Judicial Law Clerk salary in Washington
Judicial Law Clerks in Washington earn a median of $80,240 a year ($38.58 an hour), based on BLS data for 580 workers.
Pay ranges from $62,400 for the lowest-paid 10% to $113,700 for the top 10%. That is 24% higher than the national median of $64,920. Washington ranks 6th of 39 states for judicial law clerks pay. There are 0.16 judicial law clerks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.9× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $85,030, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for judicial law clerks in Washington
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $62,400 | $30.00 |
| 25th percentile | $66,850 | $32.14 |
| Median | $80,240 | $38.58 |
| 75th percentile | $103,000 | $49.52 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $113,700 | $54.66 |
| Average (mean) | $85,030 | $40.88 |
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 | $6,686.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,343.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,086.15 |
| Weekly | $1,543.08 |
| Hourly | $38.58 |
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 Washington
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $84,010 | 70 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $80,240 | 320 |
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 Washington
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Lawyer | $154,130 | $74.10 |
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates | $134,270 | $64.55 |
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | $122,390 | $58.84 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $79,400 | $38.17 |
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | $85,630 | $41.17 |
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | $66,440 | $31.94 |
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 Washington?
The median salary for judicial law clerks in Washington is $80,240 a year, or $38.58 an hour. Pay ranges from $62,400 for the lowest-paid 10% to $113,700 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid judicial law clerks make in Washington?
The top 10% of judicial law clerks in Washington earn at least $113,700 a year. The top 25% earn $103,000 or more.
What is the starting pay for judicial law clerks in Washington?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $62,400 a year, and a quarter of judicial law clerks earn $66,850 or less.
How many judicial law clerks work in Washington?
About 580 judicial law clerks are employed in Washington, not counting the self-employed.