Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates vs. Lawyers: Who Earns More?
Lawyers out-earn Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates by $6K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates land at $153,990 and Lawyers at $159,670. The education gap is real: judges, magistrate judges, and magistrate programs typically require doctoral or professional degree, while lawyer programs require doctoral or professional degree. Top-paying state for Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates is Rhode Island ($239,760); for Lawyers it's New York ($207,860).
Pay by state
States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates median pay.
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.
Common questions
Who earns more, Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates or Lawyers?
Lawyers earn more nationally. The median is $153,990 for Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates versus $159,670 for Lawyers, a difference of $6K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.
Which has better job growth, Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates or Lawyers?
Lawyers has the better 10-year outlook at 4.1% projected growth, compared to 2.5% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.
Which requires more education, Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates or Lawyers?
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates typically requires doctoral or professional degree. Lawyers requires doctoral or professional degree. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.
Where do Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates get paid the most?
Rhode Island is the top-paying state for Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates at $239,760/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.
How does Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates vs. Lawyers pay differ by state?
The gap varies significantly by state. In Rhode Island, Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates earn $239,760 vs. $138,960 for Lawyers. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.