Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates Salary
The median pay for a judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Indiana is $183,000/year ($87.98/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $59K at the entry level to $183K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.81), which stretches that salary to about $199,325 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,144/month, or 10.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Indiana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $183K get you in Indiana?
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What this looks like in Indiana
Indiana sits well above the national pay line for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates, local pay runs about 19% higher than the U.S. median of $154K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,144/month, 10.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.81 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Indiana offers a genuinely strong financial position for judges, magistrate judges, and magistratess at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Indiana
Entry-level judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates (10th percentile) start around $59K. Mid-career wages sit at $183K. Top earners bring in $183K or more, a $124K spread from bottom to top.
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates salary by metro in Indiana
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evansville | $183K | +0% | 30 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood | $183K | +0% | 260 |
| Fort Wayne | $160K | -13% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Indiana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a judges, magistrate judges, and magistrate afford a 2BR apartment alone in Indiana?
Yes — at the median salary of $183K, rent takes 10.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,144/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Indiana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates typically earn — is $59K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,538/month. At HUD’s $1,144/month FMR, rent would take 32% 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 Indiana?
Local pay is 19% above the national median — $183K here vs. $154K nationally.
How does Indiana compare to the national average for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates?
Indiana pays $183K median vs. the U.S. average of $154K — that’s +19%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.81), the purchasing-power equivalent is $199K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates make in Indiana?
The median is $183,000 a year, that works out to about $88 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $58,960, 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 $183K enough to live in Indiana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $10,890/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,144/month, which eats 10.5% 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 Indiana?
Indiana has a Regional Price Parity of 91.81 (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 $199,325 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.