How to Become a Court Administrator

According to the National Association for Court Management (NACM), the increasing complexity of American life and the scope of litigation in the United States have created an administrative burden on the courts that cannot be handled by judges and traditional court staff alone.

The Court Administrator, a relatively new position, fills this gap by handling the managerial duties and administrative functions within the court system. Court administrator

This includes paying court employees, balancing the budget of the court system, and making sure that all of the proceedings run smoothly.

In addition, a court administrator will make sure that each of the courtroom employees is performing their duties correctly and efficiently.

A court administrator will work to organize the records and manage the flow of cases so that court activities and trials do not get behind schedule.

Becoming a Court Administrator

The first step in becoming a court administrator is obtaining an undergraduate degree in an appropriate field of study, such as judicial administration, business management, or public administration.

Some states require an individual to have a graduate degree in these fields to apply for this position.

The next step is to gain experience by working in jobs that are related to judicial or public administration.

Court internships are a great way to get training and experience, and some courts offer administrator certificate programs that will count towards the experience requirements.

Consider certification programs that are offered by the state.

These programs will help provide an individual with a competitive edge when it comes to applying for a position.

Consider joining the National Association for Court Management.

Responsibilities

Most of these positions require an individual to be in charge of all of the human resources operations of a court building.

Some of these duties include hiring and training all new employees, settling disputes between employees, and assessing the performance of employees.

In addition, the court administrator will work with judges and executives to create professional development strategies to create new procedures and policies to maximize the efficiency of the court building.

It is common for one court administrator to be in charge of the entire HR department and have all of the bookkeeping responsibilities in a smaller, local court.

In larger court systems, an administrator will work with an executive or judge, and there will be several professionals who work together on the budget and efficiency issues of the court.

U.S. Average Salary: $51200

$34.9KK
$38.3KK
$51.2KK
$56.3KK
$62KK
10%
25%
50%
75%
90%

Salary Information by State

State Employed Avg. Annual Salary Avg. Hourly Pay Top 10% Annual Salary Bottom 10% Annual Salary
Alabama2,140$40,000$19.23$53,380$27,940
Alaska470$61,890$29.75$96,740$42,600
Arizona3,520$50,250$24.16$61,570$38,770
Arkansas2,090$38,680$18.60$51,490$28,810
California13,630$66,140$31.80$83,760$46,690
Connecticut1,390$59,110$28.42$77,270$43,500
Delaware970$41,220$19.82$49,140$32,850
Florida9,710$48,990$23.56$66,480$36,450
Georgia4,630$42,950$20.65$58,690$32,070
Hawaii510$55,230$26.55$68,930$44,260
Idaho1,580$49,330$23.71$62,380$37,450
Illinois6,570$50,650$24.35$76,440$34,420
Indiana2,460$44,800$21.54$59,350$31,950
Iowa2,400$49,960$24.02$63,900$37,270
Kansas1,280$43,560$20.94$57,090$34,390
Kentucky2,700$43,550$20.94$53,230$34,750
Louisiana2,200$45,760$22.00$65,640$29,770
Maine1,190$50,290$24.18$62,590$37,610
Maryland2,000$58,330$28.04$70,470$47,020
Massachusetts2,470$63,760$30.65$82,440$44,250
Michigan6,190$48,140$23.14$63,550$31,200
Minnesota6,030$57,790$27.78$74,690$43,720
Mississippi2,760$39,720$19.10$56,530$28,320
Missouri4,650$42,980$20.66$59,590$30,730
Montana1,150$44,430$21.36$59,330$34,470
Nebraska1,160$54,480$26.19$74,260$39,080
Nevada1,180$58,690$28.22$82,760$40,830
New Hampshire550$49,140$23.62$63,610$36,320
New Jersey5,550$54,530$26.22$74,050$38,190
New Mexico1,120$46,520$22.36$57,510$36,800
New York11,580$60,640$29.15$97,190$37,590
North Carolina4,870$50,400$24.23$69,320$36,860
North Dakota470$56,690$27.26$77,220$42,460
Ohio9,590$48,550$23.34$66,520$33,470
Oklahoma3,070$40,680$19.56$55,450$29,130
Oregon1,790$59,460$28.59$75,050$47,480
Pennsylvania3,250$48,530$23.33$65,290$32,990
Rhode Island770$59,060$28.39$76,640$47,190
South Carolina1,750$45,140$21.70$64,460$30,100
South Dakota840$43,830$21.07$59,210$33,340
Tennessee2,780$46,060$22.15$60,850$32,170
Texas14,030$45,670$21.96$58,950$34,120
Utah1,330$51,430$24.73$71,110$37,810
Vermont880$52,500$25.24$65,040$40,370
Virginia4,440$45,940$22.09$59,670$37,040
Washington3,370$62,730$30.16$78,440$48,050
West Virginia1,640$37,470$18.01$49,570$25,290
Wisconsin**$55,170$26.52$73,790$43,940
Wyoming810$48,750$23.44$71,550$35,290

Annual Average Salary: Top 10 States

California tops the list in this field, with an average salary of $66,140.

These are the leading 10 states in terms of earnings in the field:

California - $66,140
Massachusetts - $63,760
Washington - $62,730
Alaska - $61,890
New York - $60,640
Oregon - $59,460
Connecticut - $59,110
Rhode Island - $59,060
Nevada - $58,690
Maryland - $58,330
* Salary information based on the May 2024 Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Survey for Court, Municipal, and License Clerks, OCC Code 43-4031, BLS.
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.

Education

A court administrator will be required to have at least an undergraduate degree.

Many of these professionals have a graduate or other professional degree as well.

Recommended majors for those interested in the court administrative field include public administration, business, judicial administration, or a field that is related to these.

In some states, a person will be required to become certified to act as a court administrator.

The requirements for certification will vary based on the state.

Experience and Key Skills

The amount of experience required to become a court administrator will vary based on the state and the size of the court building.

Some states will require a person to have experience in judicial administration or court management before they are eligible to become certified as a court administrator.

A person who is interested in court administration will need to have clerical skills.

In addition, a person needs to have management and administration skills.

Court administrators must have great personal service skills as they are required to handle any employee disputes that may arise.

Business management students are often qualified for these positions as they will learn the skills needed during their courses of study.

Computer skills are also required for this position.

This includes being familiar with the systems that are used by the court, such as docket systems and electronic case flow systems.

Michael Morales
Michael is the Webmaster and Editor in Chief for Legalcareerpath.com. With a strong background in Web Publishing and Internet Marketing, he currently works as an independent consultant. A former paramedic and EMS educator, he enjoys punishing himself doing triathlons and endurance sports. Michael currently lives in sunny Northern California, home of the highest tax rates in the United States.

3 Responses to How to Become a Court Administrator

  1. Adam Cruz #

    This post provides a wealth of information on the role, responsibilities, and qualifications needed to thrive in this dynamic field. The clear and concise explanations, combined with practical advice for success, make it an essential resource for anyone considering a career in court administration.

  2. Arkin Troy #

    The insights provided here are not only insightful but also inspiring, making it an invaluable resource for anyone interested in pursuing a career in court administration.

  3. Luis Greene #

    After reading this, I decided to continue pursuing my dream as a Court Administrator!

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