Judges vs Law Clerks
Median pay is about $89k higher for Judges. The usual entry education is doctoral (JD) plus election or appointment for Judges and doctoral (JD) for Law Clerks.
marks the higher pay or growth. Education, difficulty and the AI rows depend on what you want, so they are not marked.
| Measure | Judges | Law Clerks |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | ||
| Median pay | $153,990, higher | $64,920 |
| Entry pay 25th percentile | $85,710, higher | $52,870 |
| Experienced pay 75th percentile | $194,950, higher | $80,420 |
| Outlook, 2025 to 2035 | ||
| Projected growth | +2.8% Growing | +2.8% Growing |
| Openings a year | 800 | 1,500 |
| Getting in | ||
| Typical education | Doctoral (JD) plus election or appointment | Doctoral (JD) |
| Difficulty modeled | 4.2 / 5 | 3.2 / 5 |
| AI | ||
| Displacement risk modeled | Low | High |
| AI exposure modeled, percentile | 80th pct | 81st pct |
Skills
Both lean on the same top skills: active listening, critical thinking, reading comprehension, writing, speaking, active learning.
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Pay and outlook: BLS (OEWS 2025, Employment Projections 2025-2035). Skills: O*NET 30.3. Difficulty, displacement risk and AI exposure are modeled estimates. How these numbers are made.