Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates Salary
The median pay for a judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Rhode Island is $239,760/year ($115.27/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $82K at the entry level to $271K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 101.77), that's roughly $235,590 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,544/month, or 11.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Rhode Island. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $240K get you in Rhode Island?
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What this looks like in Rhode Island
Rhode Island sits well above the national pay line for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates, local pay runs about 56% higher than the U.S. median of $154K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,544/month, 11.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 101.77) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, Rhode Island offers a genuinely strong financial position for judges, magistrate judges, and magistratess at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Rhode Island
Entry-level judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates (10th percentile) start around $82K. Mid-career wages sit at $240K. Top earners bring in $271K or more, a $189K spread from bottom to top.
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates salary by metro in Rhode Island
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence-Warwick | $230K | -4% | 150 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Rhode Island numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a judges, magistrate judges, and magistrate afford a 2BR apartment alone in Rhode Island?
Yes — at the median salary of $240K, rent takes 11.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,544/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Rhode Island?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates typically earn — is $82K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,901/month. At HUD’s $1,544/month FMR, rent would take 32% 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 Rhode Island?
Local pay is 56% above the national median — $240K here vs. $154K nationally.
How does Rhode Island compare to the national average for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates?
Rhode Island pays $240K median vs. the U.S. average of $154K — that’s +56%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 101.77), the purchasing-power equivalent is $236K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates make in Rhode Island?
The median is $239,760 a year, that works out to about $115 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $81,690, and experienced judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates can clear $271,090. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $240K enough to live in Rhode Island?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $13,756/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,544/month, which eats 11.2% 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 Rhode Island?
Rhode Island has a Regional Price Parity of 101.77 (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 $235,590 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.