Judicial Law Clerks vs Lawyers
Side-by-side salary and career comparison using Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Judicial Law Clerks
$64,920
median annual salary
Lawyers
$159,670
median annual salary
Lawyers earns $94,750 more per year (59% higher)
This side-by-side compares Judicial Law Clerks (SOC 23-1012) against Lawyers (SOC 23-1011) using BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics from May 2025 plus BLS Employment Projections covering 2023–2033. The national median pay gap is $94,750/year (59%), favoring Lawyers. Total U.S. employment sits at 13,290 for Judicial Law Clerks and 754,500 for Lawyers, which matters when judging how competitive the market is on either side.
Career trajectory diverges as well: BLS projects Judicial Law Clerks employment to change +2.5% through 2033 versus +4.1% for Lawyers, a difference of 1.6 percentage points. Annual openings (growth + replacement combined) are projected at 1 for Judicial Law Clerks against 31.5 for Lawyers.
Salary comparisons mask enormous state-level variation. This page's state-by-state table shows where each occupation pays best relative to the other — 39 states have reported wage data for both occupations, and the top-paying metros can exceed the national median by 20-40%. When weighing these two careers, look past the headline median: check the 10th-to-90th percentile spread to understand ceiling and floor, compare the state where you actually want to live, factor in the educational and experience investment required to enter, and keep in mind that BLS wage data excludes employer benefits, stock options, tips, and bonuses which can shift total compensation by 20-40%. Both sides of this comparison link through to full national profiles where you can run those deeper checks before making a career decision.
Salary & Career Comparison
| Metric | Judicial Law Clerks | Lawyers |
|---|---|---|
| Median Salary | $64,920 | $159,670 |
| Median Hourly | $31.21/hr | $76.76/hr |
| Mean Salary | $72,950 | $185,840 |
| 10th Percentile | $46,180 | $78,360 |
| 90th Percentile | $113,140 | $351,600 |
| Total Employment | 13,290 | 754,500 |
| Job Growth (2023–2033) | +2.5% | +4.1% |
| Annual Openings | 1 | 31.5 |
| Education | Doctoral or professional degree | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Work Experience | None | None |
Salary by State
States where both occupations have reported wage data, sorted by salary difference.
| State | Judicial Law Clerks | Lawyers | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | $80,150 | $98,880 | $-18,730 |
| North Dakota | $85,530 | $106,880 | $-21,350 |
| Idaho | $75,540 | $103,400 | $-27,860 |
| Massachusetts | $143,350 | $176,680 | $-33,330 |
| Louisiana | $63,180 | $104,100 | $-40,920 |
| Maine | $67,890 | $113,120 | $-45,230 |
| West Virginia | $52,120 | $102,420 | $-50,300 |
| Oregon | $86,870 | $138,210 | $-51,340 |
| Montana | $47,320 | $103,720 | $-56,400 |
| Oklahoma | $44,990 | $103,060 | $-58,070 |
| Iowa | $64,260 | $123,550 | $-59,290 |
| Nebraska | $49,570 | $109,170 | $-59,600 |
| Kansas | $45,720 | $106,650 | $-60,930 |
| Tennessee | $75,190 | $136,180 | $-60,990 |
| Connecticut | $98,670 | $163,600 | $-64,930 |
| Missouri | $66,060 | $133,450 | $-67,390 |
| Michigan | $62,260 | $130,520 | $-68,260 |
| Maryland | $70,110 | $139,110 | $-69,000 |
| Indiana | $57,140 | $126,860 | $-69,720 |
| South Carolina | $50,330 | $120,310 | $-69,980 |
Showing top 20 of 39 states.
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025 release). Salary figures are annual medians and percentile bands published by BLS.
Common Questions
Which pays more, Judicial Law Clerks or Lawyers?
Which has better job outlook?
Where does this data come from?
Last updated: May 2025 (BLS OEWS annual release). Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.