Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates · New Jersey

Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates Salary in New Jersey

Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates in New Jersey earn a median annual wage of $204,160 —32.6% above the national median of $153,990. That ranks NJ #9 of 41 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$204,160
Median hourly
$98.15
Entry level (P10)
$56,290
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$215,540
90th percentile
Employment
920
0.2 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+32.6%
U.S. $153,990

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$56,290
$103,260
$204,160
$204,160
$56,290$204,160$215,540
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $204,160.

Employment is 1.39× as concentrated as the national average, making New Jersey a strong market for this occupation.

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

All 41 states ranked by median annual wage. New Jersey is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1Rhode Island$239,760$115.271201.53
2Massachusetts$221,710$106.596101.08
3Connecticut$217,760$104.692300.88
4New York$216,390$104.032,2701.51
5Hawaii$211,810$101.831201.22
6Tennessee$208,350$100.174200.83
7Nebraska$208,180$100.091601.03
8New Mexico$205,400$98.752501.83
9New Jersey$204,160$98.159201.39
10Colorado$198,790$95.576201.39

Related occupations in New Jersey

Occupations in the same job family, compared within New Jersey.

OccupationNew Jersey medianU.S. median
Lawyers$161,430$159,670
Paralegals and Legal Assistants$71,500$62,890
Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers$61,930$58,650
Legal Support Workers, All Other$88,210$72,110
Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers$128,320$117,860
Judicial Law Clerks$58,890$64,920

Frequently asked questions

How much do judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates make in New Jersey?

The median annual wage for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in New Jersey is $204,160, or $98.15 per hour. That is 32.6% above the national median of $153,990.

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

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $56,290 per year ($27.06/hour). The 25th percentile is $103,260.

How many people work as judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in New Jersey?

About 920 people work in this occupation in New Jersey, or 0.2 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is New Jersey a good state for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates?

New Jersey ranks #9 of 41 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is 1.39x as concentrated as the national average, making New Jersey a strong market for this occupation.

Which state pays judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates the most?

Rhode Island has the highest median wage at $239,760 per year, followed by Massachusetts ($221,710) and Connecticut ($217,760).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes