Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,760 a year or less, while the top 10% make $183,000 or more. The middle half of judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Chicago earn between $105,120 and $183,000.
- $63K10th
- $105K25th
- $146KMedian
- $183K75th
- $183K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $144,060 | $12,005 | $69.26 |
| Median | $146,400 | $12,200 | $70.38 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $105,120 | $8,760 | $50.54 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $183,000 | $15,250 | $87.98 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Chicago earn about the same as the U.S. average ($143,830). At the median the gap is -5% against the U.S. median of $153,990.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $144,060 | $146,400 | $62,760 | $183,000 | 80 |
| United States | $143,830 | $153,990 | $46,950 | $221,710 | 24,030 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $144,060, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $102,741 a year, or $8,562 a month and $3,952 every two weeks. Taxes take 29% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $105,439 | $8,787 |
| Working in IL | $102,741 | $8,562 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $144,060 buys what about $139,061 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 2.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates salary in nearby metro areas
- Grand Rapids, MI$80,090
- Fort Wayne, IN$148,890
- Indianapolis, IN$144,420
- Dayton, OH$113,990
- Detroit, MI$99,120
- Cincinnati, OH$119,230
Highest-paying cities for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates
Providence, RI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($211,390).
- Providence, RI$211,390
- Boston, MA$201,930
- Albuquerque, NM$198,260
- Evansville, IN$198,090
- Nashville, TN$196,660
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Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates salary in Chicago: questions
How much do judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates make an hour in Chicago?
$69.26 an hour on average, and $70.38 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,760 a year and the 25th percentile is $105,120, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates take-home pay in Chicago?
About $102,741 a year ($8,562 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $144,060.
Do judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($143,830).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 23-1023; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.7%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.12, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.12).
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