Judge salary
BLS occupation: Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates · also called magistrate · Legal · data for May 2025
Median salary $153,990 a year, US
Median hourly pay $74.03 an hour
Middle half earn $85,710–$194,950 25th to 75th percentile
Judges employed 24,030 +2.8% projected by 2035
How much does a judge make?
- The median judge salary in the US is $153,990 a year ($74.03 an hour): half of the 24,030 judges BLS counts earn more and half earn less. The average (mean) is $143,830.
- The middle half earn between $85,710 and $194,950. The lowest-paid 10% earn less than $46,950 and the top 10% more than $221,710.
- That is 3.0 times the median for all US workers ($50,980).
- Rhode Island pays judges the most (median $239,760), followed by Massachusetts ($221,710) and Connecticut ($217,760). Mississippi pays the least ($49,960).
- After adjusting for prices, the pay goes furthest in Rhode Island, where the median is worth $234,415 in typical US prices, then Nebraska and Tennessee.
- In 93 of the 98 metro areas with data, the median judge salary is enough to rent a typical home without spending more than 30% of income on rent.
- BLS projects the number of judges to grow 2.8% from 2025 to 2035 (all jobs: 3.5%), with about 800 openings a year. The typical entry education is a doctoral or professional degree.
official From BLS's survey of employers: what judges are actually paid, not job ads or self-reports. Adjusted figures are derived. How we calculate.
How does your pay compare?
Judge salary range
Half of judges earn between $85,710 and $194,950 a year
Yearly pay at each point of the range, US, May 2025. For comparison, the median for all US jobs is $50,980.
Lowest 10% earn under Yearly pay: $46,950
Lowest 25% earn under Yearly pay: $85,710
Median Yearly pay: $153,990
Top 25% earn over Yearly pay: $194,950
Top 10% earn over Yearly pay: $221,710
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
Show the numbers
| Yearly pay | |
|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn under | $46,950 |
| Lowest 25% earn under | $85,710 |
| Median | $153,990 |
| Top 25% earn over | $194,950 |
| Top 10% earn over | $221,710 |
Judge salary by state
Rhode Island pays judges the most; Mississippi the least
Median yearly pay by state compared with the US median ($153,990), May 2025. Blue = higher pay.
- 20%+ below US
- 10–20% below
- 3–10% below
- Within 3%
- 3–10% above
- 10–20% above
- 20%+ above US
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025.
Show the numbers
| State | Median pay |
|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $239,760 median |
| Massachusetts | $221,710 median |
| Connecticut | $217,760 median |
| New York | $216,390 median |
| Hawaii | $211,810 median |
| Tennessee | $208,350 median |
| Nebraska | $208,180 median |
| New Mexico | $205,400 median |
| New Jersey | $204,160 median |
| Colorado | $198,790 median |
| Vermont | $194,170 median |
| Minnesota | $190,110 median |
| Florida | $186,040 median |
| Alaska | $183,310 median |
| Indiana | $183,000 median |
| Idaho | $172,920 median |
| Maryland | $172,190 median |
| North Dakota | $171,100 median |
| Oregon | $166,400 median |
| Nevada | $166,360 median |
| Maine | $161,470 median |
| Kentucky | $150,650 median |
| Kansas | $148,910 median |
| Iowa | $147,510 median |
| Texas | $139,990 median |
| Washington | $134,270 median |
| Georgia | $133,660 median |
| Delaware | $131,340 median |
| Pennsylvania | $110,580 median |
| Virginia | $104,000 median |
| Ohio | $95,260 median |
| Arizona | $93,280 median |
| Utah | $92,780 median |
| South Carolina | $86,210 median |
| Montana | $84,630 median |
| Louisiana | $83,040 median |
| Wisconsin | $76,620 median |
| West Virginia | $63,240 median |
| Alabama | $52,850 median |
| Michigan | $51,210 median |
| Mississippi | $49,960 median |
Where judge pay goes furthest
A salary buys more where prices are low. We divide each state's median by its price level from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, so every figure is in typical US prices. derived
Judges' pay goes furthest in Rhode Island once prices are counted
Median pay ÷ the state's price level (BEA, 2024; US = 100), shown in typical US prices. Top 10 states.
