Career comparison
Judicial Law Clerk vs. Law Professor
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Law professors earn more at the median ($128,500 vs. $64,920), while judicial law clerks usually get to work faster (7 years after high school of training). Judicial law clerks research and draft opinions for a judge, usually right after law school. Law professors teach future lawyers and write about the law.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Judicial Law Clerk | Law Professor | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $64,920 ($31.21/hr) | $128,500 |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $46,180 – $113,140 | $64,250 – $287,900 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +2.8% (about as fast as average) | +2.6% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 1,500 | 1,800 |
| Typical entry education | Doctoral or professional degree | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Training time | 7 years after high school | 7+ years after high school plus experience |
| Key credential | J.D. | J.D. |
| Work setting | Clerks work in judges’ chambers in courthouses.. | Faculty work in law schools, clinics and offices.. |
What each job does
Judicial Law Clerk
- Read briefs and records
- Research legal issues
- Write bench memos
- Draft opinions and orders
- Prepare judges for hearings
Law Professor
- Teach law courses
- Run legal clinics
- Teach legal writing
- Write legal scholarship
- Advise students
How they’re similar
Both careers involve desk work and working independently. They sit in different fields, business & office and education & childcare, but share transferable skills such as discretion and public speaking.
Which should you choose?
Choose judicial law clerk if…
- I love legal research
- I write clearly
- I can keep confidences
Choose law professor if…
- I love the law
- I enjoy debate
- I like writing
Still torn? Take the Judicial Law Clerk fit quiz and the Law Professor fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, judicial law clerk or law professor?
Law Professors earn more at the median: $128,500 versus $64,920 for judicial law clerks, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Judicial Law Clerks typically train faster (7 years after high school) than law professors (7+ years after high school plus experience).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects judicial law clerks to grow +2.8% from 2025–35, compared with +2.6% for law professors.