Legal5% remote-eligible+1.5% YoY growth

Judge Salary
by City (2026)

Preside over court proceedings, interpret laws, and render decisions in legal disputes. National median: $135K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$135K

Top 10% earn

$240K

Entry level

$95K

Salary growth

+1.5%/yr

Judge salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
San Francisco, CA	$147K	$209K	$282K	224	9.3%
San Jose, CA	$141K	$200K	$269K	210	9.3%
Washington, DC	$138K	$196K	$264K	152	8.5%
New York City, NY	$136K	$194K	$261K	187	6.85%
Oakland, CA	$135K	$192K	$258K	185	9.3%
Cambridge, MA	$135K	$192K	$259K	185	5%
Jersey City, NJ	$135K	$192K	$258K	162	10.75%
Pearl City, HI	$135K	$192K	$259K	185	11%
Bellevue, WA	$131K	$185K	$250K	175	None ✓
Irvine, CA	$129K	$183K	$247K	172	9.3%
Los Angeles, CA	$128K	$182K	$246K	163	9.3%
Arlington, VA	$128K	$182K	$246K	148	5.75%
Newark, NJ	$128K	$182K	$246K	155	10.75%
Yonkers, NY	$126K	$179K	$241K	165	6.85%
Bethesda, MD	$126K	$179K	$241K	165	5.75%
Kirkland, WA	$124K	$177K	$238K	162	None ✓
Boston, MA	$124K	$176K	$237K	162	5%
Stamford, CT	$123K	$174K	$235K	158	6.99%
San Diego, CA	$122K	$173K	$233K	148	9.3%
Hilo, HI	$121K	$172K	$232K	155	11%
Long Beach, CA	$119K	$169K	$228K	155	9.3%
Santa Ana, CA	$119K	$169K	$228K	150	9.3%
Seattle, WA	$119K	$169K	$228K	150	None ✓
Anaheim, CA	$118K	$167K	$226K	148	9.3%
Rockville, MD	$118K	$167K	$226K	148	5.75%
Alexandria, VA	$116K	$165K	$223K	145	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$116K	$165K	$223K	145	10.75%
Sacramento, CA	$114K	$162K	$218K	128	9.3%
Paterson, NJ	$114K	$162K	$219K	140	10.75%
Chula Vista, CA	$113K	$161K	$217K	138	9.3%
Edison, NJ	$113K	$161K	$217K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$113K	$161K	$217K	138	None ✓
Chicago, IL	$112K	$159K	$215K	107	4.95%
Philadelphia, PA	$109K	$155K	$209K	110	3.07%
Portland, OR	$109K	$155K	$209K	130	9.9%
Baltimore, MD	$109K	$155K	$209K	115	5.75%
Honolulu, HI	$109K	$155K	$209K	192	11%
Miami, FL	$106K	$151K	$204K	123	None ✓
Scottsdale, AZ	$106K	$151K	$204K	118	2.5%
Denver, CO	$106K	$151K	$204K	118	4.55%
Worcester, MA	$106K	$151K	$204K	120	5%
Hartford, CT	$106K	$151K	$204K	118	6.99%
New Haven, CT	$106K	$150K	$202K	122	6.99%
Dallas, TX	$105K	$149K	$200K	96	None ✓
Tacoma, WA	$105K	$149K	$200K	128	None ✓
Nashua, NH	$105K	$149K	$200K	120	None ✓
Anchorage, AK	$105K	$149K	$200K	128	None ✓
Frisco, TX	$104K	$147K	$199K	118	None ✓
Riverside, CA	$104K	$147K	$199K	118	9.3%
Naperville, IL	$104K	$147K	$199K	118	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$104K	$147K	$199K	118	None ✓
Lowell, MA	$104K	$147K	$199K	118	5%
Gresham, OR	$104K	$147K	$199K	118	9.9%
Bridgeport, CT	$104K	$147K	$199K	118	6.99%
Manchester, NH	$104K	$147K	$199K	118	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$104K	$147K	$199K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$104K	$147K	$199K	118	5.99%
Austin, TX	$103K	$146K	$197K	110	None ✓
Plano, TX	$103K	$146K	$197K	105	None ✓
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$103K	$146K	$197K	118	None ✓
Atlanta, GA	$103K	$146K	$197K	99	5.75%
Minneapolis, MN	$103K	$146K	$197K	106	6.8%
Hialeah, FL	$102K	$145K	$196K	115	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$102K	$145K	$196K	115	None ✓
Lakewood, CO	$102K	$145K	$196K	115	4.55%
Ann Arbor, MI	$102K	$145K	$196K	115	4.25%
