Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates Salary
The median pay for a judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH is $221,710/year ($106.59/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $155K at the entry level to $222K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.27), so that salary is closer to $204,775 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,941/month, or 22.4% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $222K get you in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Boston-Cambridge-Newton’s Regional Price Parity (108.27). 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 Boston-Cambridge-Newton
Boston-Cambridge-Newton sits well above the national pay line for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates, local pay runs about 44% higher than the U.S. median of $154K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $2,941/month, 23.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost-of-living overall is 8% above the national average (BEA RPP 108.27), so groceries and services cost more too. Combined with manageable housing costs, Boston-Cambridge-Newton 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 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City | $204K | $181K |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga | $174K | $182K |
| Providence-Warwick | $230K | $226K |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy | $172K | $173K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
Entry-level judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates (10th percentile) start around $155K. Mid-career wages sit at $222K. Top earners bring in $222K or more, a $66K 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
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Frequently asked questions
Can a judges, magistrate judges, and magistrate afford a 2BR apartment alone in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
Yes — at the median salary of $222K, rent takes 23.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,941/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates typically earn — is $155K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $9,327/month. At HUD’s $2,941/month FMR, rent would take 32% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is judges, magistrate judges, and magistrate a high-paying job in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
Local pay is 44% above the national median — $222K here vs. $154K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 8% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does Boston-Cambridge-Newton compare to the national average for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates?
Boston-Cambridge-Newton pays $222K median vs. the U.S. average of $154K — that’s +44%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 108.27), the purchasing-power equivalent is $205K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates make in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?
The median is $221,710 a year, that works out to about $107 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $155,450, and experienced judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates can clear $221,710. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $222K enough to live in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $12,757/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,941/month, which eats 23.1% 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 Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
Boston-Cambridge-Newton has a Regional Price Parity of 108.27 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates salary is worth about $204,775 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.