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Attorney law clerk salary
Average attorney law clerk salary
$112,527
Understanding the Attorney Law Clerk Salary
The average salary for an Attorney Law Clerk is $112,527 per year, which equates to about $54 per hour. The salary varies significantly based on factors such as location, years of experience, and specific legal fields.
In states like California and New York, salaries can be higher than the national average, reflecting the demand for skilled clerks in competitive markets. For instance, cities such as San Francisco and New York City offer some of the highest salaries for this role, often exceeding $130,000 annually.
Additionally, entry-level positions typically start around $70,000, while experienced clerks can command salaries that surpass $150,000. Understanding these dynamics can assist prospective employees in negotiating their compensation effectively.
Salary Trends Over Time
Over the years, the salary for Attorney Law Clerks has shown steady growth, reflecting the increasing complexity and demand in the legal sector. Job seekers can leverage this information to make informed career decisions, aligning their skills with the evolving market needs.
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Where can an Attorney Law Clerk earn more?
Average attorney law clerk salary by state
The average attorney law clerk salary in New York, Massachusetts, and Vermont are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average attorney law clerk salary states are Hawaii, Nebraska, and Wisconsin.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for attorney law clerks
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $159,299 | $76.59 |
| 2 | New York | $125,113 | $60.15 |
| 3 | Washington | $109,433 | $52.61 |
| 4 | Vermont | $118,064 | $56.76 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $120,283 | $57.83 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $102,352 | $49.21 |
| 7 | Colorado | $106,296 | $51.10 |
| 8 | North Dakota | $113,766 | $54.70 |
| 9 | Illinois | $108,118 | $51.98 |
| 10 | Delaware | $105,865 | $50.90 |
| 11 | Maine | $112,303 | $53.99 |
| 12 | Tennessee | $94,511 | $45.44 |
| 13 | South Dakota | $100,278 | $48.21 |
| 14 | Missouri | $99,031 | $47.61 |
| 15 | Nevada | $110,990 | $53.36 |
| 16 | Rhode Island | $107,536 | $51.70 |
| 17 | Idaho | $93,388 | $44.90 |
| 18 | Oregon | $89,723 | $43.14 |
| 19 | Florida | $90,432 | $43.48 |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $101,392 | $48.75 |
| 21 | Wyoming | $80,344 | $38.63 |
| 22 | Montana | $100,127 | $48.14 |
| 23 | Ohio | $82,801 | $39.81 |
| 24 | Michigan | $79,798 | $38.36 |
| 25 | Kentucky | $80,819 | $38.86 |
| 26 | Georgia | $87,151 | $41.90 |
| 27 | California | $100,795 | $48.46 |
| 28 | West Virginia | $83,731 | $40.26 |
| 29 | Minnesota | $83,105 | $39.95 |
| 30 | Kansas | $91,041 | $43.77 |
| 31 | Pennsylvania | $80,568 | $38.73 |
| 32 | Arizona | $87,648 | $42.14 |
| 33 | North Carolina | $80,913 | $38.90 |
| 34 | New Mexico | $79,967 | $38.45 |
| 35 | Virginia | $83,406 | $40.10 |
| 36 | Texas | $75,744 | $36.42 |
| 37 | Utah | $71,597 | $34.42 |
| 38 | South Carolina | $76,977 | $37.01 |
| 39 | Maryland | $79,954 | $38.44 |
| 40 | Alaska | $58,576 | $28.16 |
| 41 | Wisconsin | $63,909 | $30.73 |
| 42 | Indiana | $63,390 | $30.48 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $76,818 | $36.93 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $74,463 | $35.80 |
| 45 | Mississippi | $73,621 | $35.39 |
| 46 | Iowa | $76,975 | $37.01 |
| 47 | Nebraska | $66,604 | $32.02 |
| 48 | Hawaii | $66,780 | $32.11 |
| 49 | New Jersey | $78,220 | $37.61 |
| 50 | Alabama | $70,140 | $33.72 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $63,905 | $30.72 |
Highest paying cities for attorney law clerks
The highest-paying cities for attorney law clerks are Washington, DC, New York, NY, and Vancouver, WA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $165,294 | $79.47 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $125,948 | $60.55 |