Frederick, MD	$102K	$145K	$196K	115	5.75%
Portland, ME	$102K	$145K	$196K	115	7.15%
Concord, NH	$102K	$145K	$196K	115	None ✓
Warwick, RI	$102K	$145K	$196K	115	5.99%
Pembroke Pines, FL	$101K	$143K	$193K	112	None ✓
Aurora, CO	$101K	$143K	$193K	112	4.55%
Fort Collins, CO	$101K	$143K	$193K	112	4.55%
Cary, NC	$101K	$143K	$193K	112	4.75%
Houston, TX	$100K	$142K	$191K	91	None ✓
Irving, TX	$100K	$142K	$191K	97	None ✓
McKinney, TX	$100K	$142K	$191K	108	None ✓
Charlotte, NC	$100K	$142K	$191K	100	4.75%
Raleigh, NC	$100K	$142K	$191K	102	4.75%
Durham, NC	$100K	$142K	$191K	100	4.75%
St. Paul, MN	$100K	$142K	$191K	104	6.8%
Eugene, OR	$100K	$142K	$191K	110	9.9%
Salt Lake City, UT	$100K	$142K	$191K	105	4.85%
Round Rock, TX	$99K	$141K	$190K	108	None ✓
Gilbert, AZ	$99K	$141K	$190K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$99K	$141K	$190K	108	2.5%
Thornton, CO	$99K	$141K	$190K	108	4.55%
Boise, ID	$99K	$141K	$190K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$99K	$141K	$190K	108	6.6%
Stockton, CA	$98K	$139K	$187K	105	9.3%
Springfield, MA	$98K	$139K	$187K	105	5%
Salem, OR	$98K	$139K	$187K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$98K	$139K	$187K	105	None ✓
Meridian, ID	$98K	$139K	$187K	105	5.8%
Fort Worth, TX	$97K	$138K	$186K	93	None ✓
Tampa, FL	$97K	$138K	$186K	102	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$97K	$138K	$186K	100	2.5%
Chandler, AZ	$97K	$138K	$186K	105	2.5%
Nashville, TN	$97K	$138K	$186K	102	None ✓
Carrollton, TX	$96K	$137K	$184K	102	None ✓
Missoula, MT	$96K	$137K	$184K	102	6.75%
Arlington, TX	$95K	$135K	$182K	94	None ✓
Garland, TX	$95K	$135K	$182K	91	None ✓
Denton, TX	$95K	$135K	$182K	100	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$95K	$135K	$182K	100	9.3%
Orlando, FL	$95K	$135K	$182K	100	None ✓
Cape Coral, FL	$95K	$135K	$182K	100	None ✓
Peoria, AZ	$95K	$135K	$182K	100	2.5%
Richmond, VA	$95K	$135K	$182K	98	5.75%
Pittsburgh, PA	$95K	$135K	$182K	90	3.07%
Rochester, MN	$95K	$135K	$182K	100	6.8%
Las Vegas, NV	$95K	$135K	$182K	102	None ✓
Reno, NV	$95K	$135K	$182K	108	None ✓
Provo, UT	$95K	$135K	$182K	100	4.85%
West Jordan, UT	$95K	$135K	$182K	100	4.85%
Overland Park, KS	$95K	$135K	$182K	100	5.7%
Dover, DE	$95K	$135K	$182K	100	6.6%
Albany, NY	$94K	$134K	$181K	98	6.85%
Port St. Lucie, FL	$94K	$134K	$181K	98	None ✓
Chesapeake, VA	$94K	$134K	$181K	98	5.75%
North Las Vegas, NV	$94K	$134K	$181K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$94K	$134K	$181K	98	4.85%
Orem, UT	$94K	$134K	$181K	98	4.85%
Nampa, ID	$94K	$134K	$181K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$94K	$134K	$181K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$94K	$134K	$181K	98	7.15%
Bakersfield, CA	$93K	$132K	$178K	95	9.3%
St. Petersburg, FL	$93K	$132K	$178K	105	None ✓
Aurora, IL	$93K	$132K	$178K	95	4.95%
Mesa, AZ	$93K	$132K	$178K	98	2.5%
Glendale, AZ	$93K	$132K	$178K	95	2.5%
Virginia Beach, VA	$93K	$132K	$178K	98	5.75%
Norfolk, VA	$93K	$132K	$178K	95	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$93K	$132K	$178K	95	5.75%
Columbus, OH	$93K	$132K	$178K	90	3.99%
Allentown, PA	$93K	$132K	$178K	95	3.07%
Madison, WI	$93K	$132K	$178K	102	5.3%
Charleston, SC	$93K	$132K	$178K	105	6.5%
North Charleston, SC	$93K	$132K	$178K	95	6.5%
Midland, TX	$91K	$130K	$175K	92	None ✓
Colorado Springs, CO	$91K	$130K	$175K	102	4.55%
Athens, GA	$91K	$130K	$175K	92	5.75%
