Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates Salary in Michigan (2026)

Official state-level BLS pay data for Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates in Michigan, plus how it compares with the rest of the country.

Official BLS state wage data · Unknown vintage
Michigan Median
$51,210
per year
Hourly Rate
$24.62
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-67% vs US median
US median $153,990
State Rank
#40 of 41
570 employed here

How much do Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates make in Michigan?

Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates in Michigan take home a median of $51,210 annually — roughly $24.62 an hour — which runs 67% below the national median of $153,990.

Within Michigan, entry-level pay starts around $45,720 while the top 10% make $181,280 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $48,340 and $127,310 a year.

Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates salary range in Michigan

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$45,720$21.98
25th percentile (early career)$48,340$23.24
50th percentile (median)$51,210$24.62
75th percentile (experienced)$127,310$61.21
90th percentile (top earners)$181,280$87.15

How Michigan compares

Michigan ranks 40th out of 41 states and territories for Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates pay. The top 5 best-paying states:

RankStateMedian salary
1Rhode Island$239,760
2Massachusetts$221,710
3Connecticut$217,760
4New York$216,390
5Hawaii$211,810

Working as Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates in Michigan

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 Michigan pay ($51,210) 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 Michigan?
The median Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates salary in Michigan is $51,210 per year, or about $24.62 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $45,720 at the entry level to $181,280 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Michigan pay compare to the national average?
Michigan pays Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates about 67% less than the national median of $153,990. Michigan ranks 40th out of 41 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Michigan a good state for Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $51,210 a year. About 570 Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates are employed in Michigan. 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 Michigan?
The highest-paying occupations in Michigan include Radiologist ($485,920), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($428,570), Cardiologist ($419,030), 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.