US median
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025; BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Our calculation.
Show the numbers
| Worth, in US prices | |
|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $234,415 |
| Nebraska | $231,047 |
| Tennessee | $226,788 |
| New Mexico | $222,748 |
| Connecticut | $210,173 |
| Massachusetts | $209,641 |
| New York | $200,508 |
| Vermont | $198,218 |
| Indiana | $196,081 |
| Colorado | $192,903 |
Judge pay in every state
| State | Median a year | Hourly | Lowest 10% | Top 10% | Employed | After cost of living |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $239,760 | $115.27 | $81,690 | $271,090 | 120 | $234,415 |
| Massachusetts | $221,710 | $106.59 | $155,450 | $221,710 | 610 | $209,641 |
| Connecticut | $217,760 | $104.69 | $114,380 | $217,760 | 230 | $210,173 |
| New York | $216,390 | $104.03 | $166,930 | $232,590 | 2,270 | $200,508 |
| Hawaii | $211,810 | $101.83 | $205,300 | $217,110 | 120 | $192,640 |
| Tennessee | $208,350 | $100.17 | $64,300 | $221,470 | 420 | $226,788 |
| Nebraska | $208,180 | $100.09 | $202,550 | $213,800 | 160 | $231,047 |
| New Mexico | $205,400 | $98.75 | $76,260 | $218,030 | 250 | $222,748 |
| New Jersey | $204,160 | $98.15 | $56,290 | $215,540 | 920 | $187,638 |
| Colorado | $198,790 | $95.57 | $170,080 | $219,580 | 620 | $192,903 |
| Vermont | $194,170 | $93.35 | $57,730 | $194,170 | 80 | $198,218 |
| Minnesota | $190,110 | $91.40 | $117,520 | $190,110 | 590 | $192,768 |
| Florida | $186,040 | $89.44 | $171,860 | $220,410 | 1,380 | $179,898 |
| Alaska | $183,310 | $88.13 | $82,160 | $221,220 | 140 | $179,085 |
| Indiana | $183,000 | $87.98 | $58,960 | $183,000 | 790 | $196,081 |
| Idaho | $172,920 | $83.13 | $79,180 | $226,260 | 250 | $181,079 |
| Maryland | $172,190 | $82.78 | $53,210 | $204,420 | 170 | $164,055 |
| North Dakota | $171,100 | $82.26 | $58,040 | $175,960 | 130 | $192,336 |
| Oregon | $166,400 | $80.00 | $76,950 | $230,850 | 40 | $160,989 |
| Nevada | $166,360 | $79.98 | $57,220 | $227,870 | 90 | $166,395 |
| Maine | $161,470 | $77.63 | $55,760 | $165,110 | 100 | $166,378 |
| Kentucky | $150,650 | $72.43 | $98,230 | $156,550 | 370 | $167,094 |
| Kansas | $148,910 | $71.59 | $76,590 | $163,160 | 420 | $165,331 |
| Iowa | $147,510 | $70.92 | $45,470 | $173,670 | 410 | $168,080 |
| Texas | $139,990 | $67.30 | $31,380 | $184,790 | 2,770 | $144,235 |
| Washington | $134,270 | $64.55 | $112,360 | $239,740 | 1,040 | $125,471 |
| Georgia | $133,660 | $64.26 | $37,420 | $187,990 | 1,190 | $138,806 |
| Delaware | $131,340 | $63.14 | $93,490 | $211,350 | 120 | $131,593 |
| Pennsylvania | $110,580 | $53.16 | $110,580 | $110,580 | – | $113,332 |
| Virginia | $104,000 | $50.00 | $62,180 | $213,830 | 1,270 | $102,864 |
| Ohio | $95,260 | $45.80 | $38,330 | $210,440 | 1,720 | $102,680 |
| Arizona | $93,280 | $44.85 | $81,120 | $209,950 | 590 | $92,653 |
| Utah | $92,780 | $44.61 | $32,640 | $195,950 | 100 | $93,846 |
| South Carolina | $86,210 | $41.45 | $35,950 | $211,840 | 670 | $91,958 |
| Montana | $84,630 | $40.69 | $44,470 | $123,780 | 70 | $89,418 |