Cincinnati, OH	$91K	$130K	$175K	88	3.99%
Kansas City, MO	$91K	$130K	$175K	90	5.3%
St. Louis, MO	$91K	$130K	$175K	86	5.3%
Duluth, MN	$91K	$130K	$175K	92	6.8%
Greenville, SC	$91K	$130K	$175K	92	6.5%
Cheyenne, WY	$91K	$130K	$175K	92	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$90K	$129K	$173K	90	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$90K	$129K	$173K	90	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$90K	$129K	$173K	90	4.95%
Sterling Heights, MI	$90K	$129K	$173K	90	4.25%
Kenosha, WI	$90K	$129K	$173K	90	5.3%
Fargo, ND	$90K	$129K	$173K	90	2.5%
San Antonio, TX	$90K	$128K	$173K	87	None ✓
Fresno, CA	$90K	$128K	$173K	102	9.3%
Buffalo, NY	$90K	$128K	$173K	88	6.85%
Rochester, NY	$90K	$128K	$173K	90	6.85%
Jacksonville, FL	$90K	$128K	$173K	93	None ✓
Detroit, MI	$90K	$128K	$173K	82	4.25%
Indianapolis, IN	$90K	$128K	$173K	88	3.23%
Milwaukee, WI	$90K	$128K	$173K	90	5.3%
Huntsville, AL	$90K	$128K	$173K	88	5%
Pasadena, TX	$90K	$127K	$172K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$90K	$127K	$172K	88	None ✓
Syracuse, NY	$90K	$127K	$172K	88	6.85%
Gainesville, FL	$90K	$127K	$172K	88	None ✓
Greensboro, NC	$90K	$127K	$172K	88	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$90K	$127K	$172K	88	None ✓
Green Bay, WI	$90K	$127K	$172K	88	5.3%
Lexington, KY	$90K	$127K	$172K	88	5%
Great Falls, MT	$90K	$127K	$172K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$90K	$127K	$172K	88	None ✓
Bismarck, ND	$90K	$127K	$172K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$90K	$127K	$172K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$90K	$127K	$172K	88	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$88K	$125K	$169K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$88K	$125K	$169K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$88K	$125K	$169K	85	None ✓
Winston-Salem, NC	$88K	$125K	$169K	85	4.75%
Warren, MI	$88K	$125K	$169K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$88K	$125K	$169K	85	4.25%
Independence, MO	$88K	$125K	$169K	85	5.3%
Lafayette, LA	$88K	$125K	$169K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$88K	$125K	$169K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$88K	$125K	$169K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$88K	$125K	$169K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$88K	$125K	$169K	85	5.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$88K	$125K	$169K	85	4.9%
Cleveland, OH	$87K	$124K	$167K	82	3.99%
Louisville, KY	$87K	$124K	$167K	85	5%
New Orleans, LA	$87K	$124K	$167K	92	6%
Des Moines, IA	$87K	$124K	$167K	88	4.82%
Amarillo, TX	$87K	$123K	$166K	82	None ✓
Waco, TX	$87K	$123K	$166K	82	None ✓
Pueblo, CO	$87K	$123K	$166K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$87K	$123K	$166K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$87K	$123K	$166K	82	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$87K	$123K	$166K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$87K	$123K	$166K	82	None ✓
South Bend, IN	$87K	$123K	$166K	82	3.23%
Mobile, AL	$87K	$123K	$166K	82	5%
Broken Arrow, OK	$87K	$123K	$166K	82	4.75%
Davenport, IA	$87K	$123K	$166K	82	4.82%
Killeen, TX	$86K	$122K	$164K	80	None ✓
Rockford, IL	$86K	$122K	$164K	80	4.95%
Spokane, WA	$86K	$122K	$164K	95	None ✓
Macon, GA	$86K	$122K	$164K	80	5.75%
