Judicial Law Clerk salary in New York
Judicial Law Clerks in New York earn a median of $133,320 a year ($64.10 an hour), based on BLS data for 850 workers.
Pay ranges from $82,190 for the lowest-paid 10% to $171,870 for the top 10%. That is 105% higher than the national median of $64,920. New York ranks 2nd of 39 states for judicial law clerks pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.09 judicial law clerks per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $126,340, close to the median.
Pay range for judicial law clerks in New York
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $82,190 | $39.51 |
| 25th percentile | $86,730 | $41.70 |
| Median | $133,320 | $64.10 |
| 75th percentile | $163,650 | $78.68 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $171,870 | $82.63 |
| Average (mean) | $126,340 | $60.74 |
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 | $11,110 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,555 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,127.69 |
| Weekly | $2,563.85 |
| Hourly | $64.10 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $133,320 salary, see how much house you can afford in New York at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Judicial Law Clerk salary in cities in New York
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $136,950 | 80 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $58,890 | 560 |
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 New York
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Lawyer | $207,860 | $99.93 |
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates | $216,390 | $104.03 |
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | $123,170 | $59.22 |
| Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators | $70,800 | $34.04 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $68,410 | $32.89 |
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | $61,380 | $29.51 |
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | $76,520 | $36.79 |
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 New York?
The median salary for judicial law clerks in New York is $133,320 a year, or $64.10 an hour. Pay ranges from $82,190 for the lowest-paid 10% to $171,870 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid judicial law clerks make in New York?
The top 10% of judicial law clerks in New York earn at least $171,870 a year. The top 25% earn $163,650 or more.
What is the starting pay for judicial law clerks in New York?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $82,190 a year, and a quarter of judicial law clerks earn $86,730 or less.
How many judicial law clerks work in New York?
About 850 judicial law clerks are employed in New York, not counting the self-employed.