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Job outlook for judges in the United States
Judge job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected judge job growth rate is -1% from 2018-2028.
About -600 new jobs for judges are projected over the next decade.
Judge salaries have increased 12% for judges in the last 5 years.
There are over 16,323 judges currently employed in the United States.
There are 1,026 active judge job openings in the US.
The average judge salary is $123,457.
Are judge jobs in demand?
Judge job and salary trends over time
Judge jobs over time
Judge job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 16,323 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 16,769 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 16,840 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 16,752 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 16,705 | 0.01% |
Average judge salary over time
Judge salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $123,457 | $59.35 | +3.0% |
| 2024 | $119,808 | $57.60 | +2.2% |
| 2023 | $117,191 | $56.34 | +0.1% |
| 2022 | $117,121 | $56.31 | +6.3% |
| 2021 | $110,156 | $52.96 | --0.8% |
Judge jobs by state
Most common states for judges
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 12 | 2% |
| 2 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 9 | 2% |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 40 | 1% |
| 4 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 13 | 1% |
| 5 | New York | 19,849,399 | 78 | 0% |
| 6 | Florida | 20,984,400 | 59 | 0% |
| 7 | Texas | 28,304,596 | 39 | 0% |
| 8 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 24 | 0% |
| 9 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 19 | 0% |
| 10 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 17 | 0% |
| 11 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 16 | 0% |
| 12 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 13 | 0% |
| 13 | Oklahoma | 3,930,864 | 8 | 0% |
| 14 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 6 | 0% |
| 15 | Nevada | 2,998,039 | 5 | 0% |
| 16 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 4 | 0% |
| 17 | Tennessee | 6,715,984 | 3 | 0% |
| 18 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 3 | 0% |
| 19 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 2 | 0% |
| 20 | Arkansas | 3,004,279 | 0 | 0% |
Most common cities for judges
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Palm Springs | 1 | 2% | $93,375 |
Judge job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of judge experts
University of North Dakota
University of Akron
University of Cincinnati
Lewis and Clark School of Law
Texas Tech University
Southern Illinois University
Arizona State University
What general advice would you give to a Judge?
Kimberly Dasse: The concept of a legal career encompasses a wide array of roles, extending beyond the traditional associate-partner trajectory. I therefore recommend that law students plan early. While still in school, seek out internships or externships that afford opportunities to explore diverse roles, such as placements at non-profits, district attorney’s offices, public defender’s offices, and law firms. This type of exposure will help students to determine what roles align best with their personal circumstances, identity, and aspirations. Once a course is set, pursue that path with determination. As practitioners, they should strive to excel by applying their academic knowledge and life experiences to their work. Pose thoughtful questions that reflect genuine engagement and consideration for the work. Cultivate mentoring relationships with seasoned professionals who can offer guidance in navigating legal practice and office dynamics. The above steps are particularly important for first-generation professionals. As new entrants to the profession, one may not have a built-in or pre-existing network, so building connections early in law school can yield significant benefits later when transitioning into the profession.
What Judge skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Kimberly Dasse: By taking the steps I have outlined above, new entrants will set themselves up for success by finding the right roles for themselves and developing valued skills.
What will help Judges increase their earning potential?
Kimberly Dasse: Lawyers must adeptly navigate a diverse array of roles, ranging from advisors to counselors to planners, writers, researchers, supervisors, and more. Aside from producing quality legal work, reflect on your other strengths and dedicate time to developing yourself further. A skilled lawyer who is also an excellent manager of people offers a unique set of skills that may appeal to upper legal management in your organization. As the legal landscape evolves, I believe two key skills will emerge: technology and teamwork. The integration of AI into legal services is reshaping the profession with more innovation on the horizon. For our clients, blockchain technology, data analytics, and digitized workplaces are becoming standard. Thus, technology will become more embedded into an array of fields, not just “techie” industries. Those who follow and understand technological developments will engage the worlds our clients live in, enhance their own efficiency within their firms and deliver cost-effective services. Consequently, I urge new entrants to deepen their technological understanding and remain abreast of advancements. Additionally, collaboration lies at the heart of legal work, but its dynamics are transforming. While a solid grasp of technology is pivotal for future legal careers, honing interpersonal skills is equally vital. The future legal team may encompass a wide range of professionals in virtual settings. Thus, lawyers with high emotional intelligence who are adept at motivating individuals, building teams, and integrating the work of diverse professionals will become a valued skill. Accordingly, as lawyers consider ways to develop their skills, they should consider refining their skills as managers, supervisors, or coaches.
What general advice would you give to a Judge?
Charity Rohlfs J.D.: Find a mentor and be involved with your local legal associations. Porter Gale said, “your network is your net worth.” And, I couldn’t agree more! As a new paralegal, legal operations specialist, or attorney, growing your network helps in all aspects of your career. You will gain new skills, increase your business development ability, engage in meaningful volunteering opportunities, and truly find an area of law you want to specialize in.
What will help Judges increase their earning potential?
Charity Rohlfs J.D.: Do your research and clearly communicate your ask with supporting evidence. A simple internet search will provide you actual salary ranges. An applicant then needs to take this information and explain why X is the amount based on individual specifics. Also, never negotiated against yourself—meaning sometimes you need to be silent and wait.
Dr. Stacey Nofziger
Associate Professor; Director of Undergraduate Studies in SociologyUniversity of Akron
Department of Sociology
What skills will help Judges earn the most?
