Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates Salary
The median pay for a judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in South Carolina is $86,210/year ($41.45/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $212K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.17), which stretches that salary to about $92,530 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,263/month, or 23.2% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across South Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $86K get you in South Carolina?
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What this looks like in South Carolina
Pay for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in South Carolina runs about 44% below the U.S. median of $154K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,263/month, 23.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.17 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, South Carolina can be a reasonable trade-off for judges, magistrate judges, and magistratess who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Carolina
Entry-level judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $86K. Top earners bring in $212K or more, a $176K spread from bottom to top.
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates salary by metro in South Carolina
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spartanburg | $123K | +43% | 50 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer | $99K | +15% | 100 |
| Charleston-North Charleston | $98K | +14% | 80 |
| Columbia | $94K | +10% | 90 |
| Florence | $87K | +1% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when South Carolina numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a judges, magistrate judges, and magistrate afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Carolina?
Yes — at the median salary of $86K, rent takes 23.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,263/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in South Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates typically earn — is $36K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,157/month. At HUD’s $1,263/month FMR, rent would take 59% 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 South Carolina?
Local pay runs 44% below the national median — $86K here vs. $154K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does South Carolina compare to the national average for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates?
South Carolina pays $86K median vs. the U.S. average of $154K — that’s -44%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.17), the purchasing-power equivalent is $93K — below the national median.
How much do judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates make in South Carolina?
The median is $86,210 a year, that works out to about $41 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $35,950, and experienced judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates can clear $211,840. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $86K enough to live in South Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,429/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,263/month, which eats 23.3% 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 South Carolina?
South Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 93.17 (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 $92,530 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.