South Carolina Median
$86,210
per year
Hourly Rate
$41.45
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-44% vs US median
US median $153,990
State Rank
#34 of 41
670 employed here
How much do Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates make in South Carolina?
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates working in South Carolina earn a median salary of $86,210 per year, or about $41.45 per hour. That is 44% below the national median of $153,990 for this occupation.
Within South Carolina, entry-level pay starts around $35,950 while the top 10% make $211,840 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $57,880 and $122,990 a year.
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates salary range in South Carolina
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,950 | $17.28 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $57,880 | $27.83 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $86,210 | $41.45 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $122,990 | $59.13 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $211,840 | $101.85 |
|
How South Carolina compares
South Carolina ranks 34th 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 $161,470Kentucky $150,650Kansas $148,910Iowa $147,510Texas $139,990Washington $134,270Georgia $133,660Delaware $131,340Pennsylvania $110,580Virginia $104,000Ohio $95,260Arizona $93,280Utah $92,780Montana $84,630Louisiana $83,040Wisconsin $76,620West Virginia $63,240Alabama $52,850Michigan $51,210Mississippi $49,960
Working as Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates in South Carolina
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 South Carolina pay ($86,210) 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 South Carolina?
The median Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates salary in South Carolina is $86,210 per year, or about $41.45 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $35,950 at the entry level to $211,840 for the top 10% of earners.
How does South Carolina pay compare to the national average?
South Carolina pays Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates about 44% less than the national median of $153,990. South Carolina ranks 34th out of 41 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is South Carolina a good state for Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $86,210 a year. About 670 Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates are employed in South Carolina. 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 South Carolina?
The highest-paying occupations in South Carolina include General Internal Medicine Physician ($359,500), Neurologist ($352,680), Emergency Medicine Physician ($341,960), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates salary report
Related salaries
$62,890
median pay · 393,000 employed
$58,650
median pay · 49,000 employed
$64,920
median pay · 13,000 employed
$159,670
median pay · 755,000 employed
$75,530
median pay · 9,000 employed
$72,110
median pay · 47,000 employed
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.