Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates Salary
The median pay for a judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL is $196,890/year ($94.66/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $177K at the entry level to $197K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 114.16), so that salary is closer to $172,468 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,436/month, or 19.8% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $197K get you in Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach’s Regional Price Parity (114.16). 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 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach sits well above the national pay line for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates, local pay runs about 28% higher than the U.S. median of $154K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $2,436/month, 19.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost-of-living overall is 14% above the national average (BEA RPP 114.16), so groceries and services cost more too. Combined with manageable housing costs, Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach offers a genuinely strong financial position for judges, magistrate judges, and magistratess at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in metros near Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater | $197K | $195K |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford | $176K | $174K |
| Jacksonville | $174K | $175K |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach | $175K | $176K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
Entry-level judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates (10th percentile) start around $177K. Mid-career wages sit at $197K. Top earners bring in $197K or more, a $20K 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 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a judges, magistrate judges, and magistrate afford a 2BR apartment alone in Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach?
Yes — at the median salary of $197K, rent takes 19.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,436/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates typically earn — is $177K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $10,629/month. At HUD’s $2,436/month FMR, rent would take 23% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is judges, magistrate judges, and magistrate a high-paying job in Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach?
Local pay is 28% above the national median — $197K here vs. $154K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 14% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach compare to the national average for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates?
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach pays $197K median vs. the U.S. average of $154K — that’s +28%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 114.16), the purchasing-power equivalent is $172K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates make in Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL?
The median is $196,890 a year, that works out to about $95 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $177,150, and experienced judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates can clear $196,890. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $197K enough to live in Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $12,218/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,436/month, which eats 19.9% 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 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach?
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach has a Regional Price Parity of 114.16 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates salary is worth about $172,468 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.