Average Salary for Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates
SOC 23-1023 · Legal Occupations · 2024 data
The median annual wage for Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates in the United States is $156,210 ($75.10/hr), based on 2024 BLS OEWS data. Wages range from $46,520 at the 10th percentile to $216,540 at the 90th percentile nationally. An estimated 25,580 people work in this occupation across the country. The national median wage has grown 35.7% since 2014.
Median Annual
$156,210
Mean Annual
$143,110
10th Pct
$46,520
75th Pct
$189,890
Employment
25,580
Salary Distribution
$47k
10th
$86k
25th
$156k
Median
$190k
75th
$217k
90th
Highest Paying Metro Areas
| Metro Area | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $224,040 |
| Worcester, MA | $221,710 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $221,710 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $218,190 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $211,420 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $201,510 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $200,150 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $200,150 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $200,150 |
| Knoxville, TN | $197,740 |
| Lincoln, NE | $196,390 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $196,390 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $196,190 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $193,000 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $184,690 |
Salary by State
| State | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $221,710 |
| Connecticut | $211,420 |
| Hawaii | $203,290 |
| New Jersey | $200,150 |
| Nebraska | $196,390 |
| Arkansas | $192,910 |
| Colorado | $191,640 |
| New York | $189,890 |
| Minnesota | $182,790 |
| Maryland | $181,320 |
| Tennessee | $178,730 |
| Indiana | $177,180 |
| Oregon | $174,100 |
| Alaska | $168,880 |
| New Mexico | $164,340 |
| Maine | $156,770 |
| Missouri | $156,210 |
| Kansas | $148,910 |
| Vermont | $141,080 |
| Texas | $139,990 |
| Kentucky | $138,620 |
| Washington | $131,740 |
| Georgia | $131,670 |
| Delaware | $126,700 |
| Utah | $123,640 |
| Nevada | $118,690 |
| Virginia | $104,000 |
| Ohio | $97,260 |
| Puerto Rico | $95,570 |
| South Carolina | $84,270 |
| Wisconsin | $83,620 |
| Louisiana | $70,610 |
| Montana | $63,260 |
| West Virginia | $63,240 |
| Michigan | $51,250 |
| Alabama | $50,950 |
| Mississippi | $49,900 |
Salary by Industry
National median wage for Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates broken down by industry sector, 2024 data.
| Industry | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $172,990 |
| State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $172,990 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $156,210 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $156,210 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $156,210 |
| Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $99,110 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $99,110 |
National Wage Trend
View data table
| Year | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $156,210 |
| 2023 | $148,910 |
| 2022 | $151,030 |
| 2021 | $148,030 |
| 2020 | $141,080 |
| 2019 | $136,910 |
| 2018 | $133,920 |
| 2017 | $133,840 |
| 2016 | $125,880 |
| 2015 | $126,930 |
| 2014 | $115,140 |