Judicial Law Clerk salary in Columbia, SC
Judicial Law Clerks in the Columbia, SC metro area earn a median of $47,040 a year ($22.62 an hour), based on BLS data for 80 workers.
Pay ranges from $47,040 for the lowest-paid 10% to $87,490 for the top 10%. That is 28% lower than the national median of $64,920. Pay here is 7% lower than the South Carolina statewide median of $50,330. There are 0.21 judicial law clerks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $62,700, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for judicial law clerks in Columbia, SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,040 | $22.62 |
| 25th percentile | $47,040 | $22.62 |
| Median | $47,040 | $22.62 |
| 75th percentile | $82,490 | $39.66 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $87,490 | $42.06 |
| Average (mean) | $62,700 | $30.15 |
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 | $3,920 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,960 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,809.23 |
| Weekly | $904.62 |
| Hourly | $22.62 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $47,040 salary, see how much house you can afford in South Carolina at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Judicial Law Clerk salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $46,740 | 30 |
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 |
See Judicial Law Clerk pay in every state or the South Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Columbia, SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Lawyer | $105,200 | $50.58 |
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | $80,820 | $38.86 |
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates | $94,400 | $45.38 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $57,220 | $27.51 |
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | $50,920 | $24.48 |
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | $57,160 | $27.48 |
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 Columbia, SC?
The median salary for judicial law clerks in the Columbia, SC metro area is $47,040 a year, or $22.62 an hour. Pay ranges from $47,040 for the lowest-paid 10% to $87,490 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid judicial law clerks make in Columbia, SC?
The top 10% of judicial law clerks in the Columbia, SC metro area earn at least $87,490 a year. The top 25% earn $82,490 or more.
What is the starting pay for judicial law clerks in Columbia, SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $47,040 a year, and a quarter of judicial law clerks earn $47,040 or less.
How many judicial law clerks work in Columbia, SC?
About 80 judicial law clerks are employed in the Columbia, SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.