Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Judge salary
Average judge salary
$123,457
Understanding Judge Salaries
As of October 2025, the average salary for a judge in the United States stands at $123,457 annually. This figure can vary widely based on factors such as the judge's experience, the state in which they practice, and the legal specialty they are involved in. For instance, judges working in higher courts or specializing in corporate law often receive higher compensation compared to those in other areas.
Highest Paying States for Judges
Judges in states like California, New York, and Texas tend to earn the highest salaries. In California, judges can earn upwards of $150,000 per year, reflecting the cost of living and demand for judicial services in the state.
Factors Influencing Salary
Experience plays a significant role in a judge's salary. Newly appointed judges typically start at lower pay scales, but as they gain experience and take on more complex cases, their salaries can increase substantially. Additionally, judges in urban areas often earn more than those in rural regions due to higher living costs and case volumes.
Let Zippia find your next judge job
Let Zippia find your next judge job
Where can a Judge earn more?
Judge salary estimates from across the web
Average judge salary by state
The highest-paying states for judges are New Mexico, New Jersey, and New York. The lowest average judge salary states are Washington, Alaska, and Indiana.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for judges
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Mexico | $153,754 | $73.92 |
| 2 | New York | $149,457 | $71.85 |
| 3 | Oklahoma | $137,488 | $66.10 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $149,783 | $72.01 |
| 5 | Texas | $141,565 | $68.06 |
| 6 | Michigan | $134,772 | $64.79 |
| 7 | Georgia | $132,264 | $63.59 |
| 8 | Florida | $127,071 | $61.09 |
| 9 | Illinois | $131,089 | $63.02 |
| 10 | Tennessee | $131,628 | $63.28 |
| 11 | Arkansas | $133,194 | $64.04 |
| 12 | Iowa | $127,508 | $61.30 |
| 13 | Nevada | $119,470 | $57.44 |
| 14 | Kansas | $129,655 | $62.33 |
| 15 | Utah | $122,615 | $58.95 |
| 16 | Missouri | $104,915 | $50.44 |
| 17 | Colorado | $107,631 | $51.75 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $105,918 | $50.92 |
| 19 | Oregon | $102,587 | $49.32 |
| 20 | Rhode Island | $104,778 | $50.37 |
| 21 | Massachusetts | $102,405 | $49.23 |
| 22 | West Virginia | $111,208 | $53.47 |
| 23 | Mississippi | $110,977 | $53.35 |
| 24 | District of Columbia | $102,456 | $49.26 |
| 25 | Louisiana | $98,359 | $47.29 |
| 26 | Connecticut | $105,213 | $50.58 |
| 27 | New Hampshire | $98,923 | $47.56 |
| 28 | Ohio | $94,952 | $45.65 |
| 29 | Wyoming | $89,635 | $43.09 |
| 30 | Delaware | $104,518 | $50.25 |
| 31 | Maryland | $102,925 | $49.48 |
| 32 | Nebraska | $101,640 | $48.87 |
| 33 | North Dakota | $96,083 | $46.19 |
| 34 | North Carolina | $97,081 | $46.67 |
| 35 | Alabama | $95,129 | $45.74 |
| 36 | Montana | $85,968 | $41.33 |
| 37 | California | $95,152 | $45.75 |
| 38 | South Carolina | $92,517 | $44.48 |
| 39 | Minnesota | $88,453 | $42.53 |
| 40 | Arizona | $90,503 | $43.51 |
| 41 | Kentucky | $92,402 | $44.42 |
| 42 | Alaska | $75,617 | $36.35 |
| 43 | Vermont | $93,067 | $44.74 |
| 44 | Maine | $72,242 | $34.73 |
| 45 | Washington | $75,673 | $36.38 |
| 46 | Wisconsin | $72,092 | $34.66 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $84,636 | $40.69 |
| 48 | Virginia | $81,297 | $39.09 |
| 49 | Idaho | $76,880 | $36.96 |
| 50 | Indiana | $73,625 | $35.40 |
| 51 | Hawaii | $57,481 | $27.64 |
Highest paying cities for judges
The highest-paying cities for judges are Jacksonville, FL, Memphis, TN, and Wheeling, WV.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jacksonville, FL | $138,295 | $66.49 |
| 2 | Memphis, TN | $133,889 | $64.37 |
| 3 | Wheeling, WV | $113,405 | $54.52 |
| 4 | Littleton, CO | $108,111 | $51.98 |
| 5 | Montgomery, AL | $96,313 | $46.30 |
| 6 | Mesa, AZ | $90,714 | $43.61 |
| 7 | Saint Paul, MN | $88,558 | $42.58 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $75,907 | $36.49 |
Judge salary details
A judge's salary ranges from $68,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $222,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a judge's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $222,000 | $18,500 | $107 |
| 75th Percentile | $168,000 | $14,000 | $81 |
| Average | $123,457 | $10,288 | $59 |
| 25th Percentile | $90,000 | $7,500 | $43 |
| 10th Percentile | $68,000 | $5,667 | $33 |
Highest paying judge jobs
The highest paying types of judges are magistrate, county court judge, and lawyer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Document Review Attorney | $81,181 | $6,765 | $39.03 | 9,393 |
| Lawyer | $115,808 | $9,651 | $55.68 | 2,897 |
| Housing Counselor | $78,730 | $6,561 | $37.85 | 33,639 |
Top companies hiring judges now:
Which companies pay judges the most?
