Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates Salary
The median pay for a judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Fort Wayne, IN is $159,620/year ($76.74/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $85K at the entry level to $183K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.57), which stretches that salary to about $172,432 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,113/month, or 11.3% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $160K get you in Fort Wayne?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Fort Wayne’s Regional Price Parity (92.57). 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.
About judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates
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What this looks like in Fort Wayne
Judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates pay in Fort Wayne tracks closely to the national median, $160K locally vs. $154K nationwide, a 4% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,113/month, 11.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.57 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in metros near Fort Wayne, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood | $183K | $191K |
| Evansville | $183K | $200K |
| Cleveland | $80K | $85K |
| Cincinnati | $123K | $129K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Fort Wayne, IN
Entry-level judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates (10th percentile) start around $85K. Mid-career wages sit at $160K. Top earners bring in $183K or more, a $98K 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
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Fort Wayne numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a judges, magistrate judges, and magistrate afford a 2BR apartment alone in Fort Wayne?
Yes — at the median salary of $160K, rent takes 11.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,113/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Fort Wayne?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates typically earn — is $85K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,090/month. At HUD’s $1,113/month FMR, rent would take 22% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is judges, magistrate judges, and magistrate a high-paying job in Fort Wayne?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $160K locally vs. $154K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Fort Wayne compare to the national average for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates?
Fort Wayne pays $160K median vs. the U.S. average of $154K — that’s +4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.57), the purchasing-power equivalent is $172K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates make in Fort Wayne, IN?
The median is $159,620 a year, that works out to about $77 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $84,830, and experienced judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates can clear $183,000. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $160K enough to live in Fort Wayne?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,582/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,113/month, which eats 11.6% 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 Fort Wayne?
Fort Wayne has a Regional Price Parity of 92.57 (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 $172,432 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.