Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates Salary
The median pay for a judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Albuquerque, NM is $216,220/year ($103.95/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $127K at the entry level to $218K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 95.55), that's roughly $226,290 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,464/month, or 11.4% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $216K get you in Albuquerque?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Albuquerque’s Regional Price Parity (95.55). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
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What this looks like in Albuquerque
Albuquerque sits well above the national pay line for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates, local pay runs about 40% higher than the U.S. median of $154K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,464/month, 11.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 95.55) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, Albuquerque offers a genuinely strong financial position for judges, magistrate judges, and magistratess at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in metros near Albuquerque, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | $154K | $157K |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $135K | $137K |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler | $113K | $110K |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $199K | , |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Albuquerque, NM
Entry-level judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates (10th percentile) start around $127K. Mid-career wages sit at $216K. Top earners bring in $218K or more, a $91K spread from bottom to top.
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $240K | +56% | 120 |
| Massachusetts | $222K | +44% | 610 |
| Connecticut | $218K | +41% | 230 |
| New York | $216K | +41% | 2,270 |
| Hawaii | $212K | +38% | 120 |
| Tennessee | $208K | +35% | 420 |
| Nebraska | $208K | +35% | 160 |
| New Mexico | $205K | +33% | 250 |
| New Jersey | $204K | +33% | 920 |
| Colorado | $199K | +29% | 620 |
| Vermont | $194K | +26% | 80 |
| Minnesota | $190K | +23% | 590 |
| Florida | $186K | +21% | 1,380 |
| Alaska | $183K | +19% | 140 |
| Indiana | $183K | +19% | 790 |
| Idaho | $173K | +12% | 250 |
| Maryland | $172K | +12% | 170 |
| North Dakota | $171K | +11% | 130 |
| Oregon | $166K | +8% | 40 |
| Nevada | $166K | +8% | 90 |
| Maine | $161K | +5% | 100 |
| Kentucky | $151K | -2% | 370 |
| Kansas | $149K | -3% | 420 |
| Iowa | $148K | -4% | 410 |
| Texas | $140K | -9% | 2,770 |
| Washington | $134K | -13% | 1,040 |
| Georgia | $134K | -13% | 1,190 |
| Delaware | $131K | -15% | 120 |
| Pennsylvania | $111K | -28% | N/A |
| Virginia | $104K | -32% | 1,270 |
| Ohio | $95K | -38% | 1,720 |
| Arizona | $93K | -39% | 590 |
| Utah | $93K | -40% | 100 |
| South Carolina | $86K | -44% | 670 |
| Montana | $85K | -45% | 70 |
| Louisiana | $83K | -46% | 180 |
| Wisconsin | $77K | -50% | 130 |
| West Virginia | $63K | -59% | 350 |
| Alabama | $53K | -66% | 560 |
| Michigan | $51K | -67% | 570 |
| Mississippi | $50K | -68% | 360 |
Showing 1–10 of 41 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Albuquerque numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a judges, magistrate judges, and magistrate afford a 2BR apartment alone in Albuquerque?
Yes — at the median salary of $216K, rent takes 11.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,464/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Albuquerque?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates typically earn — is $127K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $7,618/month. At HUD’s $1,464/month FMR, rent would take 19% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is judges, magistrate judges, and magistrate a high-paying job in Albuquerque?
Local pay is 40% above the national median — $216K here vs. $154K nationally.
How does Albuquerque compare to the national average for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates?
Albuquerque pays $216K median vs. the U.S. average of $154K — that’s +40%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 95.55), the purchasing-power equivalent is $226K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates make in Albuquerque, NM?
The median is $216,220 a year, that works out to about $104 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $126,960, and experienced judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates can clear $218,030. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $216K enough to live in Albuquerque?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $12,581/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,464/month, which eats 11.6% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates salary go in Albuquerque?
Albuquerque has a Regional Price Parity of 95.55 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates salary is worth about $226,290 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.