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Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates

Typical education: Doctoral or professional degreeHigh pressure

What they do

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.

Kinds of work

  • Enterprising: Leading, persuading, selling and starting new projects or businesses.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.
  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.

High pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $153,990 Median per year · $74.03/hr Most earn $46,950–$221,710

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Sentence defendants in criminal cases, on conviction by jury, according to applicable government statutes.
  • Rule on admissibility of evidence and methods of conducting testimony.
  • Interpret and enforce rules of procedure or establish new rules in situations where there are no procedures already established by law.
  • Issue arrest warrants.
  • Provide information regarding the judicial system or other legal issues through the media and public speeches.
  • Research legal issues and write opinions on the issues.

Job outlook

United States
3% more jobs by 2035, about as fast as average · about 800 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • State government, excluding education and hospitals55.8%
  • Local government, excluding education and hospitals44.2%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 6 to 8 years

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Doctoral or professional degreeExperience before this job: 6 to 8 years

Becoming a judge is not an entry-level job. Most people spend roughly 13 to 15 years after high school earning a law degree and practicing law before they reach the bench. Judges usually need a doctoral or professional degree and about 6 to 8 years of related work experience first.

  1. Bachelor's degree in any major

    4 years

    Build strong reading, writing, and critical-thinking skills, since law school and legal work depend on them. Majors like political science, history, philosophy, or English are common choices, but most law schools accept any major.

  2. Law degree (Juris Doctor, J.D.)

    3 years

    Law school trains you in legal reasoning, the court system, and case analysis, and it prepares you for the bar exam needed to practice law.

  3. Lawyer (attorney)

    6-8 years

    Practicing as a lawyer, often starting at a law firm, a government office, or a public defender or prosecutor's office, gives you the courtroom and case experience judges are expected to have. Many judges come from litigation work.

  4. Judge (Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates)

    Ongoing

    Judges are usually appointed or elected to a trial court, and they hear cases, rule on legal issues, and decide sentences or civil liability.

Where it can lead

  1. Appellate Court Judge

    Several years as a trial judge of experience first

    Appellate judges review decisions made by trial courts and work with a panel of judges instead of deciding cases alone. Moving up usually requires a strong record on the trial bench and often an appointment or election to a higher court.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take English, history, government, and speech or debate classesThese build the reading, writing, and speaking skills that law school and courtroom work demand.
  • Join a debate team or mock trial clubPracticing arguments and presenting cases in front of others helps you learn how courtroom proceedings work.
  • Volunteer at a local courthouse, legal aid office, or community centerSeeing real legal work up close helps you decide whether this path fits your interests.
  • Get a part-time job that builds responsibilityJobs like retail or food service teach reliability and communication, which matter in any legal career.
  • Stay on top of your gradesStrong grades in high school and college make it easier to get into a good college and then law school.

In college

  • Choose a major that builds reading and writing skillsPolitical science, history, philosophy, or English prepare you well for law school, though most majors are accepted.
  • Join a pre-law or debate societyThese groups build public speaking, argument skills, and connections with others who are interested in law.
  • Work as an intern or assistant at a law office, court, or government agencyHands-on experience shows you how cases move through the system and gives you contacts for future jobs or references.
  • Volunteer with legal aid or a community justice programHelping people with legal problems builds real-world understanding of the justice system and looks good on law school applications.
  • Prepare for the LSAT and keep your GPA strongMost law schools require the LSAT and weigh your undergraduate grades heavily, so starting early gives you time to prepare.

Tips for getting started

  • Take your debate, writing, and government classes seriously. Clear arguments and strong writing are used every day in legal work.
  • Look for summer or part-time jobs at a courthouse, law office, or legal aid group to see how the court system works up close.
  • Keep your grades strong and build good relationships with teachers and professors, because you will need recommendation letters for law school.

Related jobs that often lead here

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

  • Law Professional degree: typical pay 1 year after finishing $76,005 a year · typical debt $111,029

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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