Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates salary
Legal · OCC code 23-1023 · gross annual wage · BLS OEWS May 2024
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates in the US earn a median of $156,210 per year (mean $143,110) as of the BLS OEWS May 2024 survey — that is +215.6% versus the $49,500 median for all US jobs, more than 2.5x the US median wage for all jobs. The middle half earn between $86,060 and $189,890; the top 10% earn $216,540 or more. The median hourly wage is $75.10. About 25,580 are employed nationally. The highest-paying state is Massachusetts ($221,710). Wages are gross (pre-tax) and vary by employer, experience and location.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024. Data as of OEWS May 2024 (BLS), retrieved June 2026.
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates pay range (national percentiles)
What judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates earn across the pay distribution, nationally (BLS OEWS, May 2024):
| Pay level | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (lowest-paid 10%) | $46,520 |
| 25th percentile | $86,060 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $156,210 |
| Mean (average) | $143,110 |
| 75th percentile | $189,890 |
| 90th percentile (highest-paid 10%) | $216,540 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024. Data as of OEWS May 2024 (BLS), retrieved June 2026.
A dash (—) means BLS did not release that figure; a plus (+) means the wage is at or above the BLS top code of $239,200/yr. See what wage percentiles mean or check where your salary ranks.
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates salary by state
Median and mean wage for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in each of the 36 states with published data, highest median first. The national median is $156,210.
| # | State | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $221,710 | $204,240 | 600 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $211,420 | $196,380 | 200 |
| 3 | Hawaii | $203,290 | $208,360 | 120 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $200,150 | $166,650 | 990 |
| 5 | Nebraska | $196,390 | $188,500 | 160 |
| 6 | Arkansas | $192,910 | $181,800 | 220 |
| 7 | Colorado | $191,640 | $185,070 | 620 |
| 8 | New York | $189,890 | $175,220 | 2,460 |
| 9 | Minnesota | $182,790 | $165,960 | 470 |
| 10 | Maryland | $181,320 | $178,510 | 390 |
| 11 | Tennessee | $178,730 | $161,890 | 520 |
| 12 | Indiana | $177,180 | $151,510 | 720 |
| 13 | Oregon | $174,100 | $167,830 | 320 |
| 14 | Alaska | $168,880 | $158,160 | 140 |
| 15 | New Mexico | $164,340 | $145,110 | 240 |
| 16 | Maine | $156,770 | $135,770 | 80 |
| 17 | Missouri | $156,210 | $147,790 | 550 |
| 18 | Kansas | $148,910 | $121,000 | 420 |
| 19 | Vermont | $141,080 | $132,620 | 90 |
| 20 | Texas | $139,990 | $122,990 | 2,610 |
| 21 | Kentucky | $138,620 | $134,750 | 420 |
| 22 | Washington | $131,740 | $154,360 | 1,050 |
| 23 | Georgia | $131,670 | $121,900 | 1,210 |
| 24 | Delaware | $126,700 | $149,760 | 120 |
| 25 | Utah | $123,640 | $145,820 | 100 |
| 26 | Nevada | $118,690 | $131,360 | 100 |
| 27 | Virginia | $104,000 | $114,130 | — |
| 28 | Ohio | $97,260 | $106,600 | 2,510 |
| 29 | South Carolina | $84,270 | $99,920 | 670 |
| 30 | Wisconsin | $83,620 | $99,520 | 130 |
| 31 | Louisiana | $70,610 | $96,220 | 180 |
| 32 | Montana | $63,260 | $72,160 | 90 |
| 33 | West Virginia | $63,240 | $88,370 | 350 |
| 34 | Michigan | $51,250 | $84,180 | 530 |
| 35 | Alabama | $50,950 | $71,280 | 610 |
| 36 | Mississippi | $49,900 | $74,240 | — |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024. Data as of OEWS May 2024 (BLS), retrieved June 2026.
Highest median: Massachusetts ($221,710). Lowest: Mississippi ($49,900).
Similar-paying jobs
| Occupation | Median wage | Mean wage | vs US median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates (this job) | $156,210 | $143,110 | +215.6% |
| Marketing Managers | $161,030 | $171,520 | +225.3% |
| Lawyers | $151,160 | $182,760 | +205.4% |
| Financial Managers | $161,700 | $180,470 | +226.7% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $167,740 | $175,710 | +238.9% |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $171,200 | $187,990 | +245.9% |
Marketing Managers · Lawyers · Financial Managers · Architectural and Engineering Managers · Computer and Information Systems Managers
Frequently asked questions
How much do judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates make?
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates earn a national median of $156,210 per year (mean $143,110) as of the BLS OEWS May 2024 survey. The middle half earn between $86,060 (25th percentile) and $189,890 (75th percentile); the top 10% earn $216,540 or more and the bottom 10% earn under $46,520. These are gross, pre-tax wages.
What is the hourly wage for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates?
The median hourly wage is $75.10 and the mean is $68.80 (BLS OEWS, May 2024). BLS reports some occupations only as annual wages, in which case hourly figures are shown as a dash.
Which state pays judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates the most?
Massachusetts has the highest median wage for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates at $221,710, versus a national median of $156,210. State pay reflects local cost of living, demand and industry mix. See the full state table on this page.
How many judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates are there in the US?
BLS estimates about 25,580 judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates are employed in the US (OEWS, May 2024). Among the 124 occupations tracked here, this job ranks #9 of 124 by median pay.
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Sources & accuracy
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024 (OCC 23-1023), gross annual wages, U.S. public domain, retrieved June 2026. OEWS figures are survey estimates and reflect pay before tax. Your actual pay depends on employer, experience, certifications, industry and location. This is information, not financial or career advice — see our methodology and disclaimer.
Last updated: 2026-06-20