Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates salary in New York
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates in New York earn a median of $216,390 a year ($104.03 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,270 workers.
Pay ranges from $166,930 for the lowest-paid 10% to $232,590 for the top 10%. That is 41% higher than the national median of $153,990. New York ranks 4th of 41 states for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.23 judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $198,770, close to the median.
Pay range for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in New York
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $166,930 | $80.26 |
| 25th percentile | $174,250 | $83.77 |
| Median | $216,390 | $104.03 |
| 75th percentile | $232,590 | $111.82 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $232,590 | $111.82 |
| Average (mean) | $198,770 | $95.56 |
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 | $18,032.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $9,016.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $8,322.69 |
| Weekly | $4,161.35 |
| Hourly | $104.03 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $216,390 salary, see how much house you can afford in New York at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates salary in cities in New York
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $204,160 | 1,280 |
| Glens Falls, NY | $177,840 | 30 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | $176,500 | 50 |
| Rochester, NY | $174,940 | 130 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $174,730 | 60 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $174,250 | 180 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $172,410 | 150 |
| Syracuse, NY | $172,270 | 120 |
| Binghamton, NY | $165,900 | 40 |
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 York
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Lawyer | $207,860 | $99.93 |
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | $123,170 | $59.22 |
| Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators | $70,800 | $34.04 |
| Judicial Law Clerk | $133,320 | $64.10 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $68,410 | $32.89 |
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | $61,380 | $29.51 |
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | $76,520 | $36.79 |
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 York?
The median salary for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in New York is $216,390 a year, or $104.03 an hour. Pay ranges from $166,930 for the lowest-paid 10% to $232,590 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates make in New York?
The top 10% of judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in New York earn at least $232,590 a year. The top 25% earn $232,590 or more.
What is the starting pay for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in New York?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $166,930 a year, and a quarter of judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates earn $174,250 or less.
How many judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates work in New York?
About 2,270 judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates are employed in New York, not counting the self-employed.