Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates vs. Paralegals and Legal Assistants: Who Earns More?
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates out-earn Paralegals and Legal Assistants by $91K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates land at $153,990 and Paralegals and Legal Assistants at $62,890. The education gap is real: judges, magistrate judges, and magistrate programs typically require doctoral or professional degree, while paralegals and legal assistant programs require associate's degree. Top-paying state for Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates is Rhode Island ($239,760); for Paralegals and Legal Assistants it's District of Columbia ($89,750).
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 Paralegals and Legal Assistants?
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates earn more nationally. The median is $153,990 for Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates versus $62,890 for Paralegals and Legal Assistants, a difference of $91K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.
Which has better job growth, Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates or Paralegals and Legal Assistants?
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates has the better 10-year outlook at 2.5% projected growth, compared to 0.2% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.
Which requires more education, Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates or Paralegals and Legal Assistants?
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates typically requires doctoral or professional degree. Paralegals and Legal Assistants requires associate's 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. Paralegals and Legal Assistants pay differ by state?
The gap varies significantly by state. In Massachusetts, Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates earn $221,710 vs. $77,640 for Paralegals and Legal Assistants. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.