Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates Salary
The median pay for a judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in West Virginia is $63,240/year ($30.4/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $63K at the entry level to $139K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.03), which stretches that salary to about $71,032 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,008/month, or 24.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across West Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $63K get you in West Virginia?
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What this looks like in West Virginia
Pay for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in West Virginia runs about 59% below the U.S. median of $154K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,008/month, 23.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.03 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, West Virginia 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, West Virginia
Entry-level judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates (10th percentile) start around $63K. Mid-career wages sit at $63K. Top earners bring in $139K or more, a $75K spread from bottom to top.
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates salary by metro in West Virginia
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntington-Ashland | $107K | +69% | 40 |
| Charleston | $104K | +64% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when West Virginia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a judges, magistrate judges, and magistrate afford a 2BR apartment alone in West Virginia?
Yes — at the median salary of $63K, rent takes 23.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,008/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in West Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates typically earn — is $63K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,794/month. At HUD’s $1,008/month FMR, rent would take 27% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is judges, magistrate judges, and magistrate a high-paying job in West Virginia?
Local pay runs 59% below the national median — $63K here vs. $154K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does West Virginia compare to the national average for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates?
West Virginia pays $63K median vs. the U.S. average of $154K — that’s -59%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.03), the purchasing-power equivalent is $71K — below the national median.
How much do judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates make in West Virginia?
The median is $63,240 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $63,240, and experienced judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates can clear $138,590. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $63K enough to live in West Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,209/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,008/month, which eats 23.9% 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 West Virginia?
West Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 89.03 (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 $71,032 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.