Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates Salary
The median pay for a judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Topeka, KS is $148,910/year ($71.59/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $77K at the entry level to $169K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.82), which stretches that salary to about $167,654 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,057/month, or 11.7% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $149K get you in Topeka?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Topeka’s Regional Price Parity (88.82). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
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What this looks like in Topeka
Judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates pay in Topeka tracks closely to the national median, $149K locally vs. $154K nationwide, a 3% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,057/month, 12.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.82 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in metros near Topeka, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Wichita | $149K | $167K |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $199K | , |
| Omaha | $208K | $227K |
| Colorado Springs | $190K | , |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Topeka, KS
Entry-level judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates (10th percentile) start around $77K. Mid-career wages sit at $149K. Top earners bring in $169K or more, a $92K spread from bottom to top.
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $240K | +56% | 120 |
| Massachusetts | $222K | +44% | 610 |
| Connecticut | $218K | +41% | 230 |
| New York | $216K | +41% | 2,270 |
| Hawaii | $212K | +38% | 120 |
| Tennessee | $208K | +35% | 420 |
| Nebraska | $208K | +35% | 160 |
| New Mexico | $205K | +33% | 250 |
| New Jersey | $204K | +33% | 920 |
| Colorado | $199K | +29% | 620 |
| Vermont | $194K | +26% | 80 |
| Minnesota | $190K | +23% | 590 |
| Florida | $186K | +21% | 1,380 |
| Alaska | $183K | +19% | 140 |
| Indiana | $183K | +19% | 790 |
| Idaho | $173K | +12% | 250 |
| Maryland | $172K | +12% | 170 |
| North Dakota | $171K | +11% | 130 |
| Oregon | $166K | +8% | 40 |
| Nevada | $166K | +8% | 90 |
| Maine | $161K | +5% | 100 |
| Kentucky | $151K | -2% | 370 |
| Kansas | $149K | -3% | 420 |
| Iowa | $148K | -4% | 410 |
| Texas | $140K | -9% | 2,770 |
| Washington | $134K | -13% | 1,040 |
| Georgia | $134K | -13% | 1,190 |
| Delaware | $131K | -15% | 120 |
| Pennsylvania | $111K | -28% | N/A |
| Virginia | $104K | -32% | 1,270 |
| Ohio | $95K | -38% | 1,720 |
| Arizona | $93K | -39% | 590 |
| Utah | $93K | -40% | 100 |
| South Carolina | $86K | -44% | 670 |
| Montana | $85K | -45% | 70 |
| Louisiana | $83K | -46% | 180 |
| Wisconsin | $77K | -50% | 130 |
| West Virginia | $63K | -59% | 350 |
| Alabama | $53K | -66% | 560 |
| Michigan | $51K | -67% | 570 |
| Mississippi | $50K | -68% | 360 |
Showing 1–10 of 41 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Topeka numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a judges, magistrate judges, and magistrate afford a 2BR apartment alone in Topeka?
Yes — at the median salary of $149K, rent takes 12.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,057/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Topeka?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates typically earn — is $77K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,595/month. At HUD’s $1,057/month FMR, rent would take 23% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is judges, magistrate judges, and magistrate a high-paying job in Topeka?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $149K locally vs. $154K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Topeka compare to the national average for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates?
Topeka pays $149K median vs. the U.S. average of $154K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.82), the purchasing-power equivalent is $168K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates make in Topeka, KS?
The median is $148,910 a year, that works out to about $72 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $76,590, and experienced judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates can clear $168,580. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $149K enough to live in Topeka?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,725/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,057/month, which eats 12.1% 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 Topeka?
Topeka has a Regional Price Parity of 88.82 (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 $167,654 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.