How much do Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates make?
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates earn a median annual salary of $153,990 in the United States, which works out to roughly $74.03 per hour for full-time work. Most earn between $46,950 at the entry level and $221,710 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $85,710 and $194,950 a year.
That is $92,600 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates salary range by percentile
Half of all Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates earn between $85,710 and $194,950 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,950 | $22.57 | |
| 25th percentile (early career) | $85,710 | $41.21 | |
| 50th percentile (median) | $153,990 | $74.03 | |
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $194,950 | $93.73 | |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $221,710 | $106.59 |
Highest-paying states for Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Rhode Island leads the country for Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates pay at $239,760 a year, followed by Massachusetts ($221,710) and Connecticut ($217,760). At the other end, Mississippi posts the lowest median at $49,960 — a gap of $189,800 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
| # | State | Median salary | Hourly | vs national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $239,760 | $115.27 | +56% |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $221,710 | $106.59 | +44% |
| 3 | Connecticut | $217,760 | $104.69 | +41% |
| 4 | New York | $216,390 | $104.03 | +41% |
| 5 | Hawaii | $211,810 | $101.83 | +38% |
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 41 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Workforce and education
About 24,000 people work as Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $143,830 — below the median, unusual for salaried roles. On qualifications: a doctoral or professional degree (8 or more years of higher education) is required, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
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