Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates Salary
The median pay for a judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Delaware is $131,340/year ($63.14/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $93K at the entry level to $211K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.51), that's roughly $134,694 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,448/month, or 18.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Delaware. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $131K get you in Delaware?
About judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Delaware
Pay for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Delaware runs about 15% below the U.S. median of $154K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,448/month, 18.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 97.51) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Lower pay, lower costs, Delaware 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, Delaware
Entry-level judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates (10th percentile) start around $93K. Mid-career wages sit at $131K. Top earners bring in $211K or more, a $118K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Delaware numbers change.
Related careers in Legal
Frequently asked questions
Can a judges, magistrate judges, and magistrate afford a 2BR apartment alone in Delaware?
Yes — at the median salary of $131K, rent takes 18.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,448/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Delaware?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates typically earn — is $93K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,609/month. At HUD’s $1,448/month FMR, rent would take 26% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is judges, magistrate judges, and magistrate a high-paying job in Delaware?
Local pay runs 15% below the national median — $131K here vs. $154K nationally.
How does Delaware compare to the national average for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates?
Delaware pays $131K median vs. the U.S. average of $154K — that’s -15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97.51), the purchasing-power equivalent is $135K — below the national median.
How much do judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates make in Delaware?
The median is $131,340 a year, that works out to about $63 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $93,490, and experienced judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates can clear $211,350. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $131K enough to live in Delaware?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,759/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,448/month, which eats 18.7% 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 Delaware?
Delaware has a Regional Price Parity of 97.51 (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 $134,694 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.