Judicial Law Clerk salary in Iowa
Judicial Law Clerks in Iowa earn a median of $64,260 a year ($30.90 an hour), based on BLS data for 90 workers.
Pay ranges from $55,210 for the lowest-paid 10% to $86,350 for the top 10%. That is 1% lower than the national median of $64,920. Iowa ranks 20th of 39 states for judicial law clerks pay. There are 0.06 judicial law clerks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.65). The average (mean) salary is $69,700, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for judicial law clerks in Iowa
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $55,210 | $26.55 |
| 25th percentile | $57,750 | $27.77 |
| Median | $64,260 | $30.90 |
| 75th percentile | $75,290 | $36.20 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $86,350 | $41.52 |
| Average (mean) | $69,700 | $33.51 |
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 | $5,355 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,677.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,471.54 |
| Weekly | $1,235.77 |
| Hourly | $30.90 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Judicial Law Clerk salary in cities in Iowa
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $63,140 | 30 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $44,640 | 60 |
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 Iowa
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Lawyer | $123,550 | $59.40 |
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates | $147,510 | $70.92 |
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | $123,500 | $59.38 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $54,550 | $26.23 |
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | $44,470 | $21.38 |
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | $46,330 | $22.27 |
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 Iowa?
The median salary for judicial law clerks in Iowa is $64,260 a year, or $30.90 an hour. Pay ranges from $55,210 for the lowest-paid 10% to $86,350 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid judicial law clerks make in Iowa?
The top 10% of judicial law clerks in Iowa earn at least $86,350 a year. The top 25% earn $75,290 or more.
What is the starting pay for judicial law clerks in Iowa?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $55,210 a year, and a quarter of judicial law clerks earn $57,750 or less.
How many judicial law clerks work in Iowa?
About 90 judicial law clerks are employed in Iowa, not counting the self-employed.