Court, Municipal, and License Clerks: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)

Court, Municipal, and License Clerks fall under the Office and Administrative Support category in the U.S. occupational classification. Court, Municipal, and License Clerks earn a median salary of $47,700 per year, ranking in the top 69% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +3.0% job growth through 2034, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Entry into this field typically requires a high school diploma plus on-the-job training, certifications, or postsecondary credentials, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.

What do court, municipal, and license clerks earn?

The median annual wage for court, municipal, and license clerks is $47,700. That puts court, municipal, and license clerks at #558 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is around or below the U.S. median for individual workers, so career growth often depends on advancement into supervisory roles, specialization, or additional credentials. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.

Is court, municipal, and license clerks a growing career?

The 10-year outlook for court, municipal, and license clerks is +3.0%, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 180K positions in 2024 to 185K in 2034, a net change of 5K. Average growth signals a healthy, resilient occupation that mirrors broader U.S. employment trends. Job availability tends to track regional economic conditions.

What do court, municipal, and license clerks do every day?

According to O*NET task surveys of working court, municipal, and license clerks, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.

1. 1.Verify the authenticity of documents, such as foreign identification or immigration documents.
2. 2.Issue public notification of all official activities or meetings.
3. 3.Examine legal documents submitted to courts for adherence to laws or court procedures.
4. 4.Prepare ordinances, resolutions, or proclamations so that they can be executed, recorded, archived, or distributed.
5. 5.Perform budgeting duties, such as assisting in budget preparation, expenditure review, or budget administration.
6. 6.Perform general office duties, such as taking or transcribing dictation, typing or proofreading correspondence, distributing or filing official forms, or scheduling appointments.
7. 7.Respond to requests for information from the public, other municipalities, state officials, or state and federal legislative offices.
8. 8.Coordinate or maintain office tracking systems for correspondence or follow-up actions.

Top skills for court, municipal, and license clerks

O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.

What education does my child need to become court, municipal, and license clerk?

Many court, municipal, and license clerks enter the field with a high school diploma plus on-the-job training, though employers increasingly favor candidates with certifications or some postsecondary coursework. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.

Related careers your child might also consider

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• Postal Service Clerks
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• Postal Service Mail Carriers
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Common questions parents ask about court, municipal, and license clerks