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Court clerk salary
Average court clerk salary
$36,328
Understanding Court Clerk Salaries
The average court clerk salary in the United States stands at $36,328 per year. This figure can fluctuate based on various factors, including experience level and geographical location. For instance, entry-level court clerks may earn less, while those with several years of experience often command higher salaries.
Salary by Experience Level
Typically, court clerks can expect to see salary growth as they gain experience. Entry-level positions start lower, but with time and additional responsibilities, salaries can reach significantly higher levels.
Highest Paying States
Some states offer better compensation for court clerks than others. Research indicates that states with higher living costs often provide salaries that reflect those conditions, thus attracting more candidates into the profession.
Job Opportunities
Beyond salary, becoming a court clerk opens doors to various career paths within the legal system. Opportunities include roles in district courts, family courts, and municipal courts, which can lead to advancements in legal administration.
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Where can a Court Clerk earn more?
Court clerk salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level court clerk | $30,900 | $14.86 |
| Mid-level court clerk | $34,000 | $16.34 |
| Senior-level court clerk | $43,600 | $20.95 |
Court clerk salary estimates from across the web
Average court clerk salary by state
The average court clerk salary in Washington, Illinois, and Hawaii are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average court clerk salary states are Louisiana, Mississippi, and Missouri.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for court clerks
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $54,151 | $26.03 |
| 2 | Oregon | $41,282 | $19.85 |
| 3 | California | $43,202 | $20.77 |
| 4 | Minnesota | $43,269 | $20.80 |
| 5 | Illinois | $47,922 | $23.04 |
| 6 | Wyoming | $43,035 | $20.69 |
| 7 | Ohio | $39,493 | $18.99 |
| 8 | Kentucky | $38,522 | $18.52 |
| 9 | Wisconsin | $38,104 | $18.32 |
| 10 | Michigan | $37,255 | $17.91 |
| 11 | Hawaii | $46,247 | $22.23 |
| 12 | Alaska | $38,383 | $18.45 |
| 13 | Utah | $36,674 | $17.63 |
| 14 | Colorado | $39,584 | $19.03 |
| 15 | Tennessee | $35,601 | $17.12 |
| 16 | West Virginia | $39,109 | $18.80 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | $37,801 | $18.17 |
| 18 | South Carolina | $37,400 | $17.98 |
| 19 | North Dakota | $37,467 | $18.01 |
| 20 | South Dakota | $33,469 | $16.09 |
| 21 | Idaho | $34,621 | $16.64 |
| 22 | Oklahoma | $35,018 | $16.84 |
| 23 | New York | $36,064 | $17.34 |
| 24 | Maine | $36,531 | $17.56 |
| 25 | Arizona | $32,963 | $15.85 |
| 26 | Kansas | $32,166 | $15.46 |
| 27 | Connecticut | $33,254 | $15.99 |
| 28 | Georgia | $34,360 | $16.52 |
| 29 | Texas | $32,865 | $15.80 |
| 30 | Montana | $35,534 | $17.08 |
| 31 | Nebraska | $32,294 | $15.53 |
| 32 | New Jersey | $36,052 | $17.33 |
| 33 | Iowa | $33,230 | $15.98 |
| 34 | Delaware | $33,073 | $15.90 |
| 35 | Nevada | $33,986 | $16.34 |
| 36 | New Mexico | $31,872 | $15.32 |
| 37 | North Carolina | $32,252 | $15.51 |
| 38 | Rhode Island | $33,030 | $15.88 |
| 39 | Vermont | $32,321 | $15.54 |
| 40 | Indiana | $29,795 | $14.32 |
| 41 | Massachusetts | $32,834 | $15.79 |
| 42 | New Hampshire | $32,556 | $15.65 |
| 43 | Maryland | $32,937 | $15.84 |
| 44 | Missouri | $30,197 | $14.52 |
| 45 | Florida | $29,231 | $14.05 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $30,688 | $14.75 |
| 47 | District of Columbia | $32,850 | $15.79 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $30,266 | $14.55 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $30,482 | $14.65 |
| 50 | Virginia | $30,646 | $14.73 |
| 51 | Alabama | $27,110 | $13.03 |
Highest paying cities for court clerks
The highest-paying cities for court clerks are Edmonds, WA, Minneapolis, MN, and Loveland, CO.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Edmonds, WA | $54,422 | $26.16 |
| 2 | Minneapolis, MN | $43,344 | $20.84 |
| 3 | Loveland, CO | $39,811 | $19.14 |
| 4 | Wausau, WI | $38,409 | $18.47 |
| 5 | Lancaster, PA | $37,774 | $18.16 |
| 6 | Rochester Hills, MI | $37,338 | $17.95 |