| 3 | Vancouver, WA | $111,790 | $53.75 |
| 4 | Palo Alto, CA | $106,014 | $50.97 |
| 5 | West Palm Beach, FL | $88,896 | $42.74 |
| 6 | Arlington, VA | $84,496 | $40.62 |
| 7 | Saint Cloud, MN | $82,797 | $39.81 |
| 8 | Baton Rouge, LA | $76,728 | $36.89 |
Attorney law clerk salary details
An attorney law clerk's salary ranges from $72,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $174,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is an attorney law clerk's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $174,000 | $14,500 | $84 |
| 75th Percentile | $141,000 | $11,750 | $68 |
| Average | $112,527 | $9,377 | $54 |
| 25th Percentile | $89,000 | $7,417 | $43 |
| 10th Percentile | $72,000 | $6,000 | $35 |
Highest paying attorney law clerk jobs
The highest paying types of attorney law clerks are litigation associate, senior attorney, and trial attorney.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Judicial Internship | $50,523 | $4,210 | $24.29 | 47,595 |
| Legal Extern | $47,238 | $3,937 | $22.71 | 10,986 |
| Law Internship | $39,394 | $3,283 | $18.94 | 51,663 |
| Litigation Attorney | $109,027 | $9,086 | $52.42 | 6,918 |
| Clerk | $31,163 | $2,597 | $14.98 | 80,311 |
| Trial Attorney | $110,340 | $9,195 | $53.05 | 7,253 |
Top companies hiring attorney law clerks now:
Which companies pay attorney law clerks the most?
Attorney law clerk salaries at Reed Smith and White & Case are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average attorney law clerk salary at companies like Quinn Emanuel and Public Health - Dayton & Montgomery County are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reed Smith | $208,989 | $100.48 |
| 2 | White & Case | $164,773 | $79.22 |
| 3 | Quinn Emanuel | $163,847 | $78.77 |
| 4 | Public Health - Dayton & Montgomery County | $112,685 | $54.18 |
| 5 | Livingston County | $86,747 | $41.71 |
| 6 | King County | $75,904 | $36.49 |
| 7 | DL solutions | $68,130 | $32.75 |
| 8 | Orange County | $57,595 | $27.69 |
| 9 | Stearns County MN | $57,038 | $27.42 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Attorney law clerk salary trends
The average attorney law clerk salary has risen by $29,467 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average attorney law clerk earned $83,060 annually, but today, they earn $112,527 a year. That works out to a 11% change in pay for attorney law clerks over the last decade.
Compare attorney law clerk salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average attorney law clerk salary over time
Compare attorney law clerk salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Attorney law clerk salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $113,000 | $54.10 | +6.1% |
| 2024 | $106,000 | $50.81 | +0.9% |
| 2023 | $105,000 | $50.36 | +4.1% |
| 2022 | $100,000 | $48.29 | -0.8% |
| 2021 | $101,000 | $48.69 | +2.0% |
Recently added attorney law clerk salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dasstateoh | Law Clerk/Judicial Attorney To Justice R. Patrick Dewine | Columbus, OH | 06/29/2025 | $101,275 |
| Keller Postman | Personal Injury Law Clerk/Attorney | Chicago, IL | 06/09/2025 | $80,000 |
| State of New York | Court Attorney Clerkship (Court of Appeals) | Albany, NY | 06/07/2025 | $99,490 |
| State of Louisiana | Law Clerk/Research Attorney | Noble, LA | 06/03/2025 | $52,800 |
| Pima County | Law Clerk-County Attorney | Tucson, AZ | 06/03/2025 | $44,057 |
| Dasstateoh | Law Clerk/Judicial Attorney To Justice R. Patrick Dewine | Columbus, OH | 05/28/2025 | $101,275 |
| Cordell & Cordell | Law Clerk To Associate Attorney | Albany, NY | 05/03/2025 | $73,045 |
| Cordell Cordell | Law Clerk To Associate Attorney | Albany, NY | 05/03/2025 | $73,045 |
| Keller Postman | Personal Injury Law Clerk/Attorney | Chicago, IL | 04/30/2025 | $80,000 |
| Dasstateoh | Law Clerk/Judicial Attorney To Justice R. Patrick Dewine | Columbus, OH | 04/30/2025 | $101,275 |
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