Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates salary in Wisconsin
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates in Wisconsin earn a median of $76,620 a year ($36.84 an hour), based on BLS data for 130 workers.
Pay ranges from $27,380 for the lowest-paid 10% to $175,880 for the top 10%. That is 50% lower than the national median of $153,990. Wisconsin ranks 37th of 41 states for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates pay. There are 0.05 judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.30). The average (mean) salary is $94,290, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Wisconsin
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,380 | $13.17 |
| 25th percentile | $46,230 | $22.22 |
| Median | $76,620 | $36.84 |
| 75th percentile | $136,640 | $65.69 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $175,880 | $84.56 |
| Average (mean) | $94,290 | $45.33 |
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 | $6,385 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,192.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,946.92 |
| Weekly | $1,473.46 |
| Hourly | $36.84 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $76,620 salary, see how much house you can afford in Wisconsin at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates salary in cities in Wisconsin
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $186,580 | 420 |
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 Wisconsin
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Lawyer | $126,760 | $60.94 |
| Judicial Law Clerk | $54,250 | $26.08 |
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | $132,250 | $63.58 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $58,500 | $28.12 |
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | $48,070 | $23.11 |
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | $63,130 | $30.35 |
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 Wisconsin?
The median salary for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Wisconsin is $76,620 a year, or $36.84 an hour. Pay ranges from $27,380 for the lowest-paid 10% to $175,880 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates make in Wisconsin?
The top 10% of judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Wisconsin earn at least $175,880 a year. The top 25% earn $136,640 or more.
What is the starting pay for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in Wisconsin?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $27,380 a year, and a quarter of judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates earn $46,230 or less.
How many judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates work in Wisconsin?
About 130 judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates are employed in Wisconsin, not counting the self-employed.