Judicial Law Clerk salary in California
Judicial Law Clerks in California earn a median of $79,030 a year ($38.00 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,800 workers.
Pay ranges from $59,620 for the lowest-paid 10% to $90,680 for the top 10%. That is 22% higher than the national median of $64,920. California ranks 8th of 39 states for judicial law clerks pay. There are 0.10 judicial law clerks per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $76,070, close to the median.
Pay range for judicial law clerks in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $59,620 | $28.67 |
| 25th percentile | $65,740 | $31.61 |
| Median | $79,030 | $38.00 |
| 75th percentile | $82,200 | $39.52 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $90,680 | $43.60 |
| Average (mean) | $76,070 | $36.57 |
Half of judicial law clerks earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,585.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,292.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,039.62 |
| Weekly | $1,519.81 |
| Hourly | $38.00 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $79,030 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Judicial Law Clerk salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $90,650 | 240 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $80,420 | 340 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $79,770 | 30 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $79,580 | 40 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $66,170 | 80 |
Highest-paying states for judicial law clerks
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $143,350 |
| New York | $133,320 |
| Connecticut | $98,670 |
| Oregon | $86,870 |
| North Dakota | $85,530 |
| Washington | $80,240 |
| Arkansas | $80,150 |
| California | $79,030 |
| Idaho | $75,540 |
| Tennessee | $75,190 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Lawyer | $195,080 | $93.79 |
| Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators | $97,680 | $46.96 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $77,390 | $37.21 |
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | $85,830 | $41.26 |
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | $67,230 | $32.32 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 23-1012. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a judicial law clerk make in California?
The median salary for judicial law clerks in California is $79,030 a year, or $38.00 an hour. Pay ranges from $59,620 for the lowest-paid 10% to $90,680 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid judicial law clerks make in California?
The top 10% of judicial law clerks in California earn at least $90,680 a year. The top 25% earn $82,200 or more.
What is the starting pay for judicial law clerks in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $59,620 a year, and a quarter of judicial law clerks earn $65,740 or less.
How many judicial law clerks work in California?
About 1,800 judicial law clerks are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.