Court, municipal, and license clerks salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $36,300 | $17.45 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $48,700 | $23.41 |
| Mean (average) | $52,320 | $25.15 |
| 90th percentile | $73,820 | $35.49 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Court, municipal, and license clerks pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 51 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $38,360 | $29,140 | $57,130 | 2,050 | 0.84 |
| Alaska | $54,270 | $36,810 | $78,580 | 650 | 1.72 |
| Arizona | $48,700 | $39,870 | $61,770 | 3,560 | 0.95 |
| Arkansas | $36,960 | $28,410 | $50,600 | 2,090 | 1.39 |
| California | $63,320 | $49,110 | $84,190 | 12,460 | 0.59 |
| Colorado | $50,410 | $34,950 | $68,900 | 7,920 | 2.39 |
| Connecticut | $60,480 | $43,670 | $78,120 | 1,300 | 0.66 |
| Delaware | $44,600 | $35,620 | $53,610 | 980 | 1.75 |
| District of Columbia | $66,130 | $50,720 | $95,000 | 50 | 0.06 |
| Florida | $47,100 | $36,950 | $61,880 | 11,180 | 0.97 |
| Georgia | $42,960 | $34,010 | $60,740 | 5,750 | 1.02 |
| Hawaii | $51,890 | $43,630 | $72,360 | 510 | 0.7 |
| Idaho | $48,450 | $37,900 | $63,500 | 1,500 | 1.51 |
| Illinois | $46,920 | $35,450 | $75,230 | 8,370 | 1.19 |
| Indiana | $46,350 | $31,900 | $60,570 | 3,460 | 0.94 |
| Iowa | $48,280 | $37,790 | $63,610 | 2,390 | 1.33 |
| Kansas | $44,740 | $36,260 | $59,860 | 1,290 | 0.77 |
| Kentucky | $43,680 | $34,830 | $54,640 | 2,370 | 1.02 |
| Louisiana | $46,570 | $32,060 | $65,300 | 2,900 | 1.3 |
| Maine | $48,580 | $40,910 | $64,450 | 1,150 | 1.55 |
| Maryland | $58,380 | $49,810 | $71,850 | 2,360 | 0.74 |
| Massachusetts | $61,730 | $47,860 | $84,390 | 4,360 | 1.04 |
| Michigan | $48,690 | $36,750 | $63,000 | 5,620 | 1.1 |
| Minnesota | $56,520 | $46,340 | $75,950 | 5,360 | 1.57 |
| Mississippi | $37,210 | $29,510 | $59,850 | 2,950 | 2.19 |
| Missouri | $41,020 | $33,970 | $60,530 | 4,760 | 1.4 |
| Montana | $45,680 | $37,030 | $60,090 | 1,340 | 2.26 |
| Nebraska | $48,420 | $43,150 | $75,010 | 1,210 | 1.02 |
| Nevada | $56,680 | $42,790 | $77,760 | 1,250 | 0.69 |
| New Hampshire | $46,590 | $36,830 | $71,700 | 550 | 0.69 |
| New Jersey | $53,700 | $40,000 | $74,770 | 5,710 | 1.15 |
| New Mexico | $46,960 | $38,230 | $57,970 | 1,040 | 1.04 |
| New York | $53,500 | $39,740 | $97,120 | 11,850 | 1.06 |
| North Carolina | $49,110 | $37,290 | $71,400 | 5,240 | 0.92 |
| North Dakota | $53,850 | $38,790 | $74,790 | 600 | 1.2 |
| Ohio | $48,030 | $34,450 | $73,230 | 9,550 | 1.49 |
| Oklahoma | $39,120 | $29,260 | $60,390 | 2,730 | 1.38 |
| Oregon | $61,300 | $47,520 | $78,790 | 1,820 | 0.8 |
| Pennsylvania | $44,830 | $35,440 | $67,490 | 3,320 | 0.47 |
| Rhode Island | $61,670 | $48,780 | $82,050 | 660 | 1.13 |
| South Carolina | $43,460 | $30,050 | $64,760 | 2,020 | 0.76 |
| South Dakota | $43,850 | $34,490 | $58,260 | 920 | 1.75 |
| Tennessee | $44,720 | $32,880 | $60,690 | 3,050 | 0.8 |
| Texas | $46,580 | $36,220 | $60,120 | 15,730 | 0.97 |
| Utah | $51,130 | $39,230 | $77,240 | 1,280 | 0.64 |
| Vermont | $53,000 | $44,350 | $70,460 | 890 | 2.52 |
| Virginia | $45,650 | $40,410 | $61,450 | 4,610 | 0.97 |
| Washington | $64,680 | $49,970 | $80,720 | 3,450 | 0.84 |
| West Virginia | $37,810 | $28,580 | $50,370 | 1,590 | 1.96 |
| Wisconsin | $51,920 | $44,100 | $75,390 | 1,240 | 0.37 |
| Wyoming | $46,540 | $38,260 | $65,740 | 770 | 2.38 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for court, municipal, and license clerks
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 17,100. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 0.4%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for court, municipal, and license clerks
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Long-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- NO MATCH CIP 99.9999
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Plan or direct the maintenance, filing, safekeeping, or computerization of all municipal documents.
- Examine legal documents submitted to courts for adherence to laws or court procedures.
- Record case dispositions, court orders, or arrangements made for payment of court fees.
- Answer inquiries from the general public regarding judicial procedures, court appearances, trial dates, adjournments, outstanding warrants, summonses, subpoenas, witness fees, or payment of fines.
- Perform general office duties, such as taking or transcribing dictation, typing or proofreading correspondence, distributing or filing official forms, or scheduling appointments.
- Question applicants to obtain required information, such as name, address, or age, and record data on prescribed forms.
- Instruct parties about timing of court appearances.
- Perform administrative tasks, such as answering telephone calls, filing court documents, or maintaining office supplies or equipment.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft Outlook (in demand)
- Microsoft Word (in demand)
- Adobe Acrobat (hot technology)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Zoom (hot technology)
- Abilis CORIS Offender Management System
- Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
- Data Technologies Summit
- Email software
- IBM Judicial Enforcement Management System JEMS
- IBM Notes
- LexisNexis
- Spreadsheet applications
Transferable skills for career changers: Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Service Orientation, Judgment and Decision Making, Time Management, Complex Problem Solving.
Common job titles: City Clerk, City Recorder, City Secretary, Court Clerk, License Clerk, License Specialist, Motor Vehicle Licensing Clerk, Municipal Clerk, Permit Service Representative (Permit Service Rep), Town Clerk.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do court, municipal, and license clerks make?
The national median annual wage for court, municipal, and license clerks was $48,700 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $36,300 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $73,820. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do court, municipal, and license clerks need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and long-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is court, municipal, and license clerks a growing career?
BLS projects employment of court, municipal, and license clerks to change +3.4% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 17,100 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay court, municipal, and license clerks the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were District of Columbia ($66,130), Washington ($64,680), California ($63,320). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.