Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates · Washington

Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates Salary in Washington

Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates in Washington earn a median annual wage of $134,270 —12.8% below the national median of $153,990. That ranks WA #26 of 41 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$134,270
Median hourly
$64.55
Entry level (P10)
$112,360
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$239,740
90th percentile
Employment
1,040
0.3 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
-12.8%
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
$112,360
$114,120
$134,270
$212,560
$112,360$134,270$239,740
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $134,270.

Employment is 1.90× as concentrated as the national average, making Washington a strong market for this occupation.

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

All 41 states ranked by median annual wage. Washington 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 Washington

Occupations in the same job family, compared within Washington.

OccupationWashington medianU.S. median
Lawyers$154,130$159,670
Paralegals and Legal Assistants$79,400$62,890
Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers$66,440$58,650
Legal Support Workers, All Other$85,630$72,110
Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers$122,390$117,860
Judicial Law Clerks$80,240$64,920

Frequently asked questions

How much do judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates make in Washington?

The median annual wage for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Washington is $134,270, or $64.55 per hour. That is 12.8% below the national median of $153,990.

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

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $112,360 per year ($54.02/hour). The 25th percentile is $114,120.

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

About 1,040 people work in this occupation in Washington, or 0.3 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is Washington a good state for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates?

Washington ranks #26 of 41 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is 1.90x as concentrated as the national average, making Washington 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