Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates Salary
The median pay for a judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Louisiana is $83,040/year ($39.93/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $25K at the entry level to $144K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.28), which stretches that salary to about $95,142 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,191/month, or 22.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Louisiana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $83K get you in Louisiana?
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What this looks like in Louisiana
Pay for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Louisiana runs about 46% below the U.S. median of $154K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,191/month, 22.4% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.28 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 13% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Louisiana 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, Louisiana
Entry-level judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates (10th percentile) start around $25K. Mid-career wages sit at $83K. Top earners bring in $144K or more, a $119K spread from bottom to top.
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates salary by metro in Louisiana
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans-Metairie | $95K | +14% | 60 |
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Frequently asked questions
Can a judges, magistrate judges, and magistrate afford a 2BR apartment alone in Louisiana?
Yes — at the median salary of $83K, rent takes 22.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,191/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Louisiana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates typically earn — is $25K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,480/month. At HUD’s $1,191/month FMR, rent would take 80% 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 Louisiana?
Local pay runs 46% below the national median — $83K here vs. $154K nationally. Cost of living is 13% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Louisiana compare to the national average for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates?
Louisiana pays $83K median vs. the U.S. average of $154K — that’s -46%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.28), the purchasing-power equivalent is $95K — below the national median.
How much do judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates make in Louisiana?
The median is $83,040 a year, that works out to about $40 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $24,660, and experienced judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates can clear $143,800. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $83K enough to live in Louisiana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,321/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,191/month, which eats 22.4% 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 Louisiana?
Louisiana has a Regional Price Parity of 87.28 (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 $95,142 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.