Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates salary in Virginia
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates in Virginia earn a median of $104,000 a year ($50.00 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,270 workers.
Pay ranges from $62,180 for the lowest-paid 10% to $213,830 for the top 10%. That is 32% lower than the national median of $153,990. Virginia ranks 30th of 41 states for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates pay. There are 0.31 judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.0× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $125,190, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Virginia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $62,180 | $29.89 |
| 25th percentile | $68,940 | $33.14 |
| Median | $104,000 | $50.00 |
| 75th percentile | $192,440 | $92.52 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $213,830 | $102.80 |
| Average (mean) | $125,190 | $60.19 |
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 | $8,666.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,333.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,000 |
| Weekly | $2,000 |
| Hourly | $50.00 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $104,000 salary, see how much house you can afford in Virginia at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates salary in cities in Virginia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Charlottesville, VA | $104,000 | 30 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $104,000 | 40 |
| Richmond, VA | $104,000 | 220 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $104,000 | 290 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $104,000 | 380 |
| Roanoke, VA | $91,000 | 60 |
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 Virginia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Lawyer | $167,210 | $80.39 |
| Judicial Law Clerk | $65,940 | $31.70 |
| Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators | $79,530 | $38.23 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $63,990 | $30.77 |
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | $54,230 | $26.07 |
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | $179,960 | $86.52 |
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 Virginia?
The median salary for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Virginia is $104,000 a year, or $50.00 an hour. Pay ranges from $62,180 for the lowest-paid 10% to $213,830 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates make in Virginia?
The top 10% of judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Virginia earn at least $213,830 a year. The top 25% earn $192,440 or more.
What is the starting pay for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Virginia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $62,180 a year, and a quarter of judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates earn $68,940 or less.
How many judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates work in Virginia?
About 1,270 judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates are employed in Virginia, not counting the self-employed.