Judicial Law Clerk salary in Virginia
Judicial Law Clerks in Virginia earn a median of $65,940 a year ($31.70 an hour), based on BLS data for 380 workers.
Pay ranges from $54,310 for the lowest-paid 10% to $89,960 for the top 10%. That is 2% higher than the national median of $64,920. Virginia ranks 18th of 39 states for judicial law clerks pay. There are 0.09 judicial law clerks per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $70,140, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for judicial law clerks in Virginia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $54,310 | $26.11 |
| 25th percentile | $59,680 | $28.69 |
| Median | $65,940 | $31.70 |
| 75th percentile | $76,140 | $36.60 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $89,960 | $43.25 |
| Average (mean) | $70,140 | $33.72 |
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 | $5,495 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,747.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,536.15 |
| Weekly | $1,268.08 |
| Hourly | $31.70 |
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 Virginia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Richmond, VA | $70,520 | 70 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $70,110 | 160 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $65,260 | 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 Virginia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Lawyer | $167,210 | $80.39 |
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates | $104,000 | $50.00 |
| Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators | $79,530 | $38.23 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $63,990 | $30.77 |
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | $54,230 | $26.07 |
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | $179,960 | $86.52 |
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 Virginia?
The median salary for judicial law clerks in Virginia is $65,940 a year, or $31.70 an hour. Pay ranges from $54,310 for the lowest-paid 10% to $89,960 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid judicial law clerks make in Virginia?
The top 10% of judicial law clerks in Virginia earn at least $89,960 a year. The top 25% earn $76,140 or more.
What is the starting pay for judicial law clerks in Virginia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $54,310 a year, and a quarter of judicial law clerks earn $59,680 or less.
How many judicial law clerks work in Virginia?
About 380 judicial law clerks are employed in Virginia, not counting the self-employed.