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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York City, NY | $178K | $252K | $340K | 187 | 6.85% |
| Cambridge, MA | $176K | $250K | $337K | 185 | 5% |
| Pearl City, HI | $176K | $250K | $337K | 185 | 11% |
| Bellevue, WA | $166K | $236K | $319K | 175 | None ✓ |
| Irvine, CA | $163K | $232K | $313K | 172 | 9.3% |
| Yonkers, NY | $157K | $223K | $300K | 165 | 6.85% |
| Bethesda, MD | $157K | $223K | $300K | 165 | 5.75% |
| Kirkland, WA | $154K | $219K | $295K | 162 | None ✓ |
| Stamford, CT | $150K | $213K | $288K | 158 | 6.99% |
| San Francisco, CA | $147K | $209K | $282K | 224 | 9.3% |
| Hilo, HI | $147K | $209K | $282K | 155 | 11% |
| Santa Ana, CA | $143K | $203K | $273K | 150 | 9.3% |
| San Jose, CA | $141K | $200K | $269K | 210 | 9.3% |
| Anaheim, CA | $141K | $200K | $269K | 148 | 9.3% |
| Rockville, MD | $141K | $200K | $269K | 148 | 5.75% |
| Alexandria, VA | $138K | $196K | $264K | 145 | 5.75% |
| Washington, DC | $138K | $196K | $264K | 152 | 8.5% |
| Elizabeth, NJ | $138K | $196K | $264K | 145 | 10.75% |
| Oakland, CA | $135K | $192K | $258K | 185 | 9.3% |
| Jersey City, NJ | $135K | $192K | $258K | 162 | 10.75% |
| Paterson, NJ | $133K | $189K | $255K | 140 | 10.75% |
| Chula Vista, CA | $131K | $186K | $251K | 138 | 9.3% |
| Edison, NJ | $131K | $186K | $251K | 138 | 10.75% |
| Fairbanks, AK | $131K | $186K | $251K | 138 | None ✓ |
| 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% |
| Boston, MA | $124K | $176K | $237K | 162 | 5% |
| San Diego, CA | $122K | $173K | $233K | 148 | 9.3% |
| Long Beach, CA | $119K | $169K | $228K | 155 | 9.3% |
| Seattle, WA | $119K | $169K | $228K | 150 | None ✓ |
| New Haven, CT | $116K | $165K | $222K | 122 | 6.99% |
| Sacramento, CA | $114K | $162K | $218K | 128 | 9.3% |
| Nashua, NH | $114K | $162K | $218K | 120 | None ✓ |
| Frisco, TX | $112K | $159K | $215K | 118 | None ✓ |
| Riverside, CA | $112K | $159K | $215K | 118 | 9.3% |
| Chicago, IL | $112K | $159K | $215K | 107 | 4.95% |
| Naperville, IL | $112K | $159K | $215K | 118 | 4.95% |
| Vancouver, WA | $112K | $159K | $215K | 118 | None ✓ |
| Lowell, MA | $112K | $159K | $215K | 118 | 5% |
| Gresham, OR | $112K | $159K | $215K | 118 | 9.9% |
| Bridgeport, CT | $112K | $159K | $215K | 118 | 6.99% |
| Manchester, NH | $112K | $159K | $215K | 118 | None ✓ |
| Burlington, VT | $112K | $159K | $215K | 118 | 6.6% |
| Providence, RI | $112K | $159K | $215K | 118 | 5.99% |
| Hialeah, FL | $109K | $155K | $209K | 115 | None ✓ |
| Hollywood, FL | $109K | $155K | $209K | 115 | None ✓ |
| Lakewood, CO | $109K | $155K | $209K | 115 | 4.55% |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $109K | $155K | $209K | 115 | 4.25% |
| Philadelphia, PA | $109K | $155K | $209K | 110 | 3.07% |
| Portland, OR | $109K | $155K | $209K | 130 | 9.9% |
| Baltimore, MD | $109K | $155K | $209K | 115 | 5.75% |
| Frederick, MD | $109K | $155K | $209K | 115 | 5.75% |
| Portland, ME | $109K | $155K | $209K | 115 | 7.15% |
