A judge appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate to decide cases in the US district courts or courts of appeals. Administrative Office of the US Courts, judicial compensation table puts typical pay at $249,900 a year (2026). BLS does not publish separate figures for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates; it counts them within judge (SOC 23-1023), whose median pay is $153,990 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: Doctoral or professional degree.
- SOC 23-1023
- Legal
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Federal Judge in four numbers
- Median pay
- $153,990a year, or $74.03/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $47KTop 10% $222K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +2.8%About as fast as averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+2.8%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +2.8% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 80025,300 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202525.3K
- Projected 203526K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 25.3K Projected 2035 26K - Typical education
- Doctorateneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Certificate0.2%
- Some college0.2%
- Associate's0.2%
- Professional degree23.3%
- Doctorate66.5%
- Post-doctoral training9.8%
Highest education held by judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates Segment Value Certificate 0.2% Some college 0.2% Associate's 0.2% Professional degree 23.3% Doctorate 66.5% Post-doctoral training 9.8%
Also advertised as: United States District Judge, Federal District Court Judge, United States Circuit Judge, Article III Judge.
Pay
How much do Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates make?
Industry-reported pay
$249,900
Statutory annual salary of US district judges (typical) and US circuit judges (high).
- Top earners
- $264,900
Source: Administrative Office of the US Courts, judicial compensation table, 2026 (published pay scale or filing). This is not a BLS figure: BLS counts judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates within judge, whose pay is shown below. United States Courts: Judicial compensation
Every federal judge in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$153,990
Middle half earn $85,710 to $194,950
- 10th
- $46,950
- 25th
- $85,710
- 75th
- $194,950
- 90th
- $221,710
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $46,950 |
| 25th | $85,710 |
| Median | $153,990 |
| 75th | $194,950 |
| 90th | $221,710 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $153,990
- Median hourly wage
- $74.03/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $143,830
- People employed
- 24,030
Versus all US occupations
At $153,990, Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates earn 202% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $103,010 a year.
Versus legal occupations
Inside the Legal group, where the middle occupation pays $159,670, this is 4% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $221,710 or more while the bottom 10% earn $46,950, a gap of 4.7×. That is an unusually wide spread, which usually tracks specialisation, employer type and years of experience.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 93% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Rhode Island pays the most at $239,760, and still leads at $234,415 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Rhode Island | $239,760 | $234,415 | 120 |
| 2Massachusetts | $221,710 | $209,641 | 610 |
| 3Connecticut | $217,760 | $210,173 | 230 |
| 4New York | $216,390 | $200,508 | 2,270 |
| 5Hawaii | $211,810 | $192,640 | 120 |
| 6Tennessee | $208,350 | $226,788 | 420 |
| 7Nebraska | $208,180 | $231,047 | 160 |
| 8New Mexico | $205,400 | $222,748 | 250 |
| 9New Jersey | $204,160 | $187,638 | 920 |
| 10Colorado | $198,790 | $192,903 | 620 |
Job outlook
Is Federal Judge a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
About as fast as average. +2.8% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates | +2.8% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
About as fast as average
BLS projects employment of Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates to change 2.8% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 700 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 800 openings are projected each year, 3.2% of the 25,300 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Federal Judge
There is no exam or formal ladder. Nominees are almost always experienced lawyers, often former federal prosecutors, state judges, magistrate judges, law firm partners or law professors, with a JD and many years of practice. Home-state senators typically recommend district court candidates, the President nominates, the American Bar Association rates the nominee, and the Senate Judiciary Committee holds a hearing before a confirmation vote.
Lawyers who aim for the bench often build a record of public service and courtroom work, and many clerk for a federal judge early in their careers.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Doctoral or professional degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
5 years or more
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Considerable preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates.
- Doctoral Degree66.5%
- First Professional Degree23.3%
- Post-Doctoral Training9.8%
- Post-Secondary Certificate0.2%
- Some College Courses0.2%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Doctoral Degree | 66.5% |
| First Professional Degree | 23.3% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 9.8% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 0.2% |
| Some College Courses | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Federal Judge do?
Federal judges appointed under Article III of the Constitution hear cases that arise under federal law, cases involving the US government, and disputes between citizens of different states. District judges preside over trials, rule on motions, manage civil and criminal dockets, and sentence defendants. Circuit judges sit on panels of three to decide appeals from the district courts and write precedential opinions.
