Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates Salary
The median pay for a judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Montana is $84,630/year ($40.69/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $44K at the entry level to $124K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $87,247 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,129/month, or 21.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Montana. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $85K get you in Montana?
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What this looks like in Montana
Pay for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Montana runs about 45% below the U.S. median of $154K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,129/month, 21.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 97) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Lower pay, lower costs, Montana 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, Montana
Entry-level judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates (10th percentile) start around $44K. Mid-career wages sit at $85K. Top earners bring in $124K or more, a $79K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Montana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a judges, magistrate judges, and magistrate afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montana?
Yes — at the median salary of $85K, rent takes 21.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,129/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates typically earn — is $44K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,668/month. At HUD’s $1,129/month FMR, rent would take 42% 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 Montana?
Local pay runs 45% below the national median — $85K here vs. $154K nationally.
How does Montana compare to the national average for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates?
Montana pays $85K median vs. the U.S. average of $154K — that’s -45%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $87K — below the national median.
How much do judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates make in Montana?
The median is $84,630 a year, that works out to about $41 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $44,470, and experienced judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates can clear $123,780. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $85K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,336/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 21.2% 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 Montana?
Montana has a Regional Price Parity of 97 (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 $87,247 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.