Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates pay range in Washington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $61,050 a year or less, while the top 10% make $213,830 or more. The middle half of judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Washington earn between $71,340 and $192,440.
- $61K10th
- $71K25th
- $104KMedian
- $192K75th
- $214K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $126,100 | $10,508 | $60.62 |
| Median | $104,000 | $8,667 | $50.00 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $71,340 | $5,945 | $34.30 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $192,440 | $16,037 | $92.52 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates pay in Washington vs. Washington, D.C. and the U.S.
Judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Washington earn 12% less than the U.S. average ($143,830). At the median the gap is -32% against the U.S. median of $153,990.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $126,100 | $104,000 | $61,050 | $213,830 | 380 |
| 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 Washington
On the average salary of $126,100, a single filer in Washington takes home about $89,705 a year, or $7,475 a month and $3,450 every two weeks. Taxes take 29% of gross pay.
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WV | $92,569 | $7,714 |
| Working in MD | $91,620 | $7,635 |
| Working in VA | $91,019 | $7,585 |
| Working in DC | $89,705 | $7,475 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Washington a good place for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Washington area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.9), so the average $126,100 buys what about $115,811 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Washington ($71,060). A typical home costs $583,013, or 4.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates salary in nearby metro areas
- Hagerstown, MD$77,650
- Baltimore, MD$177,520
- Charlottesville, VA$126,270
- Richmond, VA$125,220
- Lynchburg, VA$128,410
- Philadelphia, PA$165,170
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 Washington: questions
How much do judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates make an hour in Washington?
$60.62 an hour on average, and $50.00 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates salary in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $61,050 a year and the 25th percentile is $71,340, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates take-home pay in Washington?
About $89,705 a year ($7,475 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $126,100.
Do judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates earn more in Washington than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (47900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.2%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.78, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.78).
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