Judicial Law Clerks Salary
The median pay for a judicial law clerks in Minnesota is $71,070/year ($34.17/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $65K at the entry level to $80K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.6), which stretches that salary to about $76,749 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,384/month, or 29.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Minnesota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $71K get you in Minnesota?
About judicial law clerks
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What this looks like in Minnesota
Judicial law clerks pay in Minnesota tracks closely to the national median, $71K locally vs. $65K nationwide, a 9% difference. Rent runs $1,384/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.6 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Minnesota
Entry-level judicial law clerks (10th percentile) start around $65K. Mid-career wages sit at $71K. Top earners bring in $80K or more, a $15K spread from bottom to top.
Judicial Law Clerks salary by metro in Minnesota
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington | $69K | -3% | 290 |
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Minnesota numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a judicial law clerk afford a 2BR apartment alone in Minnesota?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $71K, rent takes 30.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,384/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,400/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for judicial law clerks in Minnesota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new judicial law clerks typically earn — is $65K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,899/month. At HUD’s $1,384/month FMR, rent would take 35% 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 Minnesota?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $71K locally vs. $65K nationally, a 9% difference.
How does Minnesota compare to the national average for judicial law clerks?
Minnesota pays $71K median vs. the U.S. average of $65K — that’s +9%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.6), the purchasing-power equivalent is $77K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do judicial law clerks make in Minnesota?
The median is $71,070 a year, that works out to about $34 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $64,980, and experienced judicial law clerks can clear $79,850. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $71K enough to live in Minnesota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,582/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,384/month, which eats 30.2% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a judicial law clerks salary go in Minnesota?
Minnesota has a Regional Price Parity of 92.6 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median judicial law clerks salary is worth about $76,749 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.