Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates Salary
The median pay for a judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Colorado is $198,790/year ($95.57/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $170K at the entry level to $220K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.71), that's roughly $191,679 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,832/month, or 15.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Colorado. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $199K actually covers in Colorado, month by month
About judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates
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What this looks like in Colorado
Colorado sits well above the national pay line for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates, local pay runs about 29% higher than the U.S. median of $154K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,832/month, 15.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 103.71) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, Colorado offers a genuinely strong financial position for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Colorado
Entry-level judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates (10th percentile) start around $170K. Mid-career wages sit at $199K. Top earners bring in $220K or more, a $50K spread from bottom to top.
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates salary by metro in Colorado
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $199K | +0% | 310 |
| Colorado Springs | $190K | -4% | 70 |
| Greeley | $190K | -4% | 30 |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Colorado numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a judges, magistrate judges, and magistrate afford a 2BR apartment alone in Colorado?
Yes — at the median salary of $199K, rent takes 15.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,832/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Colorado?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates typically earn — is $170K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $9,960/month. At HUD’s $1,832/month FMR, rent would take 18% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is judges, magistrate judges, and magistrate a high-paying job in Colorado?
Local pay is 29% above the national median — $199K here vs. $154K nationally.
How does Colorado compare to the national average for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates?
Colorado pays $199K median vs. the U.S. average of $154K — that’s +29%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.71), the purchasing-power equivalent is $192K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates make in Colorado?
The median is $198,790 a year, that works out to about $96 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $170,080, and experienced judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates can clear $219,580. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $199K enough to live in Colorado?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $11,607/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,832/month, which eats 15.8% 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 Colorado?
Colorado has a Regional Price Parity of 103.71 (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 $191,679 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.