Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates
Arbitrate, 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.
Also called: Circuit Court Judge · Circuit Judge · County Judge · Court of Appeals Judge · District Court Judge · Judge
Median pay (national)
$156,210
$46,520–$216,540 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
25,580
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+2.5%
~900 openings/yr
Typical entry
Doctoral or professional degree
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates shows an unusually wide range: the top 10% earn $216,540 versus $46,520 at the bottom 10% — 4.7x. The median of $156,210 leaves roughly 39% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +2.5% from 2024 to 2034 — about as fast as the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 900 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 37 states with released data, Massachusetts pays the most for this role (median $221,710, +42% vs the national median), while Mississippi sits lowest at $49,900 — a 344% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list. On the tools side, O*NET flags Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook as in-demand technologies for this role.
Tailor your resume to Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates
Honest tailoring
See how your resume lines up with Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates
Refit re-angles your real experience toward this role using the skills above — and never invents skills you don't have. A no-fabrication gate checks every change before you see it.
Free. No account needed to see your first re-fit.
Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Speaking
- Active Learning
- Monitoring
- Learning Strategies
- Mathematics
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Sentence defendants in criminal cases, on conviction by jury, according to applicable government statutes.
- Monitor proceedings to ensure that all applicable rules and procedures are followed.
- Instruct juries on applicable laws, direct juries to deduce the facts from the evidence presented, and hear their verdicts.
- Write decisions on cases.
- Read documents on pleadings and motions to ascertain facts and issues.
- Rule on admissibility of evidence and methods of conducting testimony.
- Preside over hearings and listen to allegations made by plaintiffs to determine whether the evidence supports the charges.
- Award compensation for damages to litigants in civil cases in relation to findings by juries or by the court.
- Advise attorneys, juries, litigants, and court personnel regarding conduct, issues, and proceedings.
- Interpret and enforce rules of procedure or establish new rules in situations where there are no procedures already established by law.
Tools & technology
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Courtroom scheduling software
- Hyland OnBase Enterprise Content Management
- LexisNexis
- Online databases
- Thomson Reuters Westlaw
- Videoconferencing software
- Web browser software
- Adobe Acrobat
- Email software
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
Knowledge areas
- Law and Government
- English Language
- Administration and Management
- Psychology
- Customer and Personal Service
- Public Safety and Security
- Computers and Electronics
- Therapy and Counseling