Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates salary in New Jersey
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates in New Jersey earn a median of $204,160 a year ($98.15 an hour), based on BLS data for 920 workers.
Pay ranges from $56,290 for the lowest-paid 10% to $215,540 for the top 10%. That is 33% higher than the national median of $153,990. New Jersey ranks 9th 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 $170,500, close to the median.
Pay range for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in New Jersey
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $56,290 | $27.06 |
| 25th percentile | $103,260 | $49.64 |
| Median | $204,160 | $98.15 |
| 75th percentile | $204,160 | $98.15 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $215,540 | $103.62 |
| Average (mean) | $170,500 | $81.97 |
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 | $17,013.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $8,506.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $7,852.31 |
| Weekly | $3,926.15 |
| Hourly | $98.15 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $204,160 salary, see how much house you can afford in New Jersey at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates salary in cities in New Jersey
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $204,160 | 50 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $204,160 | 1,280 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $204,160 | 210 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $204,160 | 50 |
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 New Jersey
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Lawyer | $161,430 | $77.61 |
| Judicial Law Clerk | $58,890 | $28.31 |
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | $128,320 | $61.69 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $71,500 | $34.38 |
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | $88,210 | $42.41 |
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | $61,930 | $29.78 |
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 New Jersey?
The median salary for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in New Jersey is $204,160 a year, or $98.15 an hour. Pay ranges from $56,290 for the lowest-paid 10% to $215,540 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates make in New Jersey?
The top 10% of judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in New Jersey earn at least $215,540 a year. The top 25% earn $204,160 or more.
What is the starting pay for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in New Jersey?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $56,290 a year, and a quarter of judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates earn $103,260 or less.
How many judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates work in New Jersey?
About 920 judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates are employed in New Jersey, not counting the self-employed.