Judge salaries at United States Courts and United States Marine Corps are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average judge salary at companies like Arapahoe County and Washington State University are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States Courts | $102,635 | $49.34 |
| 2 | United States Marine Corps | $102,144 | $49.11 |
| 3 | Arapahoe County | $74,321 | $35.73 |
| 4 | Washington State University | $71,215 | $34.24 |
| 5 | City of Mesa | $55,690 | $26.77 |
| 6 | Town of Marana | $52,733 | $25.35 |
| 7 | Minnesota State Fair | $52,435 | $25.21 |
| 8 | Caesars Entertainment | $40,223 | $19.34 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Judge salary by industry
The average judge salary varies across industries:
- The average judge salary in the media industry is $116,730, the highest of any industry.
- The average judge salary in the finance industry is $112,562.
- Judges in the education industry earn an average salary of $67,741, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for judges
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Media | $116,730 | $56.12 |
| 2 | Professional | $112,562 | $54.12 |
| 3 | Non Profits | $100,113 | $48.13 |
| 4 | Health Care | $95,095 | $45.72 |
| 5 | Government | $83,817 | $40.30 |
| 6 | Education | $67,741 | $32.57 |
High paying judge jobs
Judge salary trends
The average judge salary has risen by $18,333 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average judge earned $105,124 annually, but today, they earn $123,457 a year. That works out to a 12% change in pay for judges over the last decade.
Compare judge salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average judge salary over time
Compare judge salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Judge salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $123,000 | $59.35 | +3.0% |
| 2024 | $120,000 | $57.60 | +2.2% |
| 2023 | $117,000 | $56.34 | +0.1% |
| 2022 | $117,000 | $56.31 | +5.9% |
| 2021 | $110,000 | $52.96 | -0.8% |
Recently added judge salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State of Minnesota | Paid Leave Judge Principal-Compensation Attorney Principal-Paid Leave | Saint Paul, MN | 06/28/2025 | $82,141 |
| The Hedreen Hotel Employer | The Fig & The Judge Supervisor (AM Shift) | Seattle, WA | 06/16/2025 | $39,131 |
| State of Arkansas | Revocation Hearing Judge | North Little Rock, AR | 06/11/2025 | $69,776 |
| New Jersey Courts | Temporary Judge's Secretary | Camden, NJ | 05/26/2025 | $47,401 |
| State of Arkansas | Revocation Hearing Judge | North Little Rock, AR | 05/17/2025 | $69,776 |
| State of Minnesota | Human Services Judge-Human Services Judge | Saint Paul, MN | 05/16/2025 | $79,302 |
| The Hedreen Hotel Employer | The Fig & The Judge Supervisor (AM Shift) | Seattle, WA | 05/15/2025 | $39,131 |
| United States Courts | United States Bankruptcy Judge | Chicago, IL | 03/15/2025 | $227,608 |
| New Jersey Courts | Judge's Secretary 1-Recall Judge | Jersey City, NJ | 03/09/2025 | $47,401 |
| U.S. Courts | US Bankruptcy Judge | Saint Paul, MN | 02/21/2025 | $227,608 |
Search for judge jobs