Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates Salary
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates earn a median $153,990 a year nationally. Legal Occupations
U.S. median
$153,990
$74.03 per hour
Range
$46,950 – $221,710
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
24,030
across the U.S.
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$116,518
per year · effective tax rate 24.3%
$9,710Monthly
$4,855Twice a month
$4,481Every 2 weeks
$56.02Hourly
- Federal income tax$25,692
- Social Security (6.2%)$9,547
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,233
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$116,518
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,950 | $22.57 | $39,904 |
| 25th percentile | $85,710 | $41.21 | $69,127 |
| Median (50th) | $153,990 | $74.03 | $116,518 |
| 75th percentile | $194,950 | $93.73 | $145,162 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $221,710 | $106.59 | $164,610 |
Best cities for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $204,160 | $140,986 | $125,250 | 1,280 |
| 2 | Austin, TX | $153,990 | $116,518 | $118,816 | 710 |
| 3 | Houston, TX | $135,430 | $103,832 | $105,276 | 480 |
| 4 | Atlanta, GA | $144,790 | $103,338 | $103,278 | 550 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $135,180 | $103,662 | $93,277 | 550 |
| 6 | Cleveland, OH | $80,020 | $63,706 | $67,828 | 440 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- New York, NY — $204,160
- Austin, TX — $153,990
- Atlanta, GA — $144,790
- Houston, TX — $135,430
- Seattle, WA — $135,180
- Cleveland, OH — $80,020
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates salary by state
| State | Median | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $239,200+ | $166,216 | $81,690 – $239,200+ | 120 |
| Massachusetts | $221,710 | $153,744 | $155,450 – $221,710 | 610 |
| Connecticut | $217,760 | $151,078 | $114,380 – $217,760 | 230 |
| New York | $216,390 | $149,271 | $166,930 – $232,590 | 2,270 |
| Hawaii | $211,810 | $142,704 | $205,300 – $217,110 | 120 |
| Tennessee | $208,350 | $155,077 | $64,300 – $221,470 | 420 |
| Nebraska | $208,180 | $146,359 | $202,550 – $213,800 | 160 |
| New Mexico | $205,400 | $144,170 | $76,260 – $218,030 | 250 |
| New Jersey | $204,160 | $141,176 | $56,290 – $215,540 | 920 |
| Colorado | $198,790 | $139,987 | $170,080 – $219,580 | 620 |
| Vermont | $194,170 | $133,611 | $57,730 – $194,170 | 80 |
| Minnesota | $190,110 | $129,463 | $117,520 – $190,110 | 590 |
| Florida | $186,040 | $138,520 | $171,860 – $220,410 | 1,380 |
| Alaska | $183,310 | $136,558 | $82,160 – $221,220 | 140 |
| Indiana | $183,000 | $130,978 | $58,960 – $183,000 | 790 |
| Idaho | $172,920 | $121,400 | $79,180 – $226,260 | 250 |
| Maryland | $172,190 | $120,838 | $53,210 – $204,420 | 170 |
| North Dakota | $171,100 | $126,136 | $58,040 – $175,960 | 130 |
| Oregon | $166,400 | $110,827 | $76,950 – $230,850 | 40 |
| Nevada | $166,360 | $124,973 | $57,220 – $227,870 | 90 |
| Maine | $161,470 | $111,581 | $55,760 – $165,110 | 100 |
| Kentucky | $150,650 | $109,080 | $98,230 – $156,550 | 370 |
| Kansas | $148,910 | $105,536 | $76,590 – $163,160 | 420 |
| Iowa | $147,510 | $107,136 | $45,470 – $173,670 | 410 |
| Texas | $139,990 | $106,949 | $31,380 – $184,790 | 2,770 |
| Washington | $134,270 | $103,040 | $112,360 – $239,200+ | 1,040 |
| Georgia | $133,660 | $96,308 | $37,420 – $187,990 | 1,190 |
| Delaware | $131,340 | $93,709 | $93,490 – $211,350 | 120 |
| Pennsylvania | $110,580 | $83,228 | $110,580 – $110,580 | — |
| Virginia | $104,000 | $76,828 | $62,180 – $213,830 | 1,270 |
| Ohio | $95,260 | $74,008 | $38,330 – $210,440 | 1,720 |
| Arizona | $93,280 | $72,329 | $81,120 – $209,950 | 590 |
| Utah | $92,780 | $70,892 | $32,640 – $195,950 | 100 |
| South Carolina | $86,210 | $65,463 | $35,950 – $211,840 | 670 |
| Montana | $84,630 | $64,947 | $44,470 – $123,780 | 70 |
| Louisiana | $83,040 | $65,144 | $24,660 – $143,800 | 180 |
| Wisconsin | $76,620 | $60,052 | $27,380 – $175,880 | 130 |
| West Virginia | $63,240 | $50,880 | $63,240 – $138,590 | 350 |
| Alabama | $52,850 | $42,267 | $37,420 – $110,110 | 560 |
| Michigan | $51,210 | $41,402 | $45,720 – $181,280 | 570 |
| Mississippi | $49,960 | $41,056 | $27,510 – $165,240 | 360 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates make?
The national median salary for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates is $153,990 a year ($74.03 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $46,950 and the top 10% earn over $221,710. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates the most?
Rhode Island has the highest median pay at $239,200+. After taxes and local prices, New York, NY offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates are there in the U.S.?
About 24,030 people work as judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates nationwide.