What is the average salary for a judge? I get that question a lot but it is difficult to answer without knowing what state you are from and which level of court etc. On top of the fact that salaries will vary some depending on which branch of government you work for.
If you are looking to answer the question, what is the average salary for a judge or first you need to know what does a judge do. The job of a judge is to oversee activities in courtrooms, as well as to ensure that legal proceedings are fair and legal. Unlike attorneys, judges rely heavily on their knowledge of state and federal laws, as well as their in-depth understanding of strict rules on courtroom procedures. In some cases, they may also be tasked with determining if a person is mentally stable enough to stand trial so he can be found guilty of a crime or not.
What is the average salary for a judge
Introduction
Judges are often highly respected members of the community and are, therefore, well compensated for their services. The average judge salary, however, varies by location and experience level. So what is the average judge salary? We’ve got all the details in this article.
Average judge salary
The average judge salary is $127,990. This number can be deceiving, however. The actual amount of money judges make depends on their experience and where they work. For example, judges in the top five highest paying states make an average salary of $136,872 per year.*
- The information presented below was obtained from data collected by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in May 2017 and from various other sources online.*
A judge’s salary varies depending on experience and geographic location, but according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average annual wage for judges, magistrates and other judicial workers was $127,990 in May 2019. This average applies to both state and federal judges.
As of May 2019, the BLS reports that the average annual wage for judges, magistrates and other judicial workers was $127,990. This average applies to both state and federal judges.
In addition to their salary, many judges receive additional benefits such as health insurance coverage and a pension plan. For example, according to the United States Courts’ website: “Judges who decide cases in Federal District Courts may also be eligible for health care coverage under FEHB (Federal Employees Health Benefits), with their spouse and children covered if they choose self-only coverage.”
Top paying states
Judges’ salaries vary based on experience and geographic location, but according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average annual wage for judges, magistrates and other judicial workers was $127,990 in May 2019. According to the BLS, many factors affect a judge’s salary including experience level, court type and jurisdiction size.
According to BLS data from 2019, the top paying states for judges are:
The following states pay the highest judges’ salaries:
- California (mean annual salary of $112,320)
- Rhode Island ($105,800)
- Washington ($102,480)
- New York ($101,230)
- New Jersey ($100,860)
- District of Columbia ($95,040)
- Hawaii (91,620
More important than location is a judge’s level of experience. The BLS reported that new federal judges earned an estimated $210,900 per year as of December 2019, compared with $259,500 for chief federal district court judges. Federal magistrate judges’ salaries ranged from about $109,100 for entry-level positions to $170,000 annually for experienced workers.
The average annual salary for a judge who works for the federal court system is about $204,000. That’s lower than the average salary of other federal employees, who earn approximately $60,000 more per year at $261,700. However, it’s significantly higher than the average wages paid to state court workers in general: around $113,650 per year for judges and magistrates working at the state level. All told, though there are many factors that determine how much you’ll earn as a judge—including where you work (federal or state), your level of experience and education—one thing is certain: You’ll be earning much more than if you were working as an attorney in private practice or another position within the legal industry.
Judge salaries vary by state but are generally higher than those of many other occupations
The median annual salary for a judge is $139,200. The highest earners can make more than $250,000 per year. Considering the fact that judges are highly educated professionals with years of experience behind them, this may seem like a fairly low pay rate. However, it should be noted that there are many other occupations that also require advanced degrees and extensive training yet pay much less as a starting salary than judges do.[/B] It’s important to remember that the job market varies from one state to another.
Conclusion
While judges typically earn higher salaries than most other occupational groups, they are not guaranteed employment for life. Chief district court judges may serve until they turn 70, while all other federal judges can serve indefinitely if they remain in good health and make satisfactory progress. In the case of state judge positions, an election or reappointment is required to assume or retain a position on the bench.
