Court salary
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A court earns a median of $48,700 a year ($23.41 an hour) in the US, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The average is $52,320. About 179,750 people work in this job.
Take-home pay on $48,700
- Gross pay
- $1,873.08
- Federal income tax
- −$140.92
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$116.13
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$27.16
- Texas income tax
- $0.00No state income tax on wages
- Take-home pay
- $1,588.86
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $48,700
- Federal
- $3,664
- FICA
- $3,726
- State + local
- $0
- Net
- $41,310
- Marginal federal rate
- 12.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 0.0%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
Court salary by state
| State | Median salary | Average | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $66,130 | $69,620 | 50 |
| Washington | $64,680 | $66,090 | 3,450 |
| California | $63,320 | $67,330 | 12,460 |
| Massachusetts | $61,730 | $64,540 | 4,360 |
| Rhode Island | $61,670 | $63,290 | 660 |
| Oregon | $61,300 | $61,470 | 1,820 |
| Connecticut | $60,480 | $60,960 | 1,300 |
| Maryland | $58,380 | $59,800 | 2,360 |
| Nevada | $56,680 | $59,390 | 1,250 |
| Minnesota | $56,520 | $59,170 | 5,360 |
| Alaska | $54,270 | $56,980 | 650 |
| North Dakota | $53,850 | $55,060 | 600 |
| New Jersey | $53,700 | $56,090 | 5,710 |
| New York | $53,500 | $61,150 | 11,850 |
| Vermont | $53,000 | $55,870 | 890 |
| Wisconsin | $51,920 | $54,660 | 1,240 |
| Hawaii | $51,890 | $55,960 | 510 |
| Utah | $51,130 | $55,100 | 1,280 |
| Colorado | $50,410 | $52,240 | 7,920 |
| North Carolina | $49,110 | $51,810 | 5,240 |
| Arizona | $48,700 | $51,140 | 3,560 |
| Michigan | $48,690 | $50,620 | 5,620 |
| Maine | $48,580 | $52,490 | 1,150 |
| Idaho | $48,450 | $50,490 | 1,500 |
| Nebraska | $48,420 | $55,300 | 1,210 |
| Iowa | $48,280 | $50,470 | 2,390 |
| Ohio | $48,030 | $50,040 | 9,550 |
| Florida | $47,100 | $49,220 | 11,180 |
| New Mexico | $46,960 | $47,720 | 1,040 |
| Illinois | $46,920 | $51,240 | 8,370 |
| New Hampshire | $46,590 | $49,850 | 550 |
| Texas | $46,580 | $46,510 | 15,730 |
| Louisiana | $46,570 | $48,430 | 2,900 |
| Wyoming | $46,540 | $49,200 | 770 |
| Indiana | $46,350 | $46,530 | 3,460 |
| Montana | $45,680 | $45,840 | 1,340 |
| Virginia | $45,650 | $48,120 | 4,610 |
| Pennsylvania | $44,830 | $49,180 | 3,320 |
| Kansas | $44,740 | $45,710 | 1,290 |
| Tennessee | $44,720 | $47,100 | 3,050 |
| Delaware | $44,600 | $44,720 | 980 |
| South Dakota | $43,850 | $44,750 | 920 |
| Kentucky | $43,680 | $44,480 | 2,370 |
| South Carolina | $43,460 | $45,710 | 2,020 |
| Georgia | $42,960 | $44,990 | 5,750 |
| Missouri | $41,020 | $44,380 | 4,760 |
| Oklahoma | $39,120 | $43,230 | 2,730 |
| Alabama | $38,360 | $42,040 | 2,050 |
| West Virginia | $37,810 | $39,780 | 1,590 |
| Mississippi | $37,210 | $42,050 | 2,950 |
| Arkansas | $36,960 | $39,310 | 2,090 |
Similar jobs
- Billing and Posting Clerk: $48,500
- Insurance Claim and Policy Processing Clerk: $49,230
- Meter Reader: $48,150
- Word Processor and Typist: $49,280
- Information and Record Clerk: $49,500
- New Accounts Clerk: $47,670
- Secretary and Administrative Assistant: $47,540
- Loan Interviewer and Clerk: $50,020
BLS occupation: Court, Municipal, and License Clerks. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (SOC 43-4031). Excludes the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a court make an hour?
The median hourly wage is $23.41; the average is $25.15.
Which state pays court the most?
District of Columbia ($66,130 median), followed by Washington and California.
What is the salary range for a court?
The bottom 10% earn under $36,300 and the top 10% earn over $73,820 a year.
How much is $48,700 after taxes?
About $41,310 a year in Texas (no state income tax) or $39,716 in California for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.