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Occupation · SOC 23-1023

Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates

There are 24,030 jobs in the U.S. Median pay is $153,990 a year. The most jobs are in New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ.

LegalTypical education: Doctoral or professional degree
24,030
Jobs in the U.S.
People employed, May 2025
$153,990
Median pay a year
Middle half: $85,710–$194,950
800
Annual openings
10-year change: +2.8%
Doctoral or professional degree
Typical education to enter

Metro areas with the highest employment

10 of 110 metro areas with BLS data for this occupation. LCA filings: Apr 2025–Mar 2026.

Metro areaEmploymentMedian payLCA filings
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJMedian pay $204,160 · LCA filings 01,280$204,1600
Austin–Round Rock–San Marcos, TXMedian pay $153,990 · LCA filings 0710$153,9900
Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Roswell, GAMedian pay $144,790 · LCA filings 0550$144,7900
Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WAMedian pay $135,180 · LCA filings 0550$135,1800
San Juan–Bayamon–Caguas, PRMedian pay n/a · LCA filings 0490n/a0
Houston–Pasadena–The Woodlands, TXMedian pay $135,430 · LCA filings 0480$135,4300
Cleveland, OHMedian pay $80,020 · LCA filings 0440$80,0200
Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TXMedian pay n/a · LCA filings 0430n/a0
Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NHMedian pay $221,710 · LCA filings 0420$221,7100
Minneapolis–St. Paul–Bloomington, MN–WIMedian pay $186,580 · LCA filings 0420$186,5800

Metro areas with the highest median pay

Median pay for this occupation in each metro area, May 2025.

Metro areaMedian payEmploymentLCA filings
Providence–Warwick, RI–MAEmployment 150 · LCA filings 0$229,7601500
Longview–Kelso, WAEmployment 40 · LCA filings 0$228,330400
Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NHEmployment 420 · LCA filings 0$221,7104200
Nashville–Davidson––Murfreesboro––Franklin, TNEmployment 200 · LCA filings 0$218,1902000
Hartford–West Hartford–East Hartford, CTEmployment 100 · LCA filings 0$217,7601000

Prevailing wage levels (H-1B and PERM)

The minimum yearly wage by level. Level I is entry level and Level IV is fully competent; an H-1B employer must pay at least the level that fits the job.

Metro areaLevel ILevel IILevel IIILevel IV
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJLevel II $151,174 · Level III $187,824 · Level IV $224,494$114,504$151,174$187,824$224,494
Austin–Round Rock–San Marcos, TXLevel II $131,581 · Level III $149,365 · Level IV $167,149$113,797$131,581$149,365$167,149
Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Roswell, GALevel II $100,360 · Level III $136,781 · Level IV $173,181$63,960$100,360$136,781$173,181
Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WALevel II $134,597 · Level III $156,437 · Level IV $178,298$112,736$134,597$156,437$178,298
San Juan–Bayamon–Caguas, PRLevel II $103,230 · Level III $143,416 · Level IV $183,622$63,024$103,230$143,416$183,622
Houston–Pasadena–The Woodlands, TXLevel II $83,949 · Level III $122,658 · Level IV $161,387$45,219$83,949$122,658$161,387
Cleveland, OHLevel II $71,074 · Level III $104,125 · Level IV $137,197$38,002$71,074$104,125$137,197
Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TXLevel II $86,923 · Level III $123,573 · Level IV $160,202$50,294$86,923$123,573$160,202
Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NHLevel II $180,461 · Level III $201,718 · Level IV $222,976$159,203$180,461$201,718$222,976
Minneapolis–St. Paul–Bloomington, MN–WILevel II $161,928 · Level III $175,282 · Level IV $188,635$148,574$161,928$175,282$188,635

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027.

Related majors

Majors most closely related to this occupation. International graduates: 2024–25 academic year.

MajorInternational graduatesSTEM OPT
LawCIP 22.01OPT · up to 12 months1,203OPT · up to 12 months

See Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates in every metro area

All 110 metro areas, pay in each, related majors, schools in each job market, and employers with LCA filing history.

Employers with LCA filings for this occupation

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Related occupations · Legal

Paralegals and Legal AssistantsLawyersTitle Examiners, Abstractors, and SearchersLegal Support Workers, All OtherJudicial Law ClerksAdministrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing OfficersArbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators

Sources: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 · BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 · U.S. Department of Labor LCA disclosure data, Apr 2025–Mar 2026 · IPEDS 2024–25. Prevailing wages: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027. Methodology