Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates salary in Indiana
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates in Indiana earn a median of $183,000 a year ($87.98 an hour), based on BLS data for 790 workers.
Pay ranges from $58,960 for the lowest-paid 10% to $183,000 for the top 10%. That is 19% higher than the national median of $153,990. Indiana ranks 15th of 41 states for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates pay. There are 0.24 judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $157,070, close to the median.
Pay range for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Indiana
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $58,960 | $28.35 |
| 25th percentile | $146,400 | $70.38 |
| Median | $183,000 | $87.98 |
| 75th percentile | $183,000 | $87.98 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $183,000 | $87.98 |
| Average (mean) | $157,070 | $75.51 |
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 | $15,250 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $7,625 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $7,038.46 |
| Weekly | $3,519.23 |
| Hourly | $87.98 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $183,000 salary, see how much house you can afford in Indiana at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates salary in cities in Indiana
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Evansville, IN | $183,000 | 30 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $183,000 | 260 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $159,620 | 50 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $156,550 | 100 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $146,400 | 80 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $122,750 | 240 |
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 Indiana
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Lawyer | $126,860 | $60.99 |
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | $145,290 | $69.85 |
| Judicial Law Clerk | $57,140 | $27.47 |
| Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators | $57,390 | $27.59 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $57,030 | $27.42 |
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | $56,990 | $27.40 |
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | $46,150 | $22.19 |
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 Indiana?
The median salary for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Indiana is $183,000 a year, or $87.98 an hour. Pay ranges from $58,960 for the lowest-paid 10% to $183,000 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates make in Indiana?
The top 10% of judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Indiana earn at least $183,000 a year. The top 25% earn $183,000 or more.
What is the starting pay for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Indiana?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $58,960 a year, and a quarter of judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates earn $146,400 or less.
How many judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates work in Indiana?
About 790 judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates are employed in Indiana, not counting the self-employed.