Judicial Law Clerk salary in Pennsylvania
Judicial Law Clerks in Pennsylvania earn a median of $50,590 a year ($24.32 an hour), based on BLS data for 970 workers.
Pay ranges from $34,310 for the lowest-paid 10% to $76,250 for the top 10%. That is 22% lower than the national median of $64,920. Pennsylvania ranks 32nd 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 $52,010, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for judicial law clerks in Pennsylvania
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,310 | $16.50 |
| 25th percentile | $39,330 | $18.91 |
| Median | $50,590 | $24.32 |
| 75th percentile | $61,960 | $29.79 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $76,250 | $36.66 |
| Average (mean) | $52,010 | $25.01 |
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 | $4,215.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,107.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,945.77 |
| Weekly | $972.88 |
| Hourly | $24.32 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $50,590 salary, see how much house you can afford in Pennsylvania at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Judicial Law Clerk salary in cities in Pennsylvania
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $58,890 | 460 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $50,590 | 240 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $48,880 | 60 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $47,260 | 70 |
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 Pennsylvania
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Lawyer | $157,180 | $75.57 |
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | $98,010 | $47.12 |
| Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators | $67,890 | $32.64 |
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates | $110,580 | $53.16 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $63,370 | $30.47 |
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | $52,220 | $25.11 |
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | $75,190 | $36.15 |
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 Pennsylvania?
The median salary for judicial law clerks in Pennsylvania is $50,590 a year, or $24.32 an hour. Pay ranges from $34,310 for the lowest-paid 10% to $76,250 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid judicial law clerks make in Pennsylvania?
The top 10% of judicial law clerks in Pennsylvania earn at least $76,250 a year. The top 25% earn $61,960 or more.
What is the starting pay for judicial law clerks in Pennsylvania?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $34,310 a year, and a quarter of judicial law clerks earn $39,330 or less.
How many judicial law clerks work in Pennsylvania?
About 970 judicial law clerks are employed in Pennsylvania, not counting the self-employed.