Legal
Judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates
Arbitrate, advise, adjudicate, or administer justice in a court of law. May sentence defendant in criminal cases according to government statutes or sentencing guidelines. May determine liability of defendant in civil cases. May perform wedding ceremonies.
Median pay
$153,990
Growth to 2035
+3%
about as fast as average
Openings a year
800
Time to qualify*
10.1 years
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- Doctoral or professional degree
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- 5 years or more
Calculate your switch to judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Exposure to disease
Judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates: 69% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Sentence defendants in criminal cases, on conviction by jury, according to applicable government statutes.
- Monitor proceedings to ensure that all applicable rules and procedures are followed.
- Instruct juries on applicable laws, direct juries to deduce the facts from the evidence presented, and hear their verdicts.
- Write decisions on cases.
- Read documents on pleadings and motions to ascertain facts and issues.
- Rule on admissibility of evidence and methods of conducting testimony.
- Preside over hearings and listen to allegations made by plaintiffs to determine whether the evidence supports the charges.
- Award compensation for damages to litigants in civil cases in relation to findings by juries or by the court.
Also called: Circuit Court Judge · Circuit Judge · County Judge · Court of Appeals Judge · District Court Judge · Judge · Justice of the Peace · Magisterial District Judge
Outlook and AI
Judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates held 25,300 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 26,000 by 2035 (+3%, about as fast as average; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
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