Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates
Arbitrate, advise, adjudicate, or administer justice in a court of law. May sentence defendant in criminal cases according to government statutes or sentencing guidelines. May determine liability of defendant in civil cases. May perform wedding ceremonies.
Also called: Administrative Court Justice, Appeals Specialist, Appellate Court Judge, Appellate Immigration Judge, Ballot Processing Judge, Bankruptcy Judge
Median pay
$153,990
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$46,950 – $221,710
People employed
24,030
Holland code
ECS
Enterprising · Conventional · Social
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Do you want a lot of freedom to make your own decisions?
- 2.Do you work well under tight deadlines?
- 3.Are you comfortable sitting at a desk most of the day?
- 4.Do you enjoy serving customers or the public?
- 5.Do you want to lead or coordinate other people’s work?
- 6.Do you want the same hours every week?
- 7.Do you want a job with little physical risk?
- 8.Are you OK working more than 40 hours a week?
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines are common
- Dealing with conflict is part of the job
- Mistakes can have serious consequences
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (41 states with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates salary in every state →
What judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates do
- 01Sentence defendants in criminal cases, on conviction by jury, according to applicable government statutes.
- 02Rule on custody and access disputes, and enforce court orders regarding custody and support of children.
- 03Monitor proceedings to ensure that all applicable rules and procedures are followed.
- 04Instruct juries on applicable laws, direct juries to deduce the facts from the evidence presented, and hear their verdicts.
- 05Write decisions on cases.
- 06Read documents on pleadings and motions to ascertain facts and issues.
Skills that matter most
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Speaking
- Active Learning
Knowledge
- Law and Government
- English Language
- Administration and Management
- Psychology
- Customer and Personal Service
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Integrity
- Cautiousness
- Intellectual Curiosity
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a graduate degree (O*NET Job Zone 5).
- Related work experience: over 8 years, up to and including 10 years.
- On-the-job training: none or short demonstration.
- A professional certification is often expected.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates
- Compliance Managers77% · group pay
- Human Resources Managers74% · −3%
- Investment Fund Managers73% · group pay
- Law Teachers, Postsecondary72% · −17%
- Compensation and Benefits Managers72% · −3%
Majors that lead here
- Law
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.