SOC 23-1023 · Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro

Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates Salary in Houston, TX

The average salary for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Houston, Texas is $123,040 a year ($59.16 an hour), according to BLS estimates for May 2025. The median is $135,430: half of the 480 people in this job in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn more than that, half earn less. That average is 14% less than the U.S. average for this job ($143,830).

$123,040average per year

$59.16 / hourMedian $135,430Take-home ≈ $95,364

  • $19K10th
  • $66K25th
  • $135KMedian
  • $174K75th
  • $188K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

480people in this job
-14%vs U.S. average
#5 of 7Texas metros
99cost of living (U.S. = 100)
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Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates pay range in Houston

New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $19,180 a year or less, while the top 10% make $188,400 or more. The middle half of judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Houston earn between $66,470 and $173,650.

  • $19K10th
  • $66K25th
  • $135KMedian
  • $174K75th
  • $188K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

Pay levelPer yearPer monthPer hour*
Average$123,040$10,253$59.15
Median$135,430$11,286$65.11
Entry level (25th percentile)$66,470$5,539$31.96
Experienced (75th percentile)$173,650$14,471$83.49

*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.

Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates pay in Houston vs. Texas and the U.S.

Judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Houston earn 4% less than the Texas average ($127,900) and 14% less than the U.S. average ($143,830). At the median the gap is -12% against the U.S. median of $153,990.

AreaAverageMedian10th pct.90th pct.Jobs
Houston$123,040$135,430$19,180$188,400480
Texas$127,900$139,990$31,380$184,7902,770
United States$143,830$153,990$46,950$221,71024,030

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 Houston

On the average salary of $123,040, a single filer in Houston takes home about $95,364 a year, or $7,947 a month and $3,668 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.

Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.

Texas paycheck calculator: try your own salary

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Is Houston a good place for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates? Pay vs. cost of living

Prices in the Houston area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.6), so the average $123,040 buys what about $124,750 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Houston ($49,410). A typical home costs $308,306, or 2.5 years of this average salary before tax.

See what $123,040 is worth in another city

Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates salary in other Texas cities

Houston ranks 5th of 7 Texas metro areas for this job; Austin pays the most ($149,540).

All Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates salaries in Texas

Highest-paying cities for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates

Providence, RI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($211,390).

Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates salary by city

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Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates salary in Houston: questions

How much do judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates make an hour in Houston?

$59.16 an hour on average, and $65.11 at the median (BLS, May 2025).

What is the entry-level judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates salary in Houston?

The lowest-paid 10% earn about $19,180 a year and the 25th percentile is $66,470, a fair guide to starting pay.

What is the judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates take-home pay in Houston?

About $95,364 a year ($7,947 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $123,040. Texas has no state income tax.

Do judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates earn more in Houston than elsewhere?

The average here is 14% less than 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 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX (26420). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.8%.
  • 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 no state income tax.
  • Job concentration: location quotient 0.95, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.

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