Judicial Law Clerks Salary
The median pay for a judicial law clerks in Massachusetts is $143,350/year ($68.92/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $82K at the entry level to $143K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.09), that's roughly $143,221 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,347/month, or 27% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Massachusetts. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $143K get you in Massachusetts?
About judicial law clerks
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What this looks like in Massachusetts
Massachusetts sits well above the national pay line for judicial law clerks, local pay runs about 121% higher than the U.S. median of $65K. Rent runs $2,347/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 100.09) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Massachusetts
Entry-level judicial law clerks (10th percentile) start around $82K. Mid-career wages sit at $143K. Top earners bring in $143K or more, a $61K spread from bottom to top.
Judicial Law Clerks salary by metro in Massachusetts
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton | $143K | +0% | 380 |
| Springfield | $143K | +0% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track judicial law clerks salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Massachusetts numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a judicial law clerk afford a 2BR apartment alone in Massachusetts?
Yes — at the median salary of $143K, rent takes 27.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,347/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for judicial law clerks in Massachusetts?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new judicial law clerks typically earn — is $82K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,933/month. At HUD’s $2,347/month FMR, rent would take 48% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is judicial law clerk a high-paying job in Massachusetts?
Local pay is 121% above the national median — $143K here vs. $65K nationally.
How does Massachusetts compare to the national average for judicial law clerks?
Massachusetts pays $143K median vs. the U.S. average of $65K — that’s +121%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.09), the purchasing-power equivalent is $143K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do judicial law clerks make in Massachusetts?
The median is $143,350 a year, that works out to about $69 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $82,210, and experienced judicial law clerks can clear $143,350. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $143K enough to live in Massachusetts?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,464/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,347/month, which eats 27.7% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a judicial law clerks salary go in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts has a Regional Price Parity of 100.09 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median judicial law clerks salary is worth about $143,221 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do judicial law clerks get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.