Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates Salary
The median pay for a judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Wisconsin is $76,620/year ($36.84/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $27K at the entry level to $176K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.33), which stretches that salary to about $81,225 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,202/month, or 23.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Wisconsin. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $77K get you in Wisconsin?
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What this looks like in Wisconsin
Pay for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Wisconsin runs about 50% below the U.S. median of $154K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,202/month, 24.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.33 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Wisconsin 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, Wisconsin
Entry-level judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates (10th percentile) start around $27K. Mid-career wages sit at $77K. Top earners bring in $176K or more, a $149K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Wisconsin numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a judges, magistrate judges, and magistrate afford a 2BR apartment alone in Wisconsin?
Yes — at the median salary of $77K, rent takes 24.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,202/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Wisconsin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates typically earn — is $27K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,643/month. At HUD’s $1,202/month FMR, rent would take 73% 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 Wisconsin?
Local pay runs 50% below the national median — $77K here vs. $154K nationally. Cost of living is 6% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Wisconsin compare to the national average for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates?
Wisconsin pays $77K median vs. the U.S. average of $154K — that’s -50%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.33), the purchasing-power equivalent is $81K — below the national median.
How much do judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates make in Wisconsin?
The median is $76,620 a year, that works out to about $37 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $27,380, and experienced judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates can clear $175,880. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $77K enough to live in Wisconsin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,940/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,202/month, which eats 24.3% 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 Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has a Regional Price Parity of 94.33 (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 $81,225 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.