Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates Salary
The median pay for a judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in New Mexico is $205,400/year ($98.75/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $76K at the entry level to $218K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.06), which stretches that salary to about $220,718 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,119/month, or 9.2% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New Mexico. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $205K get you in New Mexico?
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What this looks like in New Mexico
New Mexico 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 $1,119/month, 9.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.06 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, New Mexico offers a genuinely strong financial position for judges, magistrate judges, and magistratess at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Mexico
Entry-level judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates (10th percentile) start around $76K. Mid-career wages sit at $205K. Top earners bring in $218K or more, a $142K spread from bottom to top.
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates salary by metro in New Mexico
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $216K | +5% | 80 |
Compare to other states
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Frequently asked questions
Can a judges, magistrate judges, and magistrate afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Mexico?
Yes — at the median salary of $205K, rent takes 9.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,119/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 Mexico?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates typically earn — is $76K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,576/month. At HUD’s $1,119/month FMR, rent would take 24% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is judges, magistrate judges, and magistrate a high-paying job in New Mexico?
Local pay is 33% above the national median — $205K here vs. $154K nationally.
How does New Mexico compare to the national average for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates?
New Mexico pays $205K median vs. the U.S. average of $154K — that’s +33%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.06), the purchasing-power equivalent is $221K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates make in New Mexico?
The median is $205,400 a year, that works out to about $99 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $76,260, and experienced judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates can clear $218,030. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $205K enough to live in New Mexico?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $11,987/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,119/month, which eats 9.3% 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 Mexico?
New Mexico has a Regional Price Parity of 93.06 (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 $220,718 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.