Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates Salary
The median pay for a judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in New Jersey is $204,160/year ($98.15/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $56K at the entry level to $216K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 99.34), that's roughly $205,516 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,067/month, or 17.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New Jersey. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $204K get you in New Jersey?
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What this looks like in New Jersey
New Jersey sits well above the national pay line for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates, local pay runs about 33% higher than the U.S. median of $154K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $2,067/month, 17.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 99.34) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, New Jersey offers a genuinely strong financial position for judges, magistrate judges, and magistratess at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Jersey
Entry-level judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates (10th percentile) start around $56K. Mid-career wages sit at $204K. Top earners bring in $216K or more, a $159K spread from bottom to top.
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates salary by metro in New Jersey
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic City-Hammonton | $204K | +0% | 50 |
| Trenton-Princeton | $204K | +0% | 50 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New Jersey numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a judges, magistrate judges, and magistrate afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Jersey?
Yes — at the median salary of $204K, rent takes 17.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,067/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in New Jersey?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates typically earn — is $56K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,377/month. At HUD’s $2,067/month FMR, rent would take 61% 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 New Jersey?
Local pay is 33% above the national median — $204K here vs. $154K nationally.
How does New Jersey compare to the national average for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates?
New Jersey pays $204K median vs. the U.S. average of $154K — that’s +33%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 99.34), the purchasing-power equivalent is $206K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates make in New Jersey?
The median is $204,160 a year, that works out to about $98 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $56,290, and experienced judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates can clear $215,540. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $204K enough to live in New Jersey?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $11,760/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,067/month, which eats 17.6% 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 New Jersey?
New Jersey has a Regional Price Parity of 99.34 (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 $205,516 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.