| Louisiana | $83,040 | $39.92 | $24,660 | $143,800 | 180 | $94,142 |
| Wisconsin | $76,620 | $36.84 | $27,380 | $175,880 | 130 | $81,428 |
| West Virginia | $63,240 | $30.40 | $63,240 | $138,590 | 350 | $70,662 |
| Alabama | $52,850 | $25.41 | $37,420 | $110,110 | 560 | $59,500 |
| Michigan | $51,210 | $24.62 | $45,720 | $181,280 | 570 | $53,223 |
| Mississippi | $49,960 | $24.02 | $27,510 | $165,240 | 360 | $57,456 |
BLS does not publish pay for judges in 10 states (too few workers to estimate reliably). After cost of living = median ÷ (BEA price level ÷ 100).
Judge salary by city
Metro areas where BLS publishes judge pay: 98 of 387. Rent share = typical rent (September 2026, Zillow) × 12 ÷ the median salary; under 30% is affordable by the usual rule.
Highest-paying metro areas
- Providence, RI $229,760
- Longview, WA $228,330
- Boston, MA $221,710
- Nashville, TN $218,190
- Hartford, CT $217,760
- Albuquerque, NM $216,220
- Lincoln, NE $208,180
- Omaha, NE $208,180
- Atlantic City, NJ $204,160
- New York, NY $204,160
Where the pay goes furthest
- Longview, WA $234,077
- Lincoln, NE $227,318
- Omaha, NE $226,502
- Nashville, TN $226,484
- Albuquerque, NM $226,299
- Providence, RI $225,757
- Hartford, CT $211,940
- Atlantic City, NJ $206,521
- Boston, MA $204,783
- Evansville, IN $199,939
All 98 metro areas
| Metro area | Median a year | Employed | After cost of living | Rent share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Providence, RI | $229,760 | 150 | $225,757 | 11% |
| Longview, WA | $228,330 | 40 | $234,077 | 7% |
| Boston, MA | $221,710 | 420 | $204,783 | 16% |
| Nashville, TN | $218,190 | 200 | $226,484 | 10% |
| Hartford, CT | $217,760 | 100 | $211,940 | 11% |
| Albuquerque, NM | $216,220 | 80 | $226,299 | 8% |
| Lincoln, NE | $208,180 | 40 | $227,318 | 7% |
| Omaha, NE | $208,180 | 90 | $226,502 | 8% |
| Atlantic City, NJ | $204,160 | 50 | $206,521 | 12% |
| New York, NY | $204,160 | 1,280 | $181,374 | 21% |
| Philadelphia, PA | $204,160 | 210 | $199,076 | 11% |
| Trenton, NJ | $204,160 | 50 | $197,868 | 15% |
| Denver, CO | $198,790 | 310 | $187,924 | 11% |
| Miami, FL | $196,890 | 360 | $172,476 | 16% |
| Tampa, FL | $196,890 | 200 | $195,153 | 12% |
| Baltimore, MD | $191,320 | 90 | $183,104 | 12% |
| Las Vegas, NV | $190,690 | 40 | $190,281 | 11% |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $190,230 | 70 | $188,895 | 11% |
| Greeley, CO | $190,230 | 30 | $189,896 | 11% |
| Minneapolis, MN | $186,580 | 420 | $177,997 | 11% |
| Evansville, IN | $183,000 | 30 | $199,939 | 7% |
| Indianapolis, IN | $183,000 | 260 | $191,231 | 10% |
| Gainesville, FL | $178,950 | 40 | $184,994 | 11% |
| Portland, OR | $178,260 | 60 | $169,093 | 12% |
| Glens Falls, NY | $177,840 | 30 | $187,464 | 10% |
| Utica, NY | $176,500 | 50 | $190,444 | 10% |
| Orlando, FL | $176,450 | 140 | $173,983 | 13% |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | $175,430 | 40 | $175,031 | 16% |
| Deltona, FL | $175,020 | 60 | $176,135 | 12% |
| Rochester, NY | $174,940 | 130 | $180,285 | 11% |
| Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $174,730 | 60 | $159,685 | 16% |
| Buffalo, NY | $174,250 | 180 | $181,806 | 10% |
