Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates Salary in Columbia, SC
The median pay for a judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Columbia, SC is $99,240/year ($47.71/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $45K at the entry level to $218K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.66), which stretches that salary to about $105,958 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,276/month, or 20.3% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $99K get you in Columbia?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Columbia’s Regional Price Parity (93.66). 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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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Columbia, SC
Entry-level judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates (10th percentile) start around $45K. Mid-career wages sit at $99K. Top earners bring in $218K or more, a $173K spread from bottom to top.
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $222K | +42% | 600 |
| Connecticut | $211K | +35% | 200 |
| Hawaii | $203K | +30% | 120 |
| New Jersey | $200K | +28% | 990 |
| Nebraska | $196K | +26% | 160 |
| Arkansas | $193K | +23% | 220 |
| New York | $190K | +22% | 2,460 |
| Minnesota | $183K | +17% | 470 |
| Maryland | $181K | +16% | 390 |
| Tennessee | $179K | +14% | 520 |
| Indiana | $177K | +13% | 720 |
| Oregon | $174K | +11% | 320 |
| Alaska | $169K | +8% | 140 |
| New Mexico | $164K | +5% | 240 |
| Maine | $157K | +0% | 80 |
| Missouri | $156K | +0% | 550 |
| Kansas | $149K | -5% | 420 |
| Vermont | $141K | -10% | 90 |
| Texas | $140K | -10% | 2,610 |
| Kentucky | $139K | -11% | 420 |
| Washington | $132K | -16% | 1,050 |
| Georgia | $132K | -16% | 1,210 |
| Delaware | $127K | -19% | 120 |
| Utah | $124K | -21% | 100 |
| Nevada | $119K | -24% | 100 |
| Virginia | $104K | -33% | N/A |
| Ohio | $97K | -38% | 2,510 |
| South Carolina | $84K | -46% | 670 |
| Wisconsin | $84K | -46% | 130 |
| Louisiana | $71K | -55% | 180 |
| Montana | $63K | -60% | 90 |
| West Virginia | $63K | -60% | 350 |
| Michigan | $51K | -67% | 530 |
| Alabama | $51K | -67% | 610 |
| Mississippi | $50K | -68% | N/A |
Showing 1–10 of 35 states
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 Columbia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates make in Columbia, SC?
The median is $99,240 a year, that works out to about $48 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $44,990, and experienced judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates can clear $218,380. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $99K enough to live in Columbia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,123/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,276/month, which eats 20.8% 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 Columbia?
Columbia has a Regional Price Parity of 93.66 (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 $105,958 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.