Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates salary in Colorado
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates in Colorado earn a median of $198,790 a year ($95.57 an hour), based on BLS data for 620 workers.
Pay ranges from $170,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $219,580 for the top 10%. That is 29% higher than the national median of $153,990. Colorado ranks 10th of 41 states for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates pay. There are 0.21 judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $191,340, close to the median.
Pay range for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Colorado
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $170,080 | $81.77 |
| 25th percentile | $170,080 | $81.77 |
| Median | $198,790 | $95.57 |
| 75th percentile | $198,790 | $95.57 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $219,580 | $105.57 |
| Average (mean) | $191,340 | $91.99 |
Half of judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $16,565.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $8,282.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $7,645.77 |
| Weekly | $3,822.88 |
| Hourly | $95.57 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $198,790 salary, see how much house you can afford in Colorado at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates salary in cities in Colorado
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $198,790 | 310 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $190,230 | 70 |
| Greeley, CO | $190,230 | 30 |
Highest-paying states for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $239,760 |
| Massachusetts | $221,710 |
| Connecticut | $217,760 |
| New York | $216,390 |
| Hawaii | $211,810 |
| Tennessee | $208,350 |
| Nebraska | $208,180 |
| New Mexico | $205,400 |
| New Jersey | $204,160 |
| Colorado | $198,790 |
See Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates pay in every state.
Related jobs in Colorado
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Lawyer | $168,520 | $81.02 |
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | $121,410 | $58.37 |
| Judicial Law Clerk | $67,230 | $32.32 |
| Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators | $82,590 | $39.71 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $78,190 | $37.59 |
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | $66,660 | $32.05 |
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | $77,600 | $37.31 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 23-1023. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates make in Colorado?
The median salary for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Colorado is $198,790 a year, or $95.57 an hour. Pay ranges from $170,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $219,580 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates make in Colorado?
The top 10% of judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Colorado earn at least $219,580 a year. The top 25% earn $198,790 or more.
What is the starting pay for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Colorado?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $170,080 a year, and a quarter of judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates earn $170,080 or less.
How many judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates work in Colorado?
About 620 judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates are employed in Colorado, not counting the self-employed.