Overview
SourcedArbitrate, 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.
O*NET definition of Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates (SOC 23-1023) · Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed.
Titles employers use
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership; U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database; GovJobsWiki job taxonomy v1 (research round R240) (editorial). Data captured September 30, 2026.
Requirements
Sourced- Education needed to enter
- Doctoral or professional degree
- Related work experience
- 5 years or more
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
Education workers say the job requires
Share of surveyed workers in Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates (SOC 23-1023) naming each level as required to be hired, 24 respondents, O*NET survey August 2020. Each employer sets its own minimum.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35 — education and training assignments by detailed occupation (Tables 5.3, 5.4); U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database. Data captured September 30, 2026.
How to get hired
SourcedJudges and hearing officers typically need a law degree and work experience as a lawyer.
From the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile “Judges and Hearing Officers”, published August 27, 2026 · Read the full profile. National guidance; each employer runs its own hiring process.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–35 edition (XML compilation). Data captured September 30, 2026.
Academy and training
Sourced- SOC 23-1023
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job zone
- Extensive Preparation Needed
Academy length, curriculum and paid-training policies are set by each employer and state; they are part of the employer collection stage.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35 — education and training assignments by detailed occupation (Tables 5.3, 5.4). Data captured September 30, 2026.
Promotion ladder
EditorialFixed salary (elected, appointed or per diem): elected/appointed; salary set by statute or ordinance. Typical structure for a elected, appointed or per-diem position; titles, steps and timing differ by employer.
- Elected or appointed; salary set by statute/ordinance or board contract (no ladder — compare peers)
Source: GovJobsWiki job taxonomy v1 (research round R240) (editorial).
Pay
SourcedMedian annual wage by employer type, national, May 2025. Federal includes the U.S. Postal Service; state and local include public schools and hospitals.
| Employer type | Workers | 10th pct. | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | 13,130 | $81,220 | $141,750 | $176,500 | $208,180 | $225,100 |
| Local | 10,900 | $36,800 | $55,120 | $102,460 | $163,790 | $210,270 |
| All government | 24,030 | $46,950 | $85,710 | $153,990 | $194,950 | $221,710 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Schedule
SourcedShare of surveyed workers in the occupation (O*NET work context, August 2020). Shift patterns and differentials depend on the employer.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Day-to-day work
Sourced- Sentence defendants in criminal cases, on conviction by jury, according to applicable government statutes.4.8
- Monitor proceedings to ensure that all applicable rules and procedures are followed.4.7
- Instruct juries on applicable laws, direct juries to deduce the facts from the evidence presented, and hear their verdicts.4.7
- Write decisions on cases.4.6
- Read documents on pleadings and motions to ascertain facts and issues.4.6
- Rule on admissibility of evidence and methods of conducting testimony.4.6
- Preside over hearings and listen to allegations made by plaintiffs to determine whether the evidence supports the charges.4.6
- Award compensation for damages to litigants in civil cases in relation to findings by juries or by the court.4.6
- Advise attorneys, juries, litigants, and court personnel regarding conduct, issues, and proceedings.4.5
- Research legal issues and write opinions on the issues.4.5
The 10 most important of 15 core tasks for Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates, ranked by importance (1–5) in the O*NET survey of August 2020.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Related jobs
DerivedBy state
SourcedMedian annual wage for Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates (SOC 23-1023) in each state, all employers (BLS state estimates do not separate government from private). Highest first.
| State | Workers | 10th pct. | Median | 90th pct. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | 120 | $81,690 | $239,760 | $271,090 |
| Massachusetts | 610 | $155,450 | $221,710 | $221,710 |
| Connecticut | 230 | $114,380 | $217,760 | $217,760 |
| New York | 2,270 | $166,930 | $216,390 | $232,590 |
| Hawaii | 120 | $205,300 | $211,810 | $217,110 |
| Tennessee | 420 | $64,300 | $208,350 | $221,470 |
| Nebraska | 160 | $202,550 | $208,180 | $213,800 |
| New Mexico | 250 | $76,260 | $205,400 | $218,030 |
| New Jersey | 920 | $56,290 | $204,160 | $215,540 |
| Colorado | 620 | $170,080 | $198,790 | $219,580 |
| Vermont | 80 | $57,730 | $194,170 | $194,170 |
| Minnesota | 590 | $117,520 | $190,110 | $190,110 |
| Florida | 1,380 | $171,860 | $186,040 | $220,410 |
| Alaska | 140 | $82,160 | $183,310 | $221,220 |
| Indiana | 790 | $58,960 | $183,000 | $183,000 |
| Idaho | 250 | $79,180 | $172,920 | $226,260 |
| Maryland | 170 | $53,210 | $172,190 | $204,420 |
| North Dakota | 130 | $58,040 | $171,100 | $175,960 |
| Oregon | 40 | $76,950 | $166,400 | $230,850 |
| Nevada | 90 | $57,220 | $166,360 | $227,870 |
| Maine | 100 | $55,760 | $161,470 | $165,110 |
| Kentucky | 370 | $98,230 | $150,650 | $156,550 |
| Kansas | 420 | $76,590 | $148,910 | $163,160 |
| Iowa | 410 | $45,470 | $147,510 | $173,670 |
| Texas | 2,770 | $31,380 | $139,990 | $184,790 |
| Washington | 1,040 | $112,360 | $134,270 | $239,740 |
| Georgia | 1,190 | $37,420 | $133,660 | $187,990 |
| Delaware | 120 | $93,490 | $131,340 | $211,350 |
| Pennsylvania | Not published | $110,580 | $110,580 | $110,580 |
| Virginia | 1,270 | $62,180 | $104,000 | $213,830 |
| Ohio | 1,720 | $38,330 | $95,260 | $210,440 |
| Arizona | 590 | $81,120 | $93,280 | $209,950 |
| Utah | 100 | $32,640 | $92,780 | $195,950 |
| South Carolina | 670 | $35,950 | $86,210 | $211,840 |
| Montana | 70 | $44,470 | $84,630 | $123,780 |
| Louisiana | 180 | $24,660 | $83,040 | $143,800 |
| Wisconsin | 130 | $27,380 | $76,620 | $175,880 |
| West Virginia | 350 | $63,240 | $63,240 | $138,590 |
| Alabama | 560 | $37,420 | $52,850 | $110,110 |
| Michigan | 570 | $45,720 | $51,210 | $181,280 |
| Mississippi | 360 | $27,510 | $49,960 | $165,240 |
41 states with published estimates.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Not yet collected
These dimensions are part of every job page. We publish them only once they are sourced from official documents such as job postings, pay plans, union contracts and state standards.
- 05 ProbationNot yet collectedProbation length and what ends it
- 09 Benefits and pensionNot yet collectedPension plan/tier and formula, retirement age/years, DROP, retiree health, Social Security coverage, 457(b), PSLF eligibility
- 10 Union contractsNot yet collectedBargaining unit, union, current CBA (source link, effective dates)
- 11 Transfers and lateral entryNot yet collectedLateral policy, certification reciprocity, lateral bonus, inter-agency moves
- 14 Exam practiceNot yet collectedNamed exams → OpenExamPrep practice
- 15 Employer directoryNot yet collectedL4 directory: every employer that hires this job, each with its own facet values