Judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $46,950 | $22.57 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $153,990 | $74.03 |
| Mean (average) | $143,830 | $69.15 |
| 90th percentile | $221,710 | $106.59 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 44 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $52,850 | $37,420 | $110,110 | 560 | 1.73 |
| Alaska | $183,310 | $82,160 | $221,220 | 140 | 2.86 |
| Arizona | $93,280 | $81,120 | $209,950 | 590 | 1.18 |
| Arkansas | Data unavailable | 240 | 1.2 | ||
| Colorado | $198,790 | $170,080 | $219,580 | 620 | 1.39 |
| Connecticut | $217,760 | $114,380 | $217,760 | 230 | 0.88 |
| Delaware | $131,340 | $93,490 | $211,350 | 120 | 1.6 |
| Florida | $186,040 | $171,860 | $220,410 | 1,380 | 0.9 |
| Georgia | $133,660 | $37,420 | $187,990 | 1,190 | 1.57 |
| Hawaii | $211,810 | $205,300 | $217,110 | 120 | 1.22 |
| Idaho | $172,920 | $79,180 | $226,260 | 250 | 1.91 |
| Indiana | $183,000 | $58,960 | $183,000 | 790 | 1.59 |
| Iowa | $147,510 | $45,470 | $173,670 | 410 | 1.68 |
| Kansas | $148,910 | $76,590 | $163,160 | 420 | 1.91 |
| Kentucky | $150,650 | $98,230 | $156,550 | 370 | 1.19 |
| Louisiana | $83,040 | $24,660 | $143,800 | 180 | 0.59 |
| Maine | $161,470 | $55,760 | $165,110 | 100 | 0.97 |
| Maryland | $172,190 | $53,210 | $204,420 | 170 | 0.4 |
| Massachusetts | $221,710 | $155,450 | $221,710 | 610 | 1.08 |
| Michigan | $51,210 | $45,720 | $181,280 | 570 | 0.83 |
| Minnesota | $190,110 | $117,520 | $190,110 | 590 | 1.3 |
| Mississippi | $49,960 | $27,510 | $165,240 | 360 | 2 |
| Missouri | Data unavailable | 600 | 1.32 | ||
| Montana | $84,630 | $44,470 | $123,780 | 70 | 0.9 |
| Nebraska | $208,180 | $202,550 | $213,800 | 160 | 1.03 |
| Nevada | $166,360 | $57,220 | $227,870 | 90 | 0.37 |
| New Jersey | $204,160 | $56,290 | $215,540 | 920 | 1.39 |
| New Mexico | $205,400 | $76,260 | $218,030 | 250 | 1.83 |
| New York | $216,390 | $166,930 | $232,590 | 2,270 | 1.51 |
| North Dakota | $171,100 | $58,040 | $175,960 | 130 | 1.9 |
| Ohio | $95,260 | $38,330 | $210,440 | 1,720 | 2.01 |
| Oregon | $166,400 | $76,950 | $230,850 | 40 | 0.14 |
| Pennsylvania | $110,580 | $110,580 | $110,580 | ||
| Puerto Rico | Data unavailable | 490 | 3.35 | ||
| Rhode Island | $239,760 | $81,690 | $271,090 | 120 | 1.53 |
| South Carolina | $86,210 | $35,950 | $211,840 | 670 | 1.87 |
| Tennessee | $208,350 | $64,300 | $221,470 | 420 | 0.83 |
| Texas | $139,990 | $31,380 | $184,790 | 2,770 | 1.27 |
| Utah | $92,780 | $32,640 | $195,950 | 100 | 0.37 |
| Vermont | $194,170 | $57,730 | $194,170 | 80 | 1.71 |
| Virginia | $104,000 | $62,180 | $213,830 | 1,270 | 2 |
| Washington | $134,270 | $112,360 | $239,740 | 1,040 | 1.9 |
| West Virginia | $63,240 | $63,240 | $138,590 | 350 | 3.2 |
| Wisconsin | $76,620 | $27,380 | $175,880 | 130 | 0.3 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 800. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates
- Typical entry education
- Doctoral or professional degree
- Related work experience
- 5 years or more
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Law CIP 22.0101
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Sentence defendants in criminal cases, on conviction by jury, according to applicable government statutes.
- Monitor proceedings to ensure that all applicable rules and procedures are followed.
- Instruct juries on applicable laws, direct juries to deduce the facts from the evidence presented, and hear their verdicts.
- Write decisions on cases.
- Read documents on pleadings and motions to ascertain facts and issues.
- Rule on admissibility of evidence and methods of conducting testimony.
- Preside over hearings and listen to allegations made by plaintiffs to determine whether the evidence supports the charges.
- Award compensation for damages to litigants in civil cases in relation to findings by juries or by the court.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft Outlook (in demand)
- Adobe Acrobat (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Courtroom scheduling software
- Email software
- Hyland OnBase Enterprise Content Management
- LexisNexis
- Online databases
- Thomson Reuters Westlaw
- Videoconferencing software
- Web browser software
Transferable skills for career changers: Judgment and Decision Making, Complex Problem Solving, Social Perceptiveness, Time Management, Negotiation, Coordination.
Common job titles: Circuit Court Judge, Circuit Judge, County Judge, Court of Appeals Judge, District Court Judge, Judge, Justice of the Peace, Magisterial District Judge, Magistrate, Superior Court Judge.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates make?
The national median annual wage for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates was $153,990 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $46,950 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $221,710. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates need?
BLS lists doctoral or professional degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with 5 years or more of related work experience and short-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates a growing career?
BLS projects employment of judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates to change +2.8% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 800 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Rhode Island ($239,760), Massachusetts ($221,710), Connecticut ($217,760). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.