Kentucky Median
$150,650
per year
Hourly Rate
$72.43
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-2% vs US median
US median $153,990
State Rank
#22 of 41
370 employed here
How much do Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates make in Kentucky?
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates in Kentucky take home a median of $150,650 annually — roughly $72.43 an hour — which runs 2% below the national median of $153,990.
Within Kentucky, entry-level pay starts around $98,230 while the top 10% make $156,550 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $141,750 and $156,550 a year.
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates salary range in Kentucky
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $98,230 | $47.23 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $141,750 | $68.15 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $150,650 | $72.43 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $156,550 | $75.26 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $156,550 | $75.26 |
|
How Kentucky compares
Kentucky ranks 22nd out of 41 states and territories for Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates salary in other states
Rhode Island $239,760Massachusetts $221,710Connecticut $217,760New York $216,390Hawaii $211,810Tennessee $208,350Nebraska $208,180New Mexico $205,400New Jersey $204,160Colorado $198,790Vermont $194,170Minnesota $190,110Florida $186,040Alaska $183,310Indiana $183,000Idaho $172,920Maryland $172,190North Dakota $171,100Oregon $166,400Nevada $166,360Maine $161,470Kansas $148,910Iowa $147,510Texas $139,990Washington $134,270Georgia $133,660Delaware $131,340Pennsylvania $110,580Virginia $104,000Ohio $95,260Arizona $93,280Utah $92,780South Carolina $86,210Montana $84,630Louisiana $83,040Wisconsin $76,620West Virginia $63,240Alabama $52,850Michigan $51,210Mississippi $49,960
Working as Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates in Kentucky
Nationally, about 24,000 people work as Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates in the United States. A doctoral or professional degree (8 or more years of higher education) is required.
Considering a move? Compare Kentucky pay ($150,650) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much do Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates make in Kentucky?
The median Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates salary in Kentucky is $150,650 per year, or about $72.43 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $98,230 at the entry level to $156,550 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Kentucky pay compare to the national average?
Kentucky pays Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates about 2% less than the national median of $153,990. Kentucky ranks 22nd out of 41 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Kentucky a good state for Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $150,650 a year. About 370 Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates are employed in Kentucky. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Kentucky?
The highest-paying occupations in Kentucky include Cardiologist ($558,180), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($350,950), Anesthesiologist ($347,960), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.