Judge salary
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A judge earns a median of $153,990 a year ($74.03 an hour) in the US, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The average is $143,830. About 24,030 people work in this job.
Take-home pay on $153,990
- Gross pay
- $5,922.69
- Federal income tax
- −$988.14
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$367.21
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$85.88
- Texas income tax
- $0.00No state income tax on wages
- Take-home pay
- $4,481.47
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $153,990
- Federal
- $25,692
- FICA
- $11,780
- State + local
- $0
- Net
- $116,518
- Marginal federal rate
- 24.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 0.0%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
Similar jobs
- Lawyer: $159,670
- Administrative Law Judge: $117,860
- Arbitrator: $75,530
- Legal Support Worker: $72,110
- Judicial Law Clerk: $64,920
- Paralegal and Legal Assistant: $62,890
- Title Examiner: $58,650
BLS occupation: Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (SOC 23-1023). Excludes the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a judge make an hour?
The median hourly wage is $74.03; the average is $69.15.
What is the salary range for a judge?
The bottom 10% earn under $46,950 and the top 10% earn over $221,710 a year.
How much is $153,990 after taxes?
About $116,518 a year in Texas (no state income tax) or $104,440 in California for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.