |
| Arizona | $61,657 | -1.0% | Medium |
| Pennsylvania | $61,657 | -1.0% | Medium |
| Florida | $61,034 | -2.0% | Medium |
| Montana | $59,166 | -5.0% | Medium |
| Texas | $59,166 | -5.0% | Medium |
| Georgia | $57,920 | -7.0% | Medium |
| Idaho | $57,920 | -7.0% | Medium |
| Wyoming | $57,920 | -7.0% | Medium |
| North Dakota | $57,298 | -8.0% | Medium |
| Wisconsin | $57,298 | -8.0% | Medium |
| North Carolina | $56,675 | -9.0% | Medium |
| Michigan | $56,052 | -10.0% | Medium |
| Louisiana | $54,806 | -12.0% | Medium |
| Nebraska | $54,806 | -12.0% | Medium |
| New Mexico | $54,806 | -12.0% | Medium |
| Ohio | $54,806 | -12.0% | Medium |
| South Carolina | $54,806 | -12.0% | Medium |
| Tennessee | $54,806 | -12.0% | Medium |
| Alabama | $54,184 | -13.0% | Medium |
| Missouri | $54,184 | -13.0% | Medium |
| South Dakota | $54,184 | -13.0% | Medium |
| Iowa | $53,561 | -14.0% | Medium |
| Indiana | $52,938 | -15.0% | Medium |
| Kansas | $52,938 | -15.0% | Medium |
| Oklahoma | $52,315 | -16.0% | Medium |
| Arkansas | $51,692 | -17.0% | Medium |
| Kentucky | $51,692 | -17.0% | Medium |
| Mississippi | $49,824 | -20.0% | Medium |
| West Virginia | $48,578 | -22.0% | Medium |
A Judicial Law Clerk's salary is influenced by several key factors including geographic location, years of experience, employer type, and educational background. States with higher costs of living — such as California, New York, and Washington — typically offer 20–40% higher salaries than the national average to compensate for living expenses.
Experience plays a major role in compensation. Entry-level Judicial Law Clerks typically earn $41,180–$52,780 per year, while senior professionals with 10+ years of experience can command $78,880–$88,578 annually. Specialization and advanced certifications can further boost earning potential.
Employer size also matters. Large corporations and government agencies tend to offer more competitive packages including benefits, retirement plans, and bonuses. The Judicial Law Clerk role currently has medium demand in the job market with a 2.5% growth rate, making it one of the steadily growing careers in the Legal sector.
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What is the average salary for a Judicial Law Clerk?The average salary for a Judicial Law Clerk in the United States is $62,280 per year, with a median of $58,280.
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What is the starting salary for a Judicial Law Clerk?Entry-level Judicial Law Clerks typically earn between $41,180 and $52,780 per year depending on location and employer.
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What state pays Judicial Law Clerks the most?California, New York, and Washington typically pay Judicial Law Clerks the highest salaries due to high cost of living and strong job markets.
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How much does a Judicial Law Clerk make per hour?Based on the average annual salary of $62,280, a Judicial Law Clerk earns approximately $29.94 per hour (based on 2,080 working hours/year).
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Is Judicial Law Clerk a good career in 2026?Yes — the Judicial Law Clerk role has medium demand with 2.5% year-over-year salary growth, indicating a strong and growing career path.