Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates Salary
The median pay for a judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Iowa is $147,510/year ($70.92/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $45K at the entry level to $174K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $166,003 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,064/month, or 11.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Iowa. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $148K get you in Iowa?
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What this looks like in Iowa
Judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates pay in Iowa tracks closely to the national median, $148K locally vs. $154K nationwide, a 4% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,064/month, 12.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.86 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Iowa
Entry-level judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates (10th percentile) start around $45K. Mid-career wages sit at $148K. Top earners bring in $174K or more, a $128K spread from bottom to top.
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates salary by metro in Iowa
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $148K | +0% | 90 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a judges, magistrate judges, and magistrate afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
Yes — at the median salary of $148K, rent takes 12.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,064/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates typically earn — is $45K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,728/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 39% 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 Iowa?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $148K locally vs. $154K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates?
Iowa pays $148K median vs. the U.S. average of $154K — that’s -4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $166K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates make in Iowa?
The median is $147,510 a year, that works out to about $71 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $45,470, and experienced judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates can clear $173,670. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $148K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,633/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 12.3% 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 Iowa?
Iowa has a Regional Price Parity of 88.86 (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 $166,003 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.