Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates Salary
The median pay for a judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Maryland is $172,190/year ($82.78/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $53K at the entry level to $204K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.76), that's roughly $174,352 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,795/month, or 17.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Maryland. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $172K get you in Maryland?
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What this looks like in Maryland
Maryland sits well above the national pay line for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates, local pay runs about 12% higher than the U.S. median of $154K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,795/month, 17.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 98.76) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, Maryland offers a genuinely strong financial position for judges, magistrate judges, and magistratess at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Maryland
Entry-level judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates (10th percentile) start around $53K. Mid-career wages sit at $172K. Top earners bring in $204K or more, a $151K spread from bottom to top.
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates salary by metro in Maryland
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson | $191K | +11% | 90 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg | $63K | -63% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Maryland numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a judges, magistrate judges, and magistrate afford a 2BR apartment alone in Maryland?
Yes — at the median salary of $172K, rent takes 17.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,795/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Maryland?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates typically earn — is $53K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,193/month. At HUD’s $1,795/month FMR, rent would take 56% 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 Maryland?
Local pay is 12% above the national median — $172K here vs. $154K nationally.
How does Maryland compare to the national average for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates?
Maryland pays $172K median vs. the U.S. average of $154K — that’s +12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.76), the purchasing-power equivalent is $174K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates make in Maryland?
The median is $172,190 a year, that works out to about $83 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $53,210, and experienced judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates can clear $204,420. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $172K enough to live in Maryland?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $10,009/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,795/month, which eats 17.9% 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 Maryland?
Maryland has a Regional Price Parity of 98.76 (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 $174,352 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.