What is the average pay rate for law clerks in different regions?

The average annual salary for law clerks in the United States is approximately $78,605 as of early 2025, which translates to around $38 per hour, but salaries can range significantly from $37,169 to $164,179 depending on various factors.

Washington State tops the list of the highest-paying states for law clerks, with salaries exceeding the national average by about $7,122, highlighting regional economic disparities in legal professions.

The District of Columbia also ranks highly, often beating the national average by 130%, making it an attractive location for law clerks seeking higher compensation.

Law clerks in states like California, New York, and Massachusetts also earn above-average salaries, typically due to higher living costs and a greater concentration of law firms and legal services.

Entry-level law clerks can expect to earn closer to the lower end of the spectrum, often starting at salaries around $37,000, while those with advanced degrees or several years of experience can earn significantly more.

Factors that influence law clerk salaries include geographic location, the type of legal organization, level of education, and specific areas of legal specialization.

Many law clerks are employed in private law firms, but they also work for government agencies, non-profits, and corporations, which can affect their pay rates based on the organization's funding and resources.

According to PayScale, the hourly wage for law clerks was reported to be around $19.48 in early 2025, indicating that hourly wages can vary widely across different regions and types of employers.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) categorizes law clerks under “paralegals and legal assistants,” which can lead to variations in salary data across different reporting sources.

Law clerks often handle legal research, drafting legal documents, and assisting with trial preparation, making their role critical in the legal process, which can justify their pay scale.

The salary of law clerks can also vary based on the economic conditions of a region; for instance, areas with robust law industries generally offer higher wages.

According to recent data, law clerks in urban areas tend to earn more than those in rural areas, reflecting the higher demand for legal services in cities.

The law clerk position can serve as a stepping stone to other legal careers, such as becoming an attorney, which often leads to significantly higher salaries.

Some states have implemented minimum salary requirements for law clerks, which can further influence average pay rates within those jurisdictions.

Law clerks working in federal positions, such as clerks for federal judges, often receive higher salaries than those in state or local positions due to the funding structures of federal judicial systems.

The average salary for law clerks can also be affected by the state of the economy; during economic downturns, hiring may slow, which can impact entry-level positions and starting salaries.

Geographic mobility can offer law clerks increased salary potential; those willing to relocate to higher-paying states or cities may see significant increases in their earning potential.

The legal field is also experiencing shifts due to technology, with some clerks increasingly working in areas like intellectual property or cyber law, which may offer different salary ranges due to the specialized nature of the work.

Salaries for law clerks are closely linked to the overall job market for legal professionals; trends in hiring and law school graduation rates can directly impact pay scales.

As of early 2025, the trend toward remote work has led to changes in salary structures, with some law clerks being offered competitive salaries regardless of their physical location, reflecting a growing flexibility in the legal workforce.