| Jacksonville, FL | $173,920 | 90 | $174,822 | 12% |
| Tallahassee, FL | $173,370 | 60 | $184,595 | 10% |
| Boise, ID | $172,920 | 240 | $175,748 | 13% |
| Albany, NY | $172,410 | 150 | $173,162 | 12% |
| Syracuse, NY | $172,270 | 120 | $179,931 | 11% |
| Binghamton, NY | $165,900 | 40 | $178,650 | 12% |
| Burlington, VT | $161,490 | 40 | $159,972 | 19% |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $159,620 | 50 | $172,428 | 10% |
| Louisville, KY | $156,550 | 100 | $168,199 | 10% |
| Austin, TX | $153,990 | 710 | $157,027 | 12% |
| Topeka, KS | $148,910 | 50 | $167,654 | 10% |
| Wichita, KS | $148,910 | 60 | $167,416 | 10% |
| Knoxville, TN | $148,580 | 40 | $160,507 | 14% |
| Des Moines, IA | $147,510 | 90 | $160,860 | 10% |
| Chicago, IL | $146,400 | 80 | $141,320 | 18% |
| San Antonio, TX | $145,860 | 210 | $153,997 | 12% |
| Atlanta, GA | $144,790 | 550 | $144,706 | 15% |
| Gainesville, GA | $144,790 | 30 | $149,629 | 14% |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $140,090 | 50 | $151,169 | 12% |
| Lubbock, TX | $139,870 | 40 | $153,170 | 11% |
| Houston, TX | $135,430 | 480 | $137,313 | 15% |
| Seattle, WA | $135,180 | 550 | $121,638 | 20% |
| Beaumont, TX | $132,550 | 30 | $147,203 | 12% |
| Memphis, TN | $124,870 | 40 | $135,465 | 13% |
| Spartanburg, SC | $122,990 | 50 | $135,078 | 14% |
| Cincinnati, OH | $122,750 | 240 | $128,709 | 15% |
| Bremerton, WA | $114,400 | 30 | $108,326 | 22% |
| Olympia, WA | $114,120 | 50 | $110,080 | 21% |
| Spokane, WA | $114,120 | 60 | $113,727 | 16% |
| Phoenix, AZ | $113,440 | 330 | $109,799 | 18% |
| Chattanooga, TN | $107,670 | 40 | $117,718 | 17% |
| Huntington, WV | $107,180 | 40 | $121,214 | 12% |
| Youngstown, OH | $106,170 | 80 | $121,484 | 12% |
| Dayton, OH | $104,760 | 130 | $113,017 | 15% |
| Charlottesville, VA | $104,000 | 30 | $104,896 | 24% |
| Columbus, OH | $104,000 | 240 | $108,936 | 18% |
| Lynchburg, VA | $104,000 | 40 | $116,379 | 15% |
| Richmond, VA | $104,000 | 220 | $106,276 | 20% |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $104,000 | 290 | $106,186 | 22% |
| Washington, DC | $104,000 | 380 | $95,514 | 28% |
| Charleston, WV | $103,940 | 40 | $117,159 | 14% |
| Greenville, SC | $99,400 | 100 | $106,584 | 19% |
| Canton, OH | $98,790 | 60 | $110,496 | 14% |
| Charleston, SC | $98,120 | 80 | $97,185 | 25% |
| New Orleans, LA | $95,020 | 60 | $102,617 | 20% |
| Columbia, SC | $94,400 | 90 | $100,788 | 20% |
| Roanoke, VA | $91,000 | 60 | $97,204 | 18% |
| Lake Havasu City, AZ | $89,990 | 30 | $95,634 | 21% |
| Prescott Valley, AZ | $89,990 | 30 | $91,588 | 25% |
| Tucson, AZ | $89,990 | 100 | $92,873 | 20% |
| Florence, SC | $86,860 | 40 | $100,099 | 21% |
| Augusta, GA | $85,260 | 70 | $92,772 | 21% |
| Cleveland, OH | $80,020 | 440 | $85,197 | 22% |
| Texarkana, TX | $78,630 | 30 | $93,594 | 19% |
| Jackson, MS | $78,050 | 60 | $87,649 | 23% |
| Charlotte, NC | $72,610 | 60 | $74,588 | 29% |
| Akron, OH | $68,760 | 60 | $73,642 | 23% |
| Hagerstown, MD | $63,240 | 30 | $67,154 | 31% |
| Birmingham, AL | $57,260 | 140 | $62,481 | 29% |
| Daphne, AL | $57,220 | 30 | $60,429 | 36% |
