Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates Salary
The median pay for a judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Chattanooga, TN-GA is $107,670/year ($51.77/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $61K at the entry level to $176K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.46), which stretches that salary to about $117,724 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,390/month, or 19.3% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $108K get you in Chattanooga?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Chattanooga’s Regional Price Parity (91.46). 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 Chattanooga
Pay for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Chattanooga runs about 30% below the U.S. median of $154K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,390/month, 19.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.46 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Chattanooga can be a reasonable trade-off for judges, magistrate judges, and magistratess who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in metros near Chattanooga, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $218K | $226K |
| Knoxville | $149K | $161K |
| Memphis | $125K | $135K |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $145K | $145K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Chattanooga, TN-GA
Entry-level judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates (10th percentile) start around $61K. Mid-career wages sit at $108K. Top earners bring in $176K or more, a $115K 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
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Frequently asked questions
Can a judges, magistrate judges, and magistrate afford a 2BR apartment alone in Chattanooga?
Yes — at the median salary of $108K, rent takes 19.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,390/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Chattanooga?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates typically earn — is $61K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,651/month. At HUD’s $1,390/month FMR, rent would take 38% 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 Chattanooga?
Local pay runs 30% below the national median — $108K here vs. $154K nationally. Cost of living is 9% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Chattanooga compare to the national average for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates?
Chattanooga pays $108K median vs. the U.S. average of $154K — that’s -30%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.46), the purchasing-power equivalent is $118K — below the national median.
How much do judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates make in Chattanooga, TN-GA?
The median is $107,670 a year, that works out to about $52 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $60,850, and experienced judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates can clear $175,780. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $108K enough to live in Chattanooga?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,011/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,390/month, which eats 19.8% 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 Chattanooga?
Chattanooga has a Regional Price Parity of 91.46 (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 $117,724 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.