Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates pay in the United States
In the U.S., the median pay for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates is $74.03 an hour ($153,990 a year). About 24,030 people work in this job there.
Pay range for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in the U.S.
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $22.57 | $46,950 |
| 25% of workers | $41.21 | $85,710 |
| Half of workers (median) | $74.03 | $153,990 |
| 75% of workers | $93.73 | $194,950 |
| 90% of workers | $106.59 | $221,710 |
Best-paying states for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates
| State | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $239,760 | 120 |
| Massachusetts | $221,710 | 610 |
| Connecticut | $217,760 | 230 |
| New York | $216,390 | 2,270 |
| Hawaii | $211,810 | 120 |
| Tennessee | $208,350 | 420 |
| Nebraska | $208,180 | 160 |
| New Mexico | $205,400 | 250 |
| New Jersey | $204,160 | 920 |
| Colorado | $198,790 | 620 |
Pay by state
- Alabama · $52,850
- Arizona · $93,280
- Colorado · $198,790
- Florida · $186,040
- Georgia · $133,660
- Indiana · $183,000
- Massachusetts · $221,710
- Michigan · $51,210
- Minnesota · $190,110
- New Jersey · $204,160
- New York · $216,390
- Ohio · $95,260
- South Carolina · $86,210
- Texas · $139,990
- Virginia · $104,000
- Washington · $134,270
Education, experience and outlook for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates
- Typical education to start: Doctoral or professional degree (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 6 to 8 years (O*NET)
- Experience usually needed to start: 5 years or more (BLS)
- Training on the job: Short-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: +2.8% over ten years, about as fast as average · about 800 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Lawyers | $159,670 |
| Compliance Officers | $80,730 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $62,890 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $93,790 |
| Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists | $66,270 |
| Law Teachers, Postsecondary | $128,500 |
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | $117,860 |
| Judicial Law Clerks | $64,920 |
Other job titles for this job
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Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.