| Mobile, AL | $57,160 | 30 | $64,882 | 27% |
| Montgomery, AL | $56,630 | 40 | $63,145 | 29% |
| Detroit, MI | $55,000 | 180 | $54,837 | 33% |
| Dothan, AL | $48,930 | 30 | $58,366 | 30% |
| Grand Rapids, MI | $48,110 | 60 | $50,353 | 40% |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | $46,930 | 40 | $53,499 | 43% |
What the median judge salary pays per paycheck
| Period | Before taxes |
|---|---|
| Year | $153,990 |
| Month | $12,833 |
| Every two weeks | $5,923 |
| Week | $2,961 |
| Hour | $74.03 |
Gross pay, 52 weeks a year, 2,080 hours. Hourly to salary calculator.
Becoming a judge: education and job outlook
| Typical entry education | Doctoral or professional degree |
|---|---|
| Work experience needed | 5 years or more |
| On-the-job training | Short-term on-the-job training |
| Projected change in jobs, 2025–35 | +2.8% (all jobs: +3.5%) |
| Openings a year (average) | 800 |
| Self-employed | % |
official BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35. Openings include workers who retire or change jobs. What the work involves: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
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Questions about judge pay
How much does a judge make an hour?
The median is $74.03 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $22.57 and the top 10% over $106.59.
How much does a judge make a month?
About $12,833 a month before taxes at the median salary of $153,990, or $5,923 every two weeks.
What state pays judges the most?
Rhode Island, with a median of $239,760. Massachusetts ($221,710), Connecticut ($217,760), New York ($216,390) and Hawaii ($211,810) follow.
Where do judges make the most after cost of living?
Rhode Island: its median of $239,760 is worth $234,415 at typical US prices. Nebraska, Tennessee and New Mexico come next.
How much do entry-level judges make?
BLS does not report pay by experience. The lowest-paid 10% of judges earn under $46,950 a year, and the lowest-paid quarter under $85,710, which is a reasonable guide to starting pay.
What education do you need to become a judge?
BLS lists the typical entry-level education as a doctoral or professional degree. Work experience in a related job: 5 years or more. On-the-job training: short-term on-the-job training.
Sources and limits
- Pay and employment: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation 23-1023 (Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates). Downloaded 2026-10-24.
- OEWS counts wage and salary workers at employers, including tips and commissions but not overtime pay, bonuses that are not tied to production, or benefits. It leaves out the self-employed. BLS does not publish figures above $239,200 a year or for states and metro areas with too few workers.
- Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (US = 100). Rents: Zillow Observed Rent Index, September 2026; Data Provided by Zillow Group.
- Outlook and education: BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35.
- Pay is not broken down by experience, employer or specialty (for example, ER or pediatric nursing); BLS does not publish those splits.