Akron, OH	$86K	$122K	$164K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$86K	$122K	$164K	80	3.99%
Grand Rapids, MI	$86K	$122K	$164K	90	4.25%
Erie, PA	$86K	$122K	$164K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$86K	$122K	$164K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$86K	$122K	$164K	80	3.23%
Bowling Green, KY	$86K	$122K	$164K	80	5%
Birmingham, AL	$86K	$122K	$164K	82	5%
Montgomery, AL	$86K	$122K	$164K	80	5%
Norman, OK	$86K	$122K	$164K	80	4.75%
Omaha, NE	$86K	$122K	$164K	88	5.84%
Las Cruces, NM	$86K	$122K	$164K	80	5.9%
Gulfport, MS	$86K	$122K	$164K	80	5%
Abilene, TX	$85K	$121K	$163K	78	None ✓
Toledo, OH	$85K	$121K	$163K	78	3.99%
Evansville, IN	$85K	$121K	$163K	78	3.23%
Shreveport, LA	$85K	$121K	$163K	78	6%
Jackson, MS	$85K	$121K	$163K	78	5%
Charleston, WV	$85K	$121K	$163K	78	6.5%
Corpus Christi, TX	$84K	$119K	$160K	84	None ✓
Brownsville, TX	$83K	$119K	$160K	75	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$84K	$119K	$160K	90	2.5%
Savannah, GA	$84K	$119K	$160K	92	5.75%
Memphis, TN	$84K	$119K	$160K	82	None ✓
Knoxville, TN	$84K	$119K	$160K	85	None ✓
Columbia, SC	$84K	$119K	$160K	88	6.5%
Oklahoma City, OK	$84K	$119K	$160K	82	4.75%
Baton Rouge, LA	$84K	$119K	$160K	88	6%
Albuquerque, NM	$84K	$119K	$160K	88	5.9%
Fort Smith, AR	$83K	$119K	$160K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$83K	$119K	$160K	75	6.5%
Tulsa, OK	$82K	$116K	$157K	80	4.75%
El Paso, TX	$81K	$115K	$155K	82	None ✓
Wichita, KS	$81K	$115K	$155K	82	5.7%
Little Rock, AR	$81K	$115K	$155K	82	4.9%
Lubbock, TX	$78K	$111K	$149K	78	None ✓
Laredo, TX	$74K	$105K	$142K	76	None ✓

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $135K Judge salary in Houston (COL 91, no tax) has significantly more purchasing power than the same salary in San Francisco (COL 224, 9.3% state tax). Use our calculator to see the real numbers.

Try COL Calculator →

Judge Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a Judge is $135,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $95,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $182,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of Judges nationally earn $240,000+.

Education and requirements

JD; judicial appointment or election. This role is 5% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

Judge compensation is growing at 1.5% annually, near the national average wage growth rate.

Judge salary FAQ

How much does a Judge make?

The median Judge salary in the US is $135,000 per year — about $65/hour. Most earn between $95,000 (25th percentile) and $182,000 (75th percentile).

What is the starting salary for a Judge?

Entry-level Judge positions typically start around $95,000 per year. Pay rises with experience, specialization, and location.

How much do the highest-paid Judges earn?

The top 10% of Judges earn $240,000 or more per year — usually senior, lead, or specialized professionals in high-cost or high-demand markets.

Which city pays Judges the most?

San Francisco has the highest median Judge salary at $209K among the cities we track. But high-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often have lower real purchasing power once cost of living and taxes are factored in.

Are Judge salaries going up?

Yes — Judge pay is growing about 1.5% year over year, near the US average wage-growth rate.

Judge Salaryby City (2026)