Research Summary. The Zippia data science team has conducted comprehensive research to present the latest insights on law clerk salaries by state as of 2026:
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New York leads the nation with the highest law clerk salary at $83,585.
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Oklahoma has the lowest law clerk salary at $32,804.
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The national average salary for law clerks is $55,916.
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The average hourly wage for law clerks is $26.88.
For further details, visit our specific methodology.
Background
Salary continues to be a primary concern for job seekers across demographics. Many wonder, “How much do law clerks earn in my area?” Understanding the nuances of law clerk salaries can help you gauge potential earnings in your locale.
While individual salaries can vary based on location, experience, and practice area, we provide robust data on average salaries for law clerks by state, categorized by seniority level. This data offers a useful benchmark for salary expectations.
Currently, New York ranks as the state with the highest average salary for law clerks.
Here’s an overview of the top ten states for law clerk salaries in 2026:
Now, let’s explore the comprehensive rankings of all states.
Highest-Paid Law Clerks By State
| Rank | State | Average Law Clerk Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $83,585 | $45,000 | $155,000 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $79,314 | $42,000 | $147,000 |
| 3 | Vermont | $73,026 | $39,000 | $136,000 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $71,508 | $37,000 | $134,000 |
| 5 | California | $70,394 | $39,000 | $126,000 |
| 6 | Maine | $70,225 | $37,000 | $131,000 |
| 7 | Delaware | $70,047 | $36,000 | $133,000 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $68,180 | $36,000 | $128,000 |
| 9 | North Dakota | $66,622 | $39,000 | $111,000 |
| 10 | Washington | $66,170 | $39,000 | $111,000 |
| 11 | New Hampshire | $65,583 | $34,000 | $123,000 |
| 12 | Nevada | $65,015 | $36,000 | $116,000 |
| 13 | Illinois | $63,363 | $35,000 | $113,000 |
| 14 | Montana | $57,706 | $35,000 | $94,000 |
| 15 | South Dakota | $57,666 | $33,000 | $98,000 |
| 16 | Colorado | $56,347 | $33,000 | $95,000 |
| 17 | Idaho | $54,852 | $31,000 | $94,000 |
| 18 | Virginia | $53,479 | $28,000 | $101,000 |
| 19 | New Jersey | $53,391 | $28,000 | $101,000 |
| 20 | Hawaii | $53,386 | $41,000 | $68,000 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania | $53,250 | $28,000 | $101,000 |
| 22 | Maryland | $53,022 | $27,000 | $100,000 |
| 23 | Minnesota | $52,745 | $30,000 | $92,000 |
| 24 | West Virginia | $51,741 | $27,000 | $96,000 |
| 25 | Tennessee | $51,591 | $28,000 | $92,000 |
| 26 | Ohio | $50,947 | $27,000 | $94,000 |
| 27 | Arizona | $50,316 | $28,000 | $89,000 |
| 28 | Michigan | $49,758 | $26,000 | $92,000 |
| 29 | Kansas | $49,031 | $28,000 | $84,000 |
| 30 | North Carolina | $47,789 | $25,000 | $88,000 |
| 31 | Kentucky | $46,945 | $25,000 | $85,000 |
| 32 | Oregon | $45,633 | $26,000 | $78,000 |
| 33 | Missouri | $45,050 | $25,000 | $79,000 |
| 34 | Wyoming | $44,439 | $26,000 | $74,000 |
| 35 | Iowa | $44,407 | $25,000 | $77,000 |
| 36 | Florida | $43,571 | $23,000 | $79,000 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $42,903 | $23,000 | $78,000 |
| 38 | New Mexico | $42,136 | $23,000 | $74,000 |
| 39 | Texas | $40,281 | $22,000 | $71,000 |
| 40 | Louisiana | $39,786 | $22,000 | $70,000 |
| 41 | Utah | $39,196 | $22,000 | $67,000 |
| 42 | Alaska | $38,917 | $32,000 | $47,000 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $38,512 | $21,000 | $67,000 |
| 44 | Wisconsin | $38,240 | $21,000 | $68,000 |
| 45 | Georgia | $38,085 | $21,000 | $68,000 |
| 46 | Indiana | $37,393 | $20,000 | $67,000 |
| 47 | Nebraska | $37,355 | $21,000 | $64,000 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $37,189 | $20,000 | $66,000 |
| 49 | Alabama | $36,384 | $20,000 | $65,000 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $32,804 | $18,000 | $57,000 |
Methodology: Law Clerk Salary By State
To provide a clearer picture of law clerk salaries across the United States, Zippia combines data from various sources, including the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Federal Labor Certification (FLC), and Office of Personnel Management (OPM). We enhance this information with actual salary listings from job postings. Our data science team then calculates a weighted average from these inputs to derive the average salary for law clerks in each state.
We ranked each state based on the average annual salary data derived from our estimates, identifying the state with the highest average salary for law clerks.
Law Clerk Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for law clerks?
The highest-paid state for law clerks is New York, with an average salary of $83,585 per year.
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What city pays law clerks the most?
Washington, DC, offers the highest average salary for law clerks at $107,457 per year.
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What is the worst state for law clerks?
The state with the lowest average salary for law clerks is Oklahoma, with an average salary of $32,804 per year.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
