Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates salary in Washington
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates in Washington earn a median of $134,270 a year ($64.55 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,040 workers.
Pay ranges from $112,360 for the lowest-paid 10% to $239,740 for the top 10%. That is 13% lower than the national median of $153,990. Washington ranks 26th of 41 states for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates pay. There are 0.29 judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.9× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $159,620, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Washington
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $112,360 | $54.02 |
| 25th percentile | $114,120 | $54.87 |
| Median | $134,270 | $64.55 |
| 75th percentile | $212,560 | $102.19 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $239,740 | $115.26 |
| Average (mean) | $159,620 | $76.74 |
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 | $11,189.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,594.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,164.23 |
| Weekly | $2,582.12 |
| Hourly | $64.55 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $134,270 salary, see how much house you can afford in Washington at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates salary in cities in Washington
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $228,330 | 40 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $178,260 | 60 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $135,180 | 550 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $114,400 | 30 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $114,120 | 50 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $114,120 | 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 Washington
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Lawyer | $154,130 | $74.10 |
| Judicial Law Clerk | $80,240 | $38.58 |
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | $122,390 | $58.84 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $79,400 | $38.17 |
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | $85,630 | $41.17 |
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | $66,440 | $31.94 |
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 Washington?
The median salary for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Washington is $134,270 a year, or $64.55 an hour. Pay ranges from $112,360 for the lowest-paid 10% to $239,740 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates make in Washington?
The top 10% of judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Washington earn at least $239,740 a year. The top 25% earn $212,560 or more.
What is the starting pay for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Washington?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $112,360 a year, and a quarter of judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates earn $114,120 or less.
How many judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates work in Washington?
About 1,040 judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates are employed in Washington, not counting the self-employed.