Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates Salary
The median pay for a judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in North Dakota is $171,100/year ($82.26/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $58K at the entry level to $176K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.89), which stretches that salary to about $192,485 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,034/month, or 9.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of North Dakota. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $171K get you in North Dakota?
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What this looks like in North Dakota
North Dakota sits well above the national pay line for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates, local pay runs about 11% higher than the U.S. median of $154K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,034/month, 10% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, North Dakota offers a genuinely strong financial position for judges, magistrate judges, and magistratess at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, North Dakota
Entry-level judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates (10th percentile) start around $58K. Mid-career wages sit at $171K. Top earners bring in $176K or more, a $118K 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 North Dakota numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a judges, magistrate judges, and magistrate afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $171K, rent takes 10% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,034/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in North Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates typically earn — is $58K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,482/month. At HUD’s $1,034/month FMR, rent would take 30% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is judges, magistrate judges, and magistrate a high-paying job in North Dakota?
Local pay is 11% above the national median — $171K here vs. $154K nationally.
How does North Dakota compare to the national average for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates?
North Dakota pays $171K median vs. the U.S. average of $154K — that’s +11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $192K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates make in North Dakota?
The median is $171,100 a year, that works out to about $82 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $58,040, and experienced judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates can clear $175,960. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $171K enough to live in North Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $10,364/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,034/month, which eats 10% 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 North Dakota?
North Dakota has a Regional Price Parity of 88.89 (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 $192,485 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.