Best cities for a law clerk
The best cities for law clerks are Washington, DC, New York, NY, and Boston, MA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for law clerks vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for law clerks in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a law clerk or considering a move, this list of the best cities for law clerks to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for law clerks. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a law clerk. While the absolute best city for law clerks is Washington, DC, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for law clerks in 2024.
If you're looking for a law clerk job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for law clerks in 2025
1. Washington, DC
Law clerk jobs in WashingtonTotal law clerk jobs: 86 Average annual salary: $107,457 Lowest 10 percent warn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $209,000 Location quotient: 43.15 2. New York, NY
Law clerk jobs in New YorkTotal law clerk jobs: 128 Average annual salary: $84,006 Lowest 10 percent warn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $162,000 Location quotient: 48.34 3. Boston, MA
Law clerk jobs in BostonTotal law clerk jobs: 121 Average annual salary: $79,294 Lowest 10 percent warn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $152,000 Location quotient: 12.30 4. Cleveland, OH
Law clerk jobs in ClevelandTotal law clerk jobs: 33 Average annual salary: $52,793 Lowest 10 percent warn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Location quotient: 15.11 5. San Francisco, CA
Law clerk jobs in San FranciscoTotal law clerk jobs: 163 Average annual salary: $74,053 Lowest 10 percent warn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $134,000 Location quotient: 11.85 6. Philadelphia, PA
Law clerk jobs in PhiladelphiaTotal law clerk jobs: 68 Average annual salary: $53,665 Lowest 10 percent warn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $104,000 Location quotient: 10.23 7. San Jose, CA
Law clerk jobs in San JoseTotal law clerk jobs: 91 Average annual salary: $73,745 Lowest 10 percent warn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $133,000 Location quotient: 9.34 8. Los Angeles, CA
Law clerk jobs in Los AngelesTotal law clerk jobs: 49 Average annual salary: $69,607 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Location quotient: 25.87 9. Fresno, CA
Law clerk jobs in FresnoTotal law clerk jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $72,532 Lowest 10 percent warn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $132,000 Location quotient: 14.29 10. Chicago, IL
Law clerk jobs in ChicagoTotal law clerk jobs: 124 Average annual salary: $63,694 Lowest 10 percent warn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $116,000 Location quotient: 9.12
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Best cities for law clerks
- Washington, DC
- New York, NY
- Boston, MA
- Cleveland, OH
- San Francisco, CA
- Philadelphia, PA
- San Jose, CA
- Los Angeles, CA
- Fresno, CA
- Chicago, IL
Detailed list of the best cities for a law clerk
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $107,457 | $55,000 | 681,170 | 86 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $84,006 | $43,000 | 8,537,673 | 128 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $79,294 | $41,000 | 673,184 | 121 |
| 4 | Cleveland, OH | $52,793 | $27,000 | 385,809 | 33 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $74,053 | $40,000 | 870,887 | 163 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $53,665 | $27,000 | 1,567,872 | 68 |
| 7 | San Jose, CA | $73,745 | $40,000 | 1,025,350 | 91 |
| 8 | Los Angeles, CA | $69,607 | $38,000 | 3,976,322 | 49 |
| 9 | Fresno, CA | $72,532 | $39,000 | 522,053 | 11 |
| 10 | Chicago, IL | $63,694 | $34,000 | 2,704,958 | 124 |
| 11 | Las Vegas, NV | $64,883 | $35,000 | 632,912 | 25 |
| 12 | Buffalo, NY | $79,923 | $41,000 | 256,902 | 7 |
| 13 | Oakland, CA | $73,940 | $40,000 | 420,005 | 6 |
| 14 | Irvine, CA | $68,561 | $37,000 | 266,122 | 32 |
| 15 | Santa Ana, CA | $68,755 | $37,000 | 334,217 | 5 |
| 16 | Sacramento, CA | $72,895 | $40,000 | 495,234 | 10 |
| 17 | San Diego, CA | $66,113 | $36,000 | 1,406,630 | 56 |
| 18 | Fremont, CA | $73,821 | $40,000 | 233,136 | 9 |
| 19 | Saint Paul, MN | $52,857 | $29,000 | 302,398 | 21 |
| 20 | Toledo, OH | $51,336 | $27,000 | 278,508 | 2 |
| 21 | Winston-Salem, NC | $48,102 | $25,000 | 242,203 | 7 |
| 22 | Reno, NV | $66,003 | $36,000 | 245,255 | 2 |
| 23 | Nashville, TN | $52,455 | $28,000 | 660,388 | 13 |
| 24 | Brookhaven, NY | $84,429 | $43,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 25 | Pittsburgh, PA | $50,684 | $26,000 | 303,625 | 20 |
| 26 | Islip, NY | $84,375 | $43,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 27 | Bakersfield, CA | $71,371 | $39,000 | 376,380 | 2 |
| 28 | Miami, FL | $44,005 | $23,000 | 453,579 | 113 |
| 29 | Saint Petersburg, FL | $43,835 | $23,000 | 260,999 | 24 |
| 30 | Hempstead, NY | $84,190 | $43,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 31 | Seattle, WA | $66,278 | $38,000 | 704,352 | 28 |
| 32 | Oyster Bay, NY | $84,189 | $43,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 33 | Memphis, TN | $49,244 | $27,000 | 652,717 | 7 |
| 34 | Detroit, MI | $49,993 | $26,000 | 672,795 | 12 |
| 35 | Tucson, AZ | $48,639 | $27,000 | 530,706 | 8 |
| 36 | Minneapolis, MN | $52,806 | $29,000 | 413,651 | 22 |
| 37 | Wichita, KS | $48,071 | $27,000 | 389,902 | 4 |
| 38 | Long Beach, CA | $69,055 | $37,000 | 470,130 | 2 |
| 39 | Baltimore, MD | $53,173 | $27,000 | 614,664 | 24 |
| 40 | Laredo, TX | $41,038 | $22,000 | 257,156 | 4 |
| 41 | North Las Vegas, NV | $64,674 | $35,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 42 | Henderson, NV | $64,636 | $35,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 43 | Denver, CO | $56,314 | $32,000 | 693,060 | 40 |
| 44 | Stockton, CA | $73,308 | $40,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 45 | Jersey City, NJ | $53,370 | $27,000 | 264,152 | 18 |
| 46 | Saint Louis, MO | $46,055 | $25,000 | 311,404 | 28 |
| 47 | New Orleans, LA | $39,708 | $21,000 | 391,495 | 20 |
| 48 | Orlando, FL | $43,161 | $23,000 | 277,173 | 27 |
| 49 | Kansas City, MO | $44,644 | $25,000 | 481,420 | 16 |
| 50 | Anaheim, CA | $68,943 | $37,000 | 351,043 | - |
Highest paying cities for law clerks
| Rank | City | Avg. law clerk salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $107,457 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $84,006 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $79,294 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $74,053 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $66,278 |
| 6 | Las Vegas, NV | $64,883 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $63,694 |
| 8 | Denver, CO | $56,314 |
| 9 | McLean, VA | $54,853 |
| 10 | Philadelphia, PA | $53,665 |
| 11 | Fort Lee, NJ | $53,378 |
| 12 | Minneapolis, MN | $52,806 |
| 13 | Cleveland, OH | $52,793 |
| 14 | Rockville, MD | $52,647 |
| 15 | Saint Louis, MO | $46,055 |
| 16 | Portland, OR | $45,434 |
| 17 | Miami, FL | $44,005 |
| 18 | Des Moines, IA | $43,819 |
| 19 | Austin, TX | $40,952 |
| 20 | New Orleans, LA | $39,708 |
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Updated January 8, 2025