Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates Salary
The median judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates salary in the United States is $153,990 per year ($74.03/hour). Salaries range from $46,950 at the entry level to $221,710+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 24,030 judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 2.5% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Median Salary
$153,990
per year
Hourly Rate
$74.03
per hour
Employment
24,030
jobs in the U.S.
Salary Distribution
10th percentile
$46,950
25th percentile
$85,710
Median
$153,990
75th percentile
$194,950
90th percentile
$221,710
Job Growth (2024-2034)
+2.5%
As fast as average
Annual Openings
900
jobs/year (growth + replacements)
Education Required
Doctoral or professional degree
+ 5 years or more experience
Training Needed
Short-term on-the-job training
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) →Salary Map — Click a state for details
$50K$240K■ No data
Top Paying States
Rhode Island
$240K
+56%
Massachusetts
$222K
+44%
Connecticut
$218K
+41%
New York
$216K
+41%
Hawaii
$212K
+38%
Tennessee
$208K
+35%
Nebraska
$208K
+35%
New Mexico
$205K
+33%
New Jersey
$204K
+33%
Colorado
$199K
+29%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
| State | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $239,760 | +55.7% |
| Massachusetts | $221,710 | +44.0% |
| Connecticut | $217,760 | +41.4% |
| New York | $216,390 | +40.5% |
| Hawaii | $211,810 | +37.5% |
| Tennessee | $208,350 | +35.3% |
| Nebraska | $208,180 | +35.2% |
| New Mexico | $205,400 | +33.4% |
| New Jersey | $204,160 | +32.6% |
| Colorado | $198,790 | +29.1% |
Showing 1–10 of 41
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $229,760 | +49.2% |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $228,330 | +48.3% |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $221,710 | +44.0% |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $218,190 | +41.7% |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $217,760 | +41.4% |
| Albuquerque, NM | $216,220 | +40.4% |
| Lincoln, NE | $208,180 | +35.2% |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $208,180 | +35.2% |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $204,160 | +32.6% |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $204,160 | +32.6% |
Showing 1–10 of 98
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
How does this compare to pro athletes?
A judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates earning $153,990/year would need 387 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 416 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
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