| 7 | Albany, NY | $35,709 | $17.17 |
| 8 | Bozeman, MT | $35,269 | $16.96 |
| 9 | Caldwell, ID | $34,673 | $16.67 |
| 10 | Atlanta, GA | $34,498 | $16.59 |
| 11 | Marana, AZ | $32,959 | $15.85 |
| 12 | Austin, TX | $32,835 | $15.79 |
| 13 | Topeka, KS | $32,345 | $15.55 |
Court clerk salary details
A court clerk's salary ranges from $29,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $45,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a court clerk's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $45,000 | $3,750 | $22 |
| 75th Percentile | $40,000 | $3,333 | $19 |
| Average | $36,328 | $3,027 | $17 |
| 25th Percentile | $32,000 | $2,667 | $15 |
| 10th Percentile | $29,000 | $2,417 | $14 |
Highest paying court clerk jobs
The highest paying types of court clerks are process server, court administrator, and court officer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Criminal Justice Internship | $31,029 | $2,586 | $14.92 | 47,436 |
| Legal Clerk | $35,152 | $2,929 | $16.90 | 74,069 |
| Clerk | $31,163 | $2,597 | $14.98 | 80,311 |
| Records Clerk | $29,795 | $2,483 | $14.32 | 101,023 |
| Deputy Clerk | $37,898 | $3,158 | $18.22 | 98,637 |
| Docket Clerk | $41,942 | $3,495 | $20.16 | 72,603 |
Top companies hiring court clerks now:
Which companies pay court clerks the most?
Court clerk salaries at Wayne County, Michigan and King County are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average court clerk salary at companies like City of Seattle and City of Tucson are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wayne County, Michigan | $51,926 | $24.96 |
| 2 | King County | $50,068 | $24.07 |
| 3 | City of Seattle | $47,389 | $22.78 |
| 4 | City of Tucson | $45,693 | $21.97 |
| 5 | City of Topeka | $45,653 | $21.95 |
| 6 | City of Atlanta | $45,165 | $21.71 |
| 7 | City of Spokane | $45,112 | $21.69 |
| 8 | Town of Marana | $44,196 | $21.25 |
| 9 | City of Austin | $44,004 | $21.16 |
| 10 | City of Laredo | $43,448 | $20.89 |
| 11 | City of Bozeman | $43,353 | $20.84 |
| 12 | City of Aurora | $42,861 | $20.61 |
| 13 | City of Ann Arbor | $42,776 | $20.57 |
| 14 | City Of Willoughby | $42,714 | $20.54 |
| 15 | City of Garden City | $42,580 | $20.47 |
| 16 | City of Glendale, CA | $42,238 | $20.31 |
| 17 | Loveland City Hall | $40,395 | $19.42 |
| 18 | City of Edmonds, Official City Account | $40,151 | $19.30 |
| 19 | Lincoln Holdings LLC | $39,991 | $19.23 |
| 20 | Oakland County, Michigan Government | $39,890 | $19.18 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Court clerk salary trends
The average court clerk salary has risen by $5,885 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average court clerk earned $30,443 annually, but today, they earn $36,328 a year. That works out to a 12% change in pay for court clerks over the last decade.
Compare court clerk salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average court clerk salary over time
Compare court clerk salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Court clerk salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $36,300 | $17.47 | +3.8% |
| 2024 | $35,000 | $16.80 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | $34,100 | $16.41 | +3.0% |
| 2022 | $33,100 | $15.92 | +1.7% |
| 2021 | $32,500 | $15.65 | +2.2% |
Recently added court clerk salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whatcom County, Wa | Court Clerk-Clerk's Office | Bellingham, WA | 06/28/2025 | $43,869 |
| State of Virginia | Clerk of Court-Shenandoah GDC | Woodstock, VA | 06/28/2025 | $53,784 |
| Fort Bend County, Tx | Court Clerk--District Clerk's Office | Richmond, TX | 06/28/2025 | $31,305 |
| Ingham County, Mi | Court Information Clerk-Juvenile Division | Lansing, MI | 06/27/2025 | $38,985 |
| Lake County | Justice Court Clerk | Polson, MT | 06/26/2025 | $34,957 |
| City of Scottsdale, Az | Court Clerk | Scottsdale, AZ | 06/26/2025 | $51,987 |
| Kansas Judicial Branch | Trial Court Clerk II-25Th Judicial District | Garden City, KS | 06/25/2025 | $37,816 |
| City of Apache Junction | Court Clerk | Apache Junction, AZ | 06/22/2025 | $39,027 |
| City of Avondale | Court Clerk II-Photo Speed Specialist | Avondale, AZ | 06/20/2025 | $46,018 |
| Jacksongov | Court Clerk-Civil Records | Kansas City, MO | 06/20/2025 | $35,542 |
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