Judicial Law Clerks Salary in California

Judicial law clerks in California earn the most in San Francisco (average $87,810 a year) and the least in Bakersfield ($62,900), across the 5 California metro areas we cover. Statewide, BLS puts the judicial law clerks average at $76,070 and the median at $79,030 for 1,800 workers. The U.S. average for this job is $72,950.

Judicial Law Clerks average salary by city in California

San Francisco$87,810
Sacramento$84,930
Santa Rosa$76,430
Riverside$73,830
Bakersfield$62,900

Pay, take-home pay and cost of living

City	Average	Median	25th pct.	Take-home*	Cost of living
San Francisco	$87,810	$90,650	$79,010	$66,530	116
Sacramento	$84,930	$79,580	$74,180	$64,772	107
Santa Rosa	$76,430	$79,770	$67,120	$59,557	108
Riverside	$73,830	$80,420	$65,740	$57,935	106
Bakersfield	$62,900	$66,170	$66,170	$50,754	101

*Average salary after federal and state taxes for a single filer; California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included. Cost of living: BEA price parity, U.S. = 100.

Judicial Law Clerks salary in other states

Judicial Law Clerks salary by city and state

More about pay in California

Sources and how to read this page

Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 23-1012.
U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.

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