All About Court Clerks
Position Description Perform clerical duties in court of law; prepare docket of cases to be called; secure information for judges; and contact witnesses, attorneys, and litigants to obtain information for court.
Court Clerk Responsibilities
- Prepare documents recording the outcomes of court proceedings.
- Instruct parties about timing of court appearances.
- Prepare courtrooms with paper, pens, water, easels, or electronic equipment and ensure that recording equipment is working.
- Conduct roll calls and poll jurors.
- Prepare staff schedules.
- Follow procedures to secure courtrooms or exhibits, such as money, drugs, or weapons.
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What a Court Clerk Should Know
Court Clerks state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Time Management: Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Types of Court Clerk
- Superior Court Clerk
- Minute Clerk
- Court Operations Clerk
- Process Server
- Docketing Specialist
What Kind of Court Clerk Job Opportunities Are There?
In the United States, there were 135,500 jobs for Court Clerk in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 6.4% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 8,700 new jobs for Court Clerk by 2026. There will be an estimated 12,600 positions for Court Clerk per year.

The states with the most job growth for Court Clerk are Vermont, Utah, and Texas. Watch out if you plan on working in Maryland, Alaska, or New Jersey. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Court Clerk Salary
The salary for Court Clerks ranges between about $25,150 and $60,330 a year.

Court Clerks who work in Washington, New York, or Alaska, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Court Clerks in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $31,820 |
Alaska | $52,680 |
Arizona | $39,060 |
Arkansas | $30,970 |
California | $51,550 |
Colorado | $41,470 |
Connecticut | $51,350 |
Delaware | $34,880 |
Florida | $38,720 |
Georgia | $35,360 |
Hawaii | $45,480 |
Idaho | $37,850 |
Illinois | $42,830 |
Indiana | $33,730 |
Iowa | $42,690 |
Kansas | $34,500 |
Kentucky | $32,250 |
Louisiana | $33,090 |
Maine | $37,550 |
Maryland | $43,530 |
Massachusetts | $48,840 |
Michigan | $38,640 |
Minnesota | $45,250 |
Mississippi | $32,570 |
Missouri | $33,240 |
Montana | $33,710 |
Nebraska | $38,860 |
Nevada | $46,820 |
New Hampshire | $40,030 |
New Jersey | $49,060 |
New Mexico | $38,260 |
New York | $56,890 |
North Carolina | $36,160 |
North Dakota | $42,930 |
Ohio | $37,840 |
Oklahoma | $30,970 |
Oregon | $44,840 |
Pennsylvania | $40,400 |
Rhode Island | $49,540 |
South Carolina | $34,760 |
South Dakota | $32,880 |
Tennessee | $37,600 |
Texas | $37,590 |
Utah | $38,940 |
Vermont | $43,690 |
Virginia | $39,650 |
Washington | $50,590 |
West Virginia | $36,190 |
Wisconsin | $43,150 |
Wyoming | $39,310 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Court Clerks
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Court Clerks:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Access
- Data entry software
- Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
- IBM Notes
- LexisNexis
- Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
- Thomson Reuters Westlaw
- Syscon Court Clerk
Becoming a Court Clerk
What kind of Court Clerk requirements are there?

What work experience do I need to become a Court Clerk?

Who Employs Court Clerks?

Court Clerks work in the following industries:

Similar Careers
Those interested in being a Court Clerk may also be interested in:
- Office Clerks, General
- Word Processors and Typists
- Gaming Cage Workers
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks
Are you already one of the many Court Clerk in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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