Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates
Judges and hearing officers oversee legal matters in court or administrative proceedings.
Is judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates a good career?
It scores 31/100 and ranks #135 of 825 occupations on pay, growth, employment and openings. Here's what the federal data says, with no editorializing.
Advantages
- Pays well above the U.S. median wage ($153,990 vs $61,390)
Possible tradeoffs
- Slower-than-average projected growth (+2.5%)
- Typically requires a doctoral or professional degree
- Often needs prior experience (5 years or more)
What judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates earn
Wages: BLS OEWS May 2025Pay is a range, not a number. Half of U.S. judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates earn between $85,710 and $194,950 a year.
Best-paying states
Best-paying metros
Live judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates jobs
No live judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates openings yet
When the jobs.best ATS feed launches, verified judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates openings will appear here — each shown against the $153,990 national median. Nothing here is placeholder.
No placeholder listings · nothing inventedHow to become a judges, magistrate judges, and magistrate
- Typical education
- Doctoral or professional degree
- Work experience
- 5 years or more
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Outlook
- Employment is projected to grow slower than average through 2034.
Education
A Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree is typically required for jobs as a local, state, or federal judge or hearing officer.
Earning a law degree usually takes 7 years of full-time study after high school: 4 years of undergraduate study in any field, followed by 3 years of law school. Law degree programs include courses such as constitutional law, contracts, property law, civil procedure, and legal writing.
Although a J.D. is typical, requirements for these positions may vary. Hearing officers, magistrates, and even judges in some jurisdictions are not required to have a law degree.
Training
Newly elected or appointed judges and hearing officers sometimes have training requirements. This training may include mock trial sessions, mentorship from experienced judges or hearing officers, and courses on topics such as judicial ethics or relations with news media.
Judges and hearing officers also may be required to take continuing legal education courses throughout their careers.
Licenses, certifications & registrations
Judges typically must maintain a law license and good standing with their state bar association.
Advancement
Advancement for some judicial workers means moving to courts with broader jurisdiction, such as from lower court to appellate court. Advancement for various hearing officers includes taking on more complex cases, practicing law, and becoming district court judges.
Important qualities
Analytical skills. Judges and hearing officers must be able to analyze large amounts of information, determine relevant facts, and make decisions or issue rulings.
Attention to detail. Judges and hearing officers must pay close attention to what is presented and distinguish important facts from complex information.
Communication skills. Judges and hearing officers need to convey information both orally and in writing. They must be able to explain their rulings and write decisions in ways that are both clear and comprehensive.
Critical-thinking skills. Judges and hearing officers must objectively evaluate the facts of a case when applying the rules of law.
Decision-making skills. Judges and hearing officers must be able to conclusively make decisions and issue rulings.
Related occupations
How much do judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates make?
The national median wage is $153,990 a year, with the middle half earning between $85,710 and $194,950 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Is judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates a good career?
On the Jobs.best index it scores 31 of 100 and ranks #135 of 825 occupations, weighing pay, growth, employment and openings. Employment is projected to change +2.5% through 2034.
What education do you need to become a judges, magistrate judges, and magistrate?
The typical entry-level education is doctoral or professional degree, usually with 5 years or more.
Where do judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates earn the most?
Among states, Rhode Island pays the highest median ($239,760). Local pay for every state and metro is below.