Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates Salary
The median pay for a judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Arizona is $93,280/year ($44.85/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $81K at the entry level to $210K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 96.41), that's roughly $96,753 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,437/month, or 23.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Arizona. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $93K get you in Arizona?
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What this looks like in Arizona
Pay for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Arizona runs about 39% below the U.S. median of $154K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,437/month, 24.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 96.41) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Lower pay, lower costs, Arizona can be a reasonable trade-off for judges, magistrate judges, and magistratess who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arizona
Entry-level judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates (10th percentile) start around $81K. Mid-career wages sit at $93K. Top earners bring in $210K or more, a $129K spread from bottom to top.
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates salary by metro in Arizona
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler | $113K | +22% | 330 |
| Lake Havasu City-Kingman | $90K | -4% | 30 |
| Prescott Valley-Prescott | $90K | -4% | 30 |
| Tucson | $90K | -4% | 100 |
Compare to other states
Track judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Arizona numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a judges, magistrate judges, and magistrate afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arizona?
Yes — at the median salary of $93K, rent takes 24.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,437/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Arizona?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates typically earn — is $81K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,867/month. At HUD’s $1,437/month FMR, rent would take 30% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is judges, magistrate judges, and magistrate a high-paying job in Arizona?
Local pay runs 39% below the national median — $93K here vs. $154K nationally.
How does Arizona compare to the national average for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates?
Arizona pays $93K median vs. the U.S. average of $154K — that’s -39%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 96.41), the purchasing-power equivalent is $97K — below the national median.
How much do judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates make in Arizona?
The median is $93,280 a year, that works out to about $45 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $81,120, and experienced judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates can clear $209,950. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $93K enough to live in Arizona?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,973/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,437/month, which eats 24.1% 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 Arizona?
Arizona has a Regional Price Parity of 96.41 (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 $96,753 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.