| Concord, NH | $109K | $155K | $209K | 115 | None ✓ |
| Warwick, RI | $109K | $155K | $209K | 115 | 5.99% |
| Honolulu, HI | $109K | $155K | $209K | 192 | 11% |
| Miami, FL | $106K | $151K | $204K | 123 | None ✓ |
| Pembroke Pines, FL | $106K | $151K | $204K | 112 | None ✓ |
| Scottsdale, AZ | $106K | $151K | $204K | 118 | 2.5% |
| Denver, CO | $106K | $151K | $204K | 118 | 4.55% |
| Fort Collins, CO | $106K | $151K | $204K | 112 | 4.55% |
| Worcester, MA | $106K | $151K | $204K | 120 | 5% |
| Cary, NC | $106K | $151K | $204K | 112 | 4.75% |
| Hartford, CT | $106K | $151K | $204K | 118 | 6.99% |
| Dallas, TX | $105K | $149K | $200K | 96 | None ✓ |
| Tacoma, WA | $105K | $149K | $200K | 128 | None ✓ |
| Eugene, OR | $105K | $149K | $200K | 110 | 9.9% |
| Anchorage, AK | $105K | $149K | $200K | 128 | None ✓ |
| Austin, TX | $103K | $146K | $197K | 110 | None ✓ |
| Plano, TX | $103K | $146K | $197K | 105 | None ✓ |
| Round Rock, TX | $103K | $146K | $197K | 108 | None ✓ |
| Fort Lauderdale, FL | $103K | $146K | $197K | 118 | None ✓ |
| Gilbert, AZ | $103K | $146K | $197K | 108 | 2.5% |
| Tempe, AZ | $103K | $146K | $197K | 108 | 2.5% |
| Thornton, CO | $103K | $146K | $197K | 108 | 4.55% |
| Atlanta, GA | $103K | $146K | $197K | 99 | 5.75% |
| Minneapolis, MN | $103K | $146K | $197K | 106 | 6.8% |
| Boise, ID | $103K | $146K | $197K | 108 | 5.8% |
| Wilmington, DE | $103K | $146K | $197K | 108 | 6.6% |
| Aurora, CO | $101K | $143K | $193K | 112 | 4.55% |
| Houston, TX | $100K | $142K | $191K | 91 | None ✓ |
| Irving, TX | $100K | $142K | $191K | 97 | None ✓ |
| McKinney, TX | $100K | $142K | $191K | 108 | None ✓ |
| Stockton, CA | $100K | $142K | $191K | 105 | 9.3% |
| Springfield, MA | $100K | $142K | $191K | 105 | 5% |
| 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% |
| Salem, OR | $100K | $142K | $191K | 105 | 9.9% |
| Henderson, NV | $100K | $142K | $191K | 105 | None ✓ |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $100K | $142K | $191K | 105 | 4.85% |
| Meridian, ID | $100K | $142K | $191K | 105 | 5.8% |
| Fort Worth, TX | $97K | $138K | $186K | 93 | None ✓ |
| Carrollton, TX | $97K | $138K | $186K | 102 | 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 ✓ |
| Missoula, MT | $97K | $138K | $186K | 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 | $93K | $132K | $178K | 98 | 6.85% |
| St. Petersburg, FL | $93K | $132K | $178K | 105 | None ✓ |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | $93K | $132K | $178K | 98 | None ✓ |
| Mesa, AZ | $93K | $132K | $178K | 98 | 2.5% |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $93K | $132K | $178K | 98 | 5.75% |
| Chesapeake, VA | $93K | $132K | $178K | 98 | 5.75% |
| Columbus, OH | $93K | $132K | $178K | 90 | 3.99% |
| Madison, WI | $93K | $132K | $178K | 102 | 5.3% |
| North Las Vegas, NV | $93K | $132K | $178K | 98 | None ✓ |
| West Valley City, UT | $93K | $132K | $178K | 98 | 4.85% |
| Orem, UT | $93K | $132K | $178K | 98 | 4.85% |
| Charleston, SC | $93K | $132K | $178K | 105 | 6.5% |
