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The differences between judges and assistant state attorneys can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 8-10 years to become a judge, becoming an assistant state attorney takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a judge has an average salary of $123,457, which is higher than the $82,255 average annual salary of an assistant state attorney.
The top three skills for a judge include legal issues, civil law and international law. The most important skills for an assistant state attorney are litigation, criminal cases, and appeals.
| Judge | Assistant State Attorney | |
| Yearly salary | $123,457 | $82,255 |
| Hourly rate | $59.35 | $39.55 |
| Growth rate | -1% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 1,026 | 9,855 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Doctoral Degree, 51% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 10 | 4 |
Judges are officials who conduct court proceedings. They sign arrest and search warrants, restraining orders, subpoenas, etc. When working on a case, the judges decide if the accused should be set free or sent to jail based on the presented evidence. They should be unbiased when listening to witnesses and examining evidence. They must show compassion and understanding to both sides and keep in mind that justice means more than just knowing the law. Additionally, their goal should only be finding the truth.
An Assistant Staff Attorney performs a wide range of clerical and administrative work that requires knowledge of legal terms, documents, and procedures. They also communicate with clients to keep them informed on case progress.
Judges and assistant state attorneys have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Judge | Assistant State Attorney | |
| Average salary | $123,457 | $82,255 |
| Salary range | Between $68,000 And $222,000 | Between $55,000 And $122,000 |
| Highest paying City | Jacksonville, FL | Oakland, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Mexico | California |
| Best paying company | United States Courts | State Attorney's Office |
| Best paying industry | Media | Government |
There are a few differences between a judge and an assistant state attorney in terms of educational background:
| Judge | Assistant State Attorney | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Doctoral Degree, 51% |
| Most common major | Law | Law |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between judges' and assistant state attorneys' demographics:
| Judge | Assistant State Attorney | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 50.3% Female, 49.7% | Male, 54.1% Female, 45.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.5% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.7% Asian, 6.4% White, 75.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 5.5% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.7% Asian, 6.3% White, 75.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 10% |