Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates Salary
The median pay for a judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Oregon is $166,400/year ($80/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $77K at the entry level to $231K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.44), that's roughly $162,437 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,555/month, or 15.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Oregon. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $166K get you in Oregon?
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What this looks like in Oregon
Judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates pay in Oregon tracks closely to the national median, $166K locally vs. $154K nationwide, a 8% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,555/month, 17% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 102.44) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Oregon
Entry-level judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates (10th percentile) start around $77K. Mid-career wages sit at $166K. Top earners bring in $231K or more, a $154K spread from bottom to top.
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates salary by metro in Oregon
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro | $178K | +7% | 60 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Oregon numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a judges, magistrate judges, and magistrate afford a 2BR apartment alone in Oregon?
Yes — at the median salary of $166K, rent takes 17% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,555/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Oregon?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates typically earn — is $77K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,617/month. At HUD’s $1,555/month FMR, rent would take 34% 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 Oregon?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $166K locally vs. $154K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Oregon compare to the national average for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates?
Oregon pays $166K median vs. the U.S. average of $154K — that’s +8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.44), the purchasing-power equivalent is $162K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates make in Oregon?
The median is $166,400 a year, that works out to about $80 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $76,950, and experienced judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates can clear $230,850. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $166K enough to live in Oregon?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,167/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,555/month, which eats 17% 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 Oregon?
Oregon has a Regional Price Parity of 102.44 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates salary is worth about $162,437 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.