Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates Salary
The median pay for a judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV is $104,000/year ($50/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $61K at the entry level to $214K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.88), so that salary is closer to $95,518 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,246/month, about 35.1% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $104K get you in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Washington-Arlington-Alexandria’s Regional Price Parity (108.88). 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.
About judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates
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What this looks like in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria
Pay for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria runs about 32% below the U.S. median of $154K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,246/month, which is 35.7% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 9% above the national average (BEA RPP 108.88), so groceries and services cost more too. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for judges, magistrate judges, and magistratess.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in metros near Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $104K | $106K |
| Richmond | $104K | $106K |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson | $191K | $183K |
| Roanoke | $91K | $97K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Entry-level judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates (10th percentile) start around $61K. Mid-career wages sit at $104K. Top earners bring in $214K or more, a $153K 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a judges, magistrate judges, and magistrate afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $104K, rent takes 35.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,246/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates typically earn — is $61K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,663/month. At HUD’s $2,246/month FMR, rent would take 61% 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Local pay runs 32% below the national median — $104K here vs. $154K nationally.
How does Washington-Arlington-Alexandria compare to the national average for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria pays $104K median vs. the U.S. average of $154K — that’s -32%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 108.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $96K — below the national median.
How much do judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median is $104,000 a year, that works out to about $50 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $61,050, and experienced judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates can clear $213,830. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $104K enough to live in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,296/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,246/month, which eats 35.7% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates salary go in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria has a Regional Price Parity of 108.88 (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 $95,518 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.