Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Doctoral or professional degree
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These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
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Judicial law clerks support the work of the courts and judges, drawing heavily on strong legal education and advanced analytical abilities. This career employs about 14,000 people nationwide, with projected employment growth of 2.5%. The role suits people who enjoy intensive writing and reading, careful analysis, and attention to fine detail. It also relies on speaking and listening skills, problem solving, and effective use of computers and information technology. Judicial law clerks need to be adaptable, creative, and capable of sound decision making. Opportunities exist across the country, with notable concentrations in states such as California, Massachusetts, New York, Colorado, and Washington, and in metro areas like New York, San Francisco, Washington, DC, Boston, and Seattle. For those interested in legally oriented careers that emphasize research, analysis, and communication, judicial law clerk positions can also serve as a reference point alongside related paths such as title examiners, arbitrators and mediators, legal support workers, proofreaders, and credit analysts.
Judicial law clerks have a national median annual salary of $60,400, but pay varies significantly by location. Several top states offer higher median salaries, including Massachusetts at $143,350, New York at $133,320, Washington at $80,240, and California at $79,030. Colorado’s median salary of $67,230 is also above the national median. At the metro level, Boston–Cambridge–Newton stands out with a median of $143,350, while San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont offers $90,650 and Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue offers $80,240. The Washington–Arlington–Alexandria metro reports a median of $70,110. In contrast, the New York–Newark–Jersey City metro has a median salary of $58,890 despite being a top metro for opportunity. These differences show that potential earnings for judicial law clerks depend heavily on the specific state or metro area where you work.
Judicial law clerks have national employment of about 14,000, with a projected employment growth rate of 2.5%. There are an estimated 1,000 annual openings, indicating ongoing movement and hiring within the field. The same 2.5% projected growth rate is reported for leading states such as California, Massachusetts, New York, Colorado, and Washington, as well as for top metro areas including New York–Newark–Jersey City, San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, Boston–Cambridge–Newton, and Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue. This consistency suggests relatively similar growth expectations across many key regions. For students and career changers, the combination of existing national employment, projected growth, and regular annual openings points to a career path with continuing demand. Those comparing this occupation to similar roles—such as title examiners, arbitrators and mediators, legal support workers, proofreaders, or credit analysts—can use these figures to weigh the relative stability and scale of judicial law clerk opportunities.
Location plays a major role in the opportunities available to judicial law clerks. Among states, California has the largest reported employment at 1,800, with a median salary of $79,030 and an opportunity score of 67.38. New York employs 850 judicial law clerks with a median salary of $133,320 and an opportunity score of 65.78. Massachusetts combines a smaller employment base of 500 with a high median salary of $143,350 and an opportunity score of 65.87. Washington and Colorado have more modest employment levels (580 and 140, respectively), with median salaries of $80,240 and $67,230. At the metro level, New York–Newark–Jersey City stands out with an opportunity score of 77.27 and employment of 560, though its median salary of $58,890 is lower than in several other metros. San Francisco, Boston, Washington, DC, and Seattle all provide higher median pay, with opportunity scores ranging from about 61.92 to 68.75, giving candidates multiple options depending on whether they prioritize salary, employment concentration, or the overall opportunity score.
Judicial law clerks typically need a doctoral or professional degree, reflecting the advanced legal knowledge and judgment required in this career. This level of education supports intensive writing and reading, critical and analytical thinking, and strong problem solving and decision making. The work calls for a detail-oriented approach, as well as solid speaking and listening skills to communicate effectively in legal settings. Competence with computers and information technology is also important, alongside adaptability and the capacity for creativity and innovation. Mathematics and fine motor skills round out the skill profile, emphasizing both precise written work and comfort with quantitative or technical tasks as needed. For students planning their path, the combination of an advanced degree and this broad skill set distinguishes judicial law clerks from related occupations such as title examiners, arbitrators and mediators, legal support workers, proofreaders, and credit analysts, which may emphasize overlapping but distinct skill mixes or training routes.
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