What is the salary and career path for a law clerk?
Law clerk maps to the Judicial Law Clerks code (SOC 23-1012), where the OEWS May 2025 median is $64,920 a year ($31.21 an hour), from $46,180 at the 10th percentile to $113,140 at the 90th. Federal clerkships and those in high courts pay toward the upper part of the range, state trial-court clerkships lower. BLS projects a +2.5% change for the code over 2024–2034, with only about 1,000 openings a year in this small, competitive occupation. Nearly all judicial law clerks hold a JD; the clerkship itself is typically a one- or two-year term rather than a permanent career.
- Law Clerks map to the Judicial Law Clerks code (SOC 23-1012) at a national median $64,920/yr ($31.21/hr) (BLS OEWS May 2025); the top 10% clear $113,140.
- Judicial law clerks assist judges — distinct from attorneys (23-1011) who represent clients and from paralegals (23-2011) who support attorneys.
- Nearly all clerks hold a JD, and the role is usually a prestigious one- or two-year term rather than a permanent career.
- BLS projects a +2.5% change for the code over 2024–34, but only about 1,000 openings a year in this small, highly competitive occupation.
Career Path
How do you become a law clerk?
Term Law Clerk (state trial court)
A one-year clerkship at a state trial court doing research and drafting; entry pay near the $46,180 10th percentile.
Judicial Law Clerk
Clerks for a judge — bench memos, opinion drafting, docket support; around the $64,920 median.
Federal / Appellate Law Clerk
Clerks at a federal district or appellate court; earnings near the $80,420 75th percentile.
Career Clerk / Staff Attorney
A permanent career clerk or court staff attorney; top-tier pay approaches the $113,140 90th percentile of the code.
BLS Salary Data
Which state pays law clerks the most in 2026?
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 23-1012. National median: $64,920. Full salary guide →
Pay Comparison
How does law clerk pay compare to related roles?
Head-to-head against the roles law clerks most often weigh against. BLS OEWS May 2025 medians.
Takeaway: law clerks rank 2 of 4 on median pay among the comparable roles above, with a projected +2.5% employment change 2024–34 (BLS Employment Projections). Pay position and projected demand together are what determine how quickly law clerks clear offers across the GlobalCybers placement network.
Methodology & Sources
How this guide is sourced and reviewed
Wages (BLS): All median and percentile figures are BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 23-1012 (law clerks) and the matching SOC codes for each comparison role. OEWS is sampled on a rolling 3-year basis and published ~10 months after collection, so treat it as a firm anchor rather than a spot rate.
Job growth: Projected 2024–34 employment change, and the average annual openings figure, are from the BLS Employment Projections program, by occupation. Openings are a per-year average over the projection decade, not a decade total.
Licensing & credentials:Requirements are drawn from the issuing state licensing boards and the certifying body behind each credential — not from third-party aggregators.
Demand signal:Any statement about how quickly this role clears offers reflects GlobalCybers placement request volume across the trailing 12 months — our own network data, offered as a directional real-world indicator alongside BLS, not a market-wide survey.
Credentials
What licences and certifications do law clerks need?
Nearly all judicial law clerks hold a JD from an ABA-accredited school; the clerkship builds on that legal education. See all state licences →
Many clerks are bar-admitted or sit the bar during or after the term; a permanent career clerk usually is licensed.
Not a formal credential but effectively required — clerkships are highly competitive and weigh grades, law review and writing samples.
Tools & Software
What tools and software do law clerks use on the job?
⚙️ Core Tools & Equipment
📊 BLS Employment Data, SOC 23-1012
Salary Levers
How do law clerks earn above the $64,920 BLS median?
Court level
Federal and appellate clerkships pay well above the $64,920 median, while state trial-court terms sit nearer the $46,180 floor.
Federal and appellate placement
Clerking at a federal district or circuit court lifts earnings toward the $80,420 upper quartile.
Permanent career-clerk role
Becoming a permanent career clerk or court staff attorney approaches the $113,140 top decile of the code.
This Route vs. College
Is becoming a law clerk worth it vs. a 4-year degree?
The entry route into this role, set against a four-year degree. Same starting line, side by side.
Entry-level (10th percentile) and all-level median wages: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 23-1012. Student-debt figure: median federal borrower balance for bachelor's-degree completers. Starting-salary comparison is illustrative and varies by field and region.
FAQ
Law Clerk Career, Frequently Asked Questions
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