Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates salary in Maryland
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates in Maryland earn a median of $172,190 a year ($82.78 an hour), based on BLS data for 170 workers.
Pay ranges from $53,210 for the lowest-paid 10% to $204,420 for the top 10%. That is 12% higher than the national median of $153,990. Maryland ranks 17th of 41 states for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates pay. There are 0.06 judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.40). The average (mean) salary is $151,880, close to the median.
Pay range for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Maryland
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $53,210 | $25.58 |
| 25th percentile | $105,510 | $50.73 |
| Median | $172,190 | $82.78 |
| 75th percentile | $191,320 | $91.98 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $204,420 | $98.28 |
| Average (mean) | $151,880 | $73.02 |
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 | $14,349.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $7,174.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,622.69 |
| Weekly | $3,311.35 |
| Hourly | $82.78 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $172,190 salary, see how much house you can afford in Maryland at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates salary in cities in Maryland
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $204,160 | 210 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $191,320 | 90 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $104,000 | 380 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $63,240 | 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 Maryland
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Lawyer | $139,110 | $66.88 |
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | $133,460 | $64.16 |
| Judicial Law Clerk | $70,110 | $33.71 |
| Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators | $58,890 | $28.31 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $65,640 | $31.56 |
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | $55,460 | $26.66 |
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 Maryland?
The median salary for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Maryland is $172,190 a year, or $82.78 an hour. Pay ranges from $53,210 for the lowest-paid 10% to $204,420 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates make in Maryland?
The top 10% of judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Maryland earn at least $204,420 a year. The top 25% earn $191,320 or more.
What is the starting pay for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Maryland?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $53,210 a year, and a quarter of judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates earn $105,510 or less.
How many judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates work in Maryland?
About 170 judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates are employed in Maryland, not counting the self-employed.