Dr. Stacey Nofziger: The highest paying jobs in criminal justice are those that require additional education past the bachelor's degree. These include lawyers and judges. Others that are highly paid, such as FBI agents, require extensive career experience before most will be successful in entering such positions. Students should not expect to start their careers in such positions but think strategically about how to build their skills in each position they hold to move toward their ultimate goals.
A growing area that is well-paid is intelligence analysis. These careers require more extensive skills in statistics, gathering and analyzing data, and very strong writing skills.
Therefore, the skills that help you earn the most across your life are those that will transfer well into a range of specific positions - those same skills of critical thinking, teamwork, and communication.
James Tomaszewski
Director of the Center for Professional DevelopmentUniversity of Cincinnati
College of Law
What skills stand out on Judge resumes?
James Tomaszewski: Demonstrated commitment to a particular practice area, especially experiential learning opportunities such as externships and clinics.
What soft skills should all Judges possess?
James Tomaszewski: Engagement, Resilience, Responsiveness, Respectfulness, Integrity.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Judges?
James Tomaszewski: Excellent writing skills.
What skills will help Judges earn the most?
James Tomaszewski: Hard work, excellent writing, and interpersonal finesse.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Judge job market given the pandemic?
Joel Silverman: I believe that the biggest trend we will see in the job market is that job seekers are going to have to become more flexible. Not only are they going to have to think about what is going to get them a job, but what are they going to bring to the table for an employer in a rapidly changing market? How can the recent graduate bring more than just the same old legal knowledge? Do they have marketing and sales experience? How can a new attorney help a firm with their social media presence? IT experience and remote learning/educating? Technology continues to evolve and shape the way in which we practice our craft and market our skills. The new graduate has the potential for a set of skills that the employer does not have and therefore, the graduate has to make that part of their practice shine.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Judges?
Joel Silverman: We are unique, in that we are looking for team players and attorneys that want to market and learn about the business of law. For us, it is imperative that an attorney keep an open mind towards learning about more than just the law, but about psychology, business, marketing, sales and the law. We aren't looking for experts, but those that want to grow in a more wholistic sense, within the practice of law.
How have salaries changed over time for Judges?
Joel Silverman: Absolutely. Salaries have gone up by 50%, since I started, 20 years ago. Unfortunately, the cost of education has gone up faster than the increase in salaries. With that said, an attorney truly has a sky's the limit to their salary. If an attorney can understand the business of the practice of law, then that attorney has a leg up on all other competition. The business of the practice will also change, based upon the firm you are working in, at the time. However, the end result is that the better you understand the business (which isn't taught in law school), then the more you will make within the practice.
What's a good job out of college for Judges?
Paula Smith: The first professional legal job out of law school covers every area of law and every geography. Every legal job provides opportunity for growth and experience in the profession. Students choose law firms, government agencies, and public interest jobs according to their interest and passion. Some graduates work in civil litigation, others work in criminal prosecution or criminal defense. Some choose a more client-centered practice area including family law, personal injury, or legal aid services.
What soft skills should all Judges possess?
Jennifer Brobst: Two soft skills come to mind immediately: kindness and self-restraint. I have noticed that this generation of new attorneys is less accustomed to taking conflict in stride. What I mean is that in a social media world, one can overreact without facing the other person or simply walk away without responding to a text or post that seems confrontational or disrespectful. In person, there is usually no way to walk away without making the situation worse, so we get better and better at figuring out how to respond with kindness, humor, and patience. That is an excellent skill to have with clients who naturally feel stressed, or with overworked or overzealous opposing counsel or judges.
As to self-restraint, many ethics violations occur among attorneys who feel overwhelmed by their workload. Law school is the best place to learn how to figure out how to manage one's time, and to learn self-restraint -- i.e., when to stop and move on to the next task. This quality of self-restraint will not only help to make sure that new attorneys are reliable on behalf of their clients, but that they are happy with their job for the long-haul. There will always be more clients, but an attorney who knows their limits, but still gets the job done, will be glad to be an attorney throughout their career.
What's a day at work look like for a Judge?
Jennifer Brobst: Recent graduates who are newly employed will be relieved to learn that there is always some leeway given to the new hire, at least for a little while. Even the harshest supervising attorneys will put together some form of onboarding. If they don't, and a recent graduate working as a deputy prosecuting attorney, for example, is sent to court without instruction, then it will show if they appear lost as to what to do. It's a little humiliating, but the best of attorneys have been through it. Recent graduates need to be willing to be professional and ask court clerks, opposing counsel, judges, and others in the profession basic questions when necessary.
On the other hand, new attorneys in large firms may find the onboarding process frustrating if it is very extensive, as they may want to jump in the deep end and have more responsibility more quickly. If the pandemic continues to impact whether attorneys must work from home, it may be a little lonely at first, working remotely at a new job. However, this will be temporary, and all new attorneys hopefully will remember to appreciate that they have successfully finished law school and passed the bar, a major accomplishment, in itself. During the pandemic, attorneys have been considered essential workers and there is a reason for that. They genuinely are of service to their communities, especially in times of crisis.
What experience really stands out on Judge resumes?
Adam Chodorow: Law firms often say that they are looking for practice-ready attorneys - that is, attorneys who can come in and contribute on day one. The fact is - no matter how much experience law students get, there will always be a steep learning curve once they graduate. With that said, externships and summer positions in the field the students want to practice in will help students along that curve and signal to employers that they truly are interested in the type of work an employer does. Thus, those interested in criminal law should try to get externships and summer positions as prosecutors or with the public defenders' office or defense firms; those interested in family law might try to get an externship with a judge working on family law.