Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates Salary
The median pay for a judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Michigan is $51,210/year ($24.62/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $46K at the entry level to $181K for experienced workers. Note: the mean (average) wage is $87K, significantly higher than the median. This typically reflects a mix of employment settings including academic and private practice positions. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.89), which stretches that salary to about $54,543 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,272/month, about 37.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Michigan. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $51K get you in Michigan?
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What this looks like in Michigan
Pay for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Michigan runs about 67% below the U.S. median of $154K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,272/month, which is 37.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for judges, magistrate judges, and magistratess.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Michigan
Entry-level judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates (10th percentile) start around $46K. Mid-career wages sit at $51K. Top earners bring in $181K or more, a $136K spread from bottom to top.
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates salary by metro in Michigan
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn | $55K | +7% | 180 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood | $48K | -6% | 60 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Michigan numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a judges, magistrate judges, and magistrate afford a 2BR apartment alone in Michigan?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $51K, rent takes 37.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,272/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Michigan?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates typically earn — is $46K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,743/month. At HUD’s $1,272/month FMR, rent would take 46% 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 Michigan?
Local pay runs 67% below the national median — $51K here vs. $154K nationally. Cost of living is 6% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Michigan compare to the national average for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates?
Michigan pays $51K median vs. the U.S. average of $154K — that’s -67%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $55K — below the national median.
How much do judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates make in Michigan?
The median is $51,210 a year, that works out to about $25 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $45,720, and experienced judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates can clear $181,280. The mean (average) is $87,370, reflecting that some workers earn substantially more. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $51K enough to live in Michigan?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,417/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,272/month, which eats 37.2% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates salary go in Michigan?
Michigan has a Regional Price Parity of 93.89 (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 $54,543 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.