Lawyers, Judges, and Related Workers

How to become a Judge or Magistrate Judge, and Magistrates

Official title: Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates

Also called: Circuit Court Judge, Circuit Judge, County Judge, Court of Appeals Judge, District Court Judge, Judge, Justice of the Peace, Magisterial District Judge, Magistrate, Superior Court Judge

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.

Main 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.

How to become one

Judges and hearing officers typically need a law degree and work experience as a lawyer .

Typical education to start: Doctoral or professional degree

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

College: Law & Justice degrees, Offered by 29 universities in the US

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $153,990 a year The middle half earn $85,710 to $194,950.
About 25,300 people work in this job now, and about 26,000 are projected by 2035. (+2.8%)
People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Questions people ask

How do I become a Judge or Magistrate Judge, and Magistrates?

Judges and hearing officers typically need a law degree and work experience as a lawyer .

How much does a Judge or Magistrate Judge, and Magistrates earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $153,990 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $85,710 to $194,950.

Is a Judge or Magistrate Judge, and Magistrates a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 3% by 2035, from about 25,300 to about 26,000 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Judge or Magistrate Judge, and Magistrates?

Usually. 98% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Judge or Magistrate Judge, and Magistrates?

People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.