Judicial Law Clerks pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,770 a year or less, while the top 10% make $77,810 or more. The middle half of judicial law clerks in Chicago earn between $50,980 and $66,640.
- $40K10th
- $51K25th
- $67KMedian
- $67K75th
- $78K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $61,340 | $5,112 | $29.49 |
| Median | $66,640 | $5,553 | $32.04 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $50,980 | $4,248 | $24.51 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $66,640 | $5,553 | $32.04 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Judicial Law Clerks pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Judicial law clerks in Chicago earn 16% less than the U.S. average ($72,950). At the median the gap is +3% against the U.S. median of $64,920.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $61,340 | $66,640 | $39,770 | $77,810 | 160 |
| United States | $72,950 | $64,920 | $46,180 | $113,140 | 13,290 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Judicial Law Clerks salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $61,340, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $48,571 a year, or $4,048 a month and $1,868 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $49,656 | $4,138 |
| Working in IL | $48,571 | $4,048 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for judicial law clerks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $61,340 buys what about $59,211 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 5.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Judicial Law Clerks salary in nearby metro areas
- Milwaukee, WI$63,060
- Indianapolis, IN$57,390
- Detroit, MI$65,980
- St. Louis, MO$64,770
- Cincinnati, OH$65,710
- Des Moines, IA$71,100
Highest-paying cities for judicial law clerks
Springfield, MA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($139,650).
- Springfield, MA$139,650
- Albany, NY$129,970
- Boston, MA$129,530
- Hartford, CT$109,220
- Little Rock, AR$90,350
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Judicial Law Clerks salary in Chicago: questions
How much do judicial law clerks make an hour in Chicago?
$29.49 an hour on average, and $32.04 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level judicial law clerks salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,770 a year and the 25th percentile is $50,980, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the judicial law clerks take-home pay in Chicago?
About $48,571 a year ($4,048 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $61,340.
Do judicial law clerks earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 16% less than the U.S. average for this job ($72,950).
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; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.5%.
- 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.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.42, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.42).
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