| Nampa, ID | $93K | $132K | $178K | 98 | 5.8% |
| Billings, MT | $93K | $132K | $178K | 98 | 6.75% |
| Lewiston, ME | $93K | $132K | $178K | 98 | 7.15% |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $91K | $130K | $175K | 102 | 4.55% |
| 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% |
| San Antonio, TX | $90K | $128K | $173K | 87 | None ✓ |
| Fresno, CA | $90K | $128K | $173K | 102 | 9.3% |
| Bakersfield, CA | $90K | $128K | $173K | 95 | 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 ✓ |
| Aurora, IL | $90K | $128K | $173K | 95 | 4.95% |
| Glendale, AZ | $90K | $128K | $173K | 95 | 2.5% |
| Norfolk, VA | $90K | $128K | $173K | 95 | 5.75% |
| Newport News, VA | $90K | $128K | $173K | 95 | 5.75% |
| Detroit, MI | $90K | $128K | $173K | 82 | 4.25% |
| Allentown, PA | $90K | $128K | $173K | 95 | 3.07% |
| Indianapolis, IN | $90K | $128K | $173K | 88 | 3.23% |
| Milwaukee, WI | $90K | $128K | $173K | 90 | 5.3% |
| Huntsville, AL | $90K | $128K | $173K | 88 | 5% |
| North Charleston, SC | $90K | $128K | $173K | 95 | 6.5% |
| Midland, TX | $87K | $124K | $167K | 92 | None ✓ |
| Athens, GA | $87K | $124K | $167K | 92 | 5.75% |
| Cleveland, OH | $87K | $124K | $167K | 82 | 3.99% |
| Duluth, MN | $87K | $124K | $167K | 92 | 6.8% |
| Louisville, KY | $87K | $124K | $167K | 85 | 5% |
| Greenville, SC | $87K | $124K | $167K | 92 | 6.5% |
| New Orleans, LA | $87K | $124K | $167K | 92 | 6% |
| Des Moines, IA | $87K | $124K | $167K | 88 | 4.82% |
| Cheyenne, WY | $87K | $124K | $167K | 92 | None ✓ |
| Grand Prairie, TX | $86K | $122K | $164K | 90 | None ✓ |
| Tallahassee, FL | $86K | $122K | $164K | 90 | None ✓ |
| Joliet, IL | $86K | $122K | $164K | 90 | 4.95% |
| Spokane, WA | $86K | $122K | $164K | 95 | None ✓ |
| Grand Rapids, MI | $86K | $122K | $164K | 90 | 4.25% |
| Sterling Heights, MI | $86K | $122K | $164K | 90 | 4.25% |
| Kenosha, WI | $86K | $122K | $164K | 90 | 5.3% |
| Birmingham, AL | $86K | $122K | $164K | 82 | 5% |
| Omaha, NE | $86K | $122K | $164K | 88 | 5.84% |
| Fargo, ND | $86K | $122K | $164K | 90 | 2.5% |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $84K | $119K | $160K | 84 | None ✓ |
| Pasadena, TX | $84K | $119K | $160K | 88 | None ✓ |
| Mesquite, TX | $84K | $119K | $160K | 88 | None ✓ |
| Syracuse, NY | $84K | $119K | $160K | 88 | 6.85% |
| Gainesville, FL | $84K | $119K | $160K | 88 | None ✓ |
| Tucson, AZ | $84K | $119K | $160K | 90 | 2.5% |
| Savannah, GA | $84K | $119K | $160K | 92 | 5.75% |
| Greensboro, NC | $84K | $119K | $160K | 88 | 4.75% |
| Memphis, TN | $84K | $119K | $160K | 82 | None ✓ |
| Knoxville, TN | $84K | $119K | $160K | 85 | None ✓ |
| Chattanooga, TN | $84K | $119K | $160K | 88 | None ✓ |
| Green Bay, WI | $84K | $119K | $160K | 88 | 5.3% |
| Lexington, KY | $84K | $119K | $160K | 88 | 5% |
| 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% |
| Great Falls, MT | $84K | $119K | $160K | 88 | 6.75% |
| Casper, WY | $84K | $119K | $160K | 88 | None ✓ |
| Bismarck, ND | $84K | $119K | $160K | 88 | 2.5% |