Article III judges hold their seats during good behavior, which in practice means for life, and their salaries cannot be reduced. Each judge runs a small chambers staffed by law clerks and a judicial assistant, and the work centers on reading briefs, hearing arguments and writing decisions.
Day-to-day tasks
- Preside over civil and criminal trials and jury selection
- Rule on motions, evidentiary objections and requests for injunctions
- Sentence defendants under federal sentencing law
- Hear oral arguments on appeals as part of a three-judge panel
- Write opinions explaining the court's decisions
- Manage case schedules and settlement conferences
- Supervise law clerks who research and draft for chambers
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Federal judges work in federal courthouses, splitting time between the courtroom and chambers. Trial weeks can be long, and opinion writing extends into evenings, but schedules are steadier than in private practice. Security is provided by the US Marshals Service, and circuit judges travel to sit with panels in different cities.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeSeated for more than half the working day.
Standing
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayHandling conflict situations at least monthly.
Cost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening5.0
- Critical Thinking4.9
- Reading Comprehension4.3
- Writing4.1
- Speaking4.1
- Active Learning4.0
- Monitoring3.9
- Learning Strategies2.8
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 5.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.9 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.3 |
| Writing | 4.1 |
| Speaking | 4.1 |
| Active Learning | 4.0 |
| Monitoring | 3.9 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.8 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Judgment and Decision Making4.3
- Complex Problem Solving4.1
- Social Perceptiveness4.0
- Time Management3.4
- Negotiation3.3
- Coordination3.0
- Persuasion3.0
- Instructing3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Judgment and Decision Making | 4.3 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 4.1 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 4.0 |
| Time Management | 3.4 |
| Negotiation | 3.3 |
| Coordination | 3.0 |
| Persuasion | 3.0 |
| Instructing | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software
- Information retrieval or search software
- Internet browser software
- Legal management software
- Video conferencing software
- Web page creation and editing software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Federal Judge?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code ESI) built on O*NET's Judge profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Federal Judge |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 2 |
| Investigative | 4 |
| Artistic | 2 |
| Social | 4 |
| Enterprising | 5 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around leading, persuading, selling and making decisions, combined with teaching, helping and working directly with other people.
- Enterprising5.5
- Social4.4
- Investigative4.1
- Conventional4.1
- Realistic2.3
- Artistic2.2
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
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More legal careers
Median annual pay, with judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates highlighted
- Lawyer$159,670
- BigLaw Equity Partner$159,670
- Non-Equity Partner$159,670
- BigLaw Senior Associate$159,670
- Public Company General Counsel$159,670
- Mergers and Acquisitions Attorney$159,670
- Judge$153,990
- Federal Judge$153,990
- Paralegal$62,890
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Lawyer | $159,670 |
| BigLaw Equity Partner | $159,670 |
| Non-Equity Partner | $159,670 |
| BigLaw Senior Associate | $159,670 |
| Public Company General Counsel | $159,670 |
| Mergers and Acquisitions Attorney | $159,670 |
| Judge | $153,990 |
| Federal Judge | $153,990 |
| Paralegal | $62,890 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Questions
Federal Judge: frequently asked questions
How much do Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates make?
Administrative Office of the US Courts, judicial compensation table reports $249,900 (statutory annual salary of US district judges (typical) and US circuit judges (high), 2026), with top earners around $264,900. BLS does not publish a separate wage for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates. It counts them within judge, whose median pay is $153,990 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $85,710 and $194,950, and the top 10% earn $221,710 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Federal Judge?
Yes, and beyond a bachelor's: BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry requirement for Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates. Employers typically expect 5 years or more of related work experience first. BLS also lists short-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 66.5% hold doctoral degree.
Is Federal Judge a growing career?
It is stable rather than fast-growing: employment is projected to change 2.8% over 2025–2035, about the same as the 3.5% projected across all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 800 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Federal Judge do?
Federal judges appointed under Article III of the Constitution hear cases that arise under federal law, cases involving the US government, and disputes between citizens of different states. A typical task: preside over civil and criminal trials and jury selection. Employers most often ask for Document management software, Electronic mail software, Office suite software.
Which states pay Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates the most?
The highest state medians for Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates are Rhode Island ($239,760), Massachusetts ($221,710), Connecticut ($217,760) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Federal Judge?
O*NET scores Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates highest on the Enterprising, Social and Investigative interest areas, so the work mixes leading, persuading, selling and making decisions with teaching, helping and working directly with other people. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ESFJ, ESTJ, ENFJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.