Court, Municipal, and License Clerks
SOC code 43-4031 · O*NET-SOC 43-4031.00 · Little to some preparation needed · Office and administration
Court, Municipal, and License Clerks pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$48,700
a year
Hourly
$23.41
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$52,320
$25.15 per hour
Middle 50%
$40,810 – $60,840
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$36,300 – $73,820
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
179,750
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $36,300
- $17.45/hr
- 25th percentile
- $40,810
- $19.62/hr
- Median percentile
- $48,700
- $23.41/hr
- 75th percentile
- $60,840
- $29.25/hr
- 90th percentile
- $73,820
- $35.49/hr
What do court, municipal, and license clerks do?
Perform clerical duties for courts of law, municipalities, or governmental licensing agencies and bureaus. May prepare docket of cases to be called; secure information for judges and court; prepare draft agendas or bylaws for town or city council; answer official correspondence; keep fiscal records and accounts; issue licenses or permits; and record data, administer tests, or collect fees.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Prepare documents recording the outcomes of court proceedings.
- Plan or direct the maintenance, filing, safekeeping, or computerization of all municipal documents.
- Evaluate information on applications to verify completeness and accuracy and to determine whether applicants are qualified to obtain desired licenses.
- Prepare ordinances, resolutions, or proclamations so that they can be executed, recorded, archived, or distributed.
- Examine legal documents submitted to courts for adherence to laws or court procedures.
- Issue various permits and licenses, such as marriage, fishing, hunting, and dog licenses, and collect appropriate fees.
- Issue public notification of all official activities or meetings.
- Code information on license applications for entry into computers.
How to qualify for this work
Preparation level: zone 2 — Little to some preparation needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
The federal survey did not capture education levels for this specific occupation, so the preparation-level card above is the best guide to the entry route.
Common questions
How much does a court, municipal, and license clerks earn?
The national median is $48,700 a year. The full range runs from $36,300 at the 10th percentile to $73,820 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a court, municipal, and license clerks without a degree?
Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 2, meaning the typical entry route is usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Active Listening3.9/5
- Speaking3.8/5
- Reading Comprehension3.3/5
- Writing3.1/5
- Critical Thinking3.1/5
- Monitoring3.0/5
Knowledge areas
- Customer and Personal Service4.3/5
- Administrative4.3/5
- English Language4.2/5
- Law and Government4.0/5
- Computers and Electronics3.7/5
- Mathematics3.0/5
- Public Safety and Security2.9/5
- Administration and Management2.8/5
Transferable strengths: Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Service Orientation, Judgment and Decision Making.