| Sioux Falls, SD | $84K | $119K | $160K | 88 | None ✓ |
| Rapid City, SD | $84K | $119K | $160K | 88 | None ✓ |
| Tulsa, OK | $82K | $116K | $157K | 80 | 4.75% |
| El Paso, TX | $81K | $115K | $155K | 82 | None ✓ |
| Beaumont, TX | $81K | $115K | $155K | 85 | None ✓ |
| Odessa, TX | $81K | $115K | $155K | 85 | None ✓ |
| Tyler, TX | $81K | $115K | $155K | 85 | None ✓ |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $81K | $115K | $155K | 85 | 4.75% |
| Warren, MI | $81K | $115K | $155K | 85 | 4.25% |
| Lansing, MI | $81K | $115K | $155K | 85 | 4.25% |
| Independence, MO | $81K | $115K | $155K | 85 | 5.3% |
| Lafayette, LA | $81K | $115K | $155K | 85 | 6% |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $81K | $115K | $155K | 85 | 4.82% |
| Wichita, KS | $81K | $115K | $155K | 82 | 5.7% |
| Kansas City, KS | $81K | $115K | $155K | 85 | 5.7% |
| Lincoln, NE | $81K | $115K | $155K | 85 | 5.84% |
| Rio Rancho, NM | $81K | $115K | $155K | 85 | 5.9% |
| Little Rock, AR | $81K | $115K | $155K | 82 | 4.9% |
| Fayetteville, AR | $81K | $115K | $155K | 85 | 4.9% |
| Lubbock, TX | $78K | $111K | $149K | 78 | None ✓ |
| Amarillo, TX | $78K | $111K | $149K | 82 | None ✓ |
| Waco, TX | $78K | $111K | $149K | 82 | None ✓ |
| Pueblo, CO | $78K | $111K | $149K | 82 | 4.55% |
| Columbus, GA | $78K | $111K | $149K | 82 | 5.75% |
| Augusta, GA | $78K | $111K | $149K | 82 | 5.75% |
| Fayetteville, NC | $78K | $111K | $149K | 82 | 4.75% |
| Clarksville, TN | $78K | $111K | $149K | 82 | None ✓ |
| South Bend, IN | $78K | $111K | $149K | 82 | 3.23% |
| Mobile, AL | $78K | $111K | $149K | 82 | 5% |
| Broken Arrow, OK | $78K | $111K | $149K | 82 | 4.75% |
| Davenport, IA | $78K | $111K | $149K | 82 | 4.82% |
| Killeen, TX | $76K | $108K | $146K | 80 | None ✓ |
| Rockford, IL | $76K | $108K | $146K | 80 | 4.95% |
| Macon, GA | $76K | $108K | $146K | 80 | 5.75% |
| Akron, OH | $76K | $108K | $146K | 80 | 3.99% |
| Dayton, OH | $76K | $108K | $146K | 80 | 3.99% |
| Erie, PA | $76K | $108K | $146K | 80 | 3.07% |
| Springfield, MO | $76K | $108K | $146K | 80 | 5.3% |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $76K | $108K | $146K | 80 | 3.23% |
| Bowling Green, KY | $76K | $108K | $146K | 80 | 5% |
| Montgomery, AL | $76K | $108K | $146K | 80 | 5% |
| Norman, OK | $76K | $108K | $146K | 80 | 4.75% |
| Las Cruces, NM | $76K | $108K | $146K | 80 | 5.9% |
| Gulfport, MS | $76K | $108K | $146K | 80 | 5% |
| Laredo, TX | $74K | $105K | $142K | 76 | None ✓ |
| Abilene, TX | $74K | $105K | $142K | 78 | None ✓ |
| Toledo, OH | $74K | $105K | $142K | 78 | 3.99% |
| Evansville, IN | $74K | $105K | $142K | 78 | 3.23% |
| Shreveport, LA | $74K | $105K | $142K | 78 | 6% |
| Jackson, MS | $74K | $105K | $142K | 78 | 5% |
| Charleston, WV | $74K | $105K | $142K | 78 | 6.5% |
| Brownsville, TX | $71K | $101K | $137K | 75 | None ✓ |
| Fort Smith, AR | $71K | $101K | $137K | 75 | 4.9% |
| Huntington, WV | $71K | $101K | $137K | 75 | 6.5% |
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.