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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
Pull up a cost-of-living calculator alongside this data — that's where the real insight lives. The national median salary for Judges in 2026 is $172,256, with entry-level positions averaging $124,024 and senior roles reaching $244,603. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $313,760, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
Judge falls within the Legal sector, specifically in Legal. The typical education path involves Juris Doctor + experience. The career outlook? Steady. Work style is courthouse — which means location flexibility varies, and so does the premium different markets are willing to pay. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
$190,920 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Judge in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $313,760 — $190,920 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($122,840). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
The salary distribution for Judges reveals a $120,579 spread from entry to senior. At $172,256, the median sits $91,889 above the national median household income of $80,367. That's a strong baseline — and it only includes individual earnings, not household. The P10 floor of $124,024 represents early-career or part-time positions, while the $244,603 ceiling captures experienced professionals in premium markets.
The demand picture adds context to these salary numbers. The top 3 paying cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) average $293,040 — while the bottom 3 (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) average $123,827. That $169,213 gap means choosing the right city could be the equivalent of a major promotion. For early-career professionals, the geographic pay premium is worth the math.
A Judge in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $313,760 — $190,920 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($122,840). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Judge is $124,024, while senior-level (P90) earners average $244,603. That $120,579 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
California pays the highest average median salary for Judges at $207,904 across 61 tracked cities. The gap between #1 and #5 (New Jersey at $182,780) is $25,124.
At the 90th percentile, Judges pull in an average of $244,603. In the top-paying markets, that figure climbs even higher — making this one of the more lucrative career trajectories in its field.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $124,024 | $172,256 | $244,603 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £68,169 | £94,679 | £134,444 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$90,727 | CA$126,009 | CA$178,933 |
| Australia | 13 | A$103,233 | A$143,379 | A$203,598 |
| Sweden | 24 | 624,354 kr | 867,158 kr | 1,231,364 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $149,691 | $207,904 | $295,223 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $144,655 | $200,910 | $285,292 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $143,856 | $199,800 | $283,716 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $133,200 | $185,000 | $262,700 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $131,602 | $182,780 | $259,548 |
| Washington | 8 | $129,071 | $179,265 | $254,556 |
| New York | 5 | $121,479 | $168,720 | $239,583 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $121,478 | $168,720 | $239,582 |
| Florida | 22 | $120,558 | $167,442 | $237,767 |
| Colorado | 11 | $118,475 | $164,549 | $233,660 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $118,282 | $164,280 | $233,278 |
| Nevada | 5 | $118,069 | $163,984 | $232,857 |
| Arizona | 12 | $117,482 | $163,170 | $231,701 |
| Oregon | 5 | $117,216 | $162,800 | $231,176 |
| Idaho | 3 | $116,861 | $162,307 | $230,475 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $115,937 | $161,024 | $228,654 |
| Utah | 4 | $115,618 | $160,580 | $228,024 |
| Virginia | 7 | $113,715 | $157,937 | $224,271 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $112,243 | $155,893 | $221,369 |
| Alaska | 1 | $111,888 | $155,400 | $220,668 |
| Illinois | 5 | $110,609 | $153,624 | $218,146 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $107,862 | $149,809 | $212,729 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $106,560 | $148,000 | $210,160 |
| Montana | 1 | $106,560 | $148,000 | $210,160 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $106,205 | $147,507 | $209,460 |
| Texas | 40 | $105,681 | $146,779 | $208,426 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $105,495 | $146,520 | $208,059 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $104,962 | $145,780 | $207,008 |
| Georgia | 6 | $104,606 | $145,287 | $206,307 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $104,429 | $145,040 | $205,957 |
| Kansas | 4 | $103,896 | $144,300 | $204,906 |
| Michigan | 6 | $103,541 | $143,807 | $204,206 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $102,298 | $142,080 | $201,754 |
| Maryland | 1 | $102,298 | $142,080 | $201,754 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $101,232 | $140,600 | $199,652 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $101,232 | $140,600 | $199,652 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $98,568 | $136,900 | $194,398 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $98,035 | $136,160 | $193,347 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $96,703 | $134,310 | $190,720 |
| Missouri | 4 | $96,703 | $134,310 | $190,720 |
| Alabama | 5 | $96,330 | $133,792 | $189,984 |
| Indiana | 3 | $94,838 | $131,720 | $187,042 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $94,838 | $131,720 | $187,042 |
| Iowa | 2 | $93,773 | $130,240 | $184,941 |
| Ohio | 6 | $93,595 | $129,993 | $184,590 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $89,510 | $124,320 | $176,534 |
Geography shapes Judge pay in predictable and not-so-predictable ways. California tops the state leaderboard at $207,904 median, with 61 cities providing data. Massachusetts and Hawaii follow. On the flip side, Mississippi and Ohio anchor the bottom — reflecting lower local cost structures and smaller metro premiums.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($313,760 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $148,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $313,760 | 212 | $148,000 | $167,837 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $293,040 | 198 | $148,000 | $158,709 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $272,320 | 184 | $148,000 | $149,582 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $267,880 | 181 | $148,000 | $147,626 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $263,440 | 178 | $148,000 | $145,671 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $261,960 | 177 | $148,000 | $145,019 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $261,960 | 177 | $148,000 | $145,019 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $256,040 | 173 | $148,000 | $142,411 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $256,040 | 173 | $148,000 | $142,411 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $250,120 | 169 | $148,000 | $139,803 |
The $120,579 gap between P10 and P90 represents the earning trajectory of a Judge career. Senior-level earners make 2.0× what entry-level professionals do — a solid progression that justifies the upfront investment. In the Legal sector, steady, which shapes both starting salaries and long-term ceiling.
The weighted national median salary for Judges is $172,256 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $124,024, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $244,603.
The highest-paying city for Judges is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $313,760. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($313,760), Santa Clara ($293,040), Irvine ($272,320). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Judge salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $122,840. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Judges (10th percentile) average $124,024 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $225,907. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Judges average $244,603 nationally — $120,579 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Judges can earn up to $445,539.
The top-paying states for Judges are California ($207,904 median), Massachusetts ($200,910 median), Hawaii ($199,800 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Judge involves Juris Doctor + experience. The field is in the Legal sector (Legal), and the career outlook is steady. Work style is typically courthouse.
With a national median of $172,256 and representation across 288 metro areas, Judge offers above-average earning potential compared to national household income. The $120,579 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: steady.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.