Jobs Similar to Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers, Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers and Lawyers.
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates: $153,990 median pay · usual preparation: Graduate degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing OfficersSame group | 84% | $117,860−23% | Graduate degree |
| 2 | Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers | 83% | $80,730Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | LawyersSame group | 82% | $159,670+4% | Graduate degree |
| 4 | Labor Relations Specialists | 81% | $95,420−38% | Bachelor's degree |
| 5 | Compliance Managers | 80% | $141,900Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | Arbitrators, Mediators, and ConciliatorsSame group | 79% | $75,530−51% | Graduate degree |
| 7 | Social and Community Service Managers | 78% | $80,390−48% | Bachelor's degree |
| 8 | Judicial Law ClerksSame group | 77% | $64,920−58% | Graduate degree |
| 9 | Private Detectives and Investigators | 77% | $51,220−67% | Training or associate |
| 10 | Fraud Examiners, Investigators and Analysts | 77% | $81,100Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 11 | Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists | 77% | $66,270−57% | Bachelor's degree |
| 12 | Human Resources Specialists | 77% | $75,940−51% | Bachelor's degree |
| 13 | Human Resources Managers | 77% | $149,280−3% | Bachelor's degree |
| 14 | Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists | 76% | $78,210−49% | Bachelor's degree |
| 15 | First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | 76% | $106,040−31% | High school |
| 16 | Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs | 76% | $54,210−65% | Training or associate |
| 17 | Compliance Officers | 76% | $80,730−48% | Bachelor's degree |
| 18 | Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents | 75% | $62,370−59% | Training or associate |
| 19 | Paralegals and Legal Assistants | 75% | $62,890−59% | Training or associate |
| 20 | Credit Counselors | 75% | $52,230−66% | Bachelor's degree |
- 1Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers
84% similar · $117,860 (−23%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 2Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers
83% similar · $80,730 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 3Lawyers
82% similar · $159,670 (+4%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 4Labor Relations Specialists
81% similar · $95,420 (−38%) · Bachelor's degree
- 5Compliance Managers
80% similar · $141,900 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 6Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators
79% similar · $75,530 (−51%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 7Social and Community Service Managers
78% similar · $80,390 (−48%) · Bachelor's degree
- 8Judicial Law Clerks
77% similar · $64,920 (−58%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 9Private Detectives and Investigators
77% similar · $51,220 (−67%) · Training or associate
- 10Fraud Examiners, Investigators and Analysts
77% similar · $81,100 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 11Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists
77% similar · $66,270 (−57%) · Bachelor's degree
- 12Human Resources Specialists
77% similar · $75,940 (−51%) · Bachelor's degree
- 13Human Resources Managers
77% similar · $149,280 (−3%) · Bachelor's degree
- 14Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists
76% similar · $78,210 (−49%) · Bachelor's degree
- 15First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives
76% similar · $106,040 (−31%) · High school
- 16Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs
76% similar · $54,210 (−65%) · Training or associate
- 17Compliance Officers
76% similar · $80,730 (−48%) · Bachelor's degree
- 18Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents
75% similar · $62,370 (−59%) · Training or associate
- 19Paralegals and Legal Assistants
75% similar · $62,890 (−59%) · Training or associate
- 20Credit Counselors
75% similar · $52,230 (−66%) · Bachelor's degree
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates.
Similar jobs that need less preparation
- Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers83% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Labor Relations Specialists81% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Compliance Managers80% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Social and Community Service Managers78% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Private Detectives and Investigators77% similar · Training or associate
- Fraud Examiners, Investigators and Analysts77% similar · Bachelor's degree
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs for former judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates →
Questions about jobs like judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates
What jobs are most similar to judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers (84% similar), Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers (83% similar), Lawyers (82% similar), Labor Relations Specialists (81% similar) and Compliance Managers (80% similar).
Which jobs like judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Lawyers ($159,670, +4%; usually a graduate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates ($153,990). Without more preparation than judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates usually need: Lawyers.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.