Judges' salaries vary depending on the level and jurisdiction of the court. Here are some examples of judge salaries in the United States for 2025:
- Federal Judges:
- District Judges: $247,400
- Circuit Judges: $262,300
- Associate Justices of the Supreme Court: $303,600
- Chief Justice of the Supreme Court: $317,500
- State Judges (Ohio example):
- Chief Justice: $203,575
- Justice: $191,092
- Court of Appeals Judges: $178,108
- Common Pleas Judges: $163,792
- Maryland Judges:
- District Court Judge: $191,333
- Chief Judge, District Court: $213,633
- Circuit Court Judge: $204,433
- Justice, Supreme Court of Maryland: $226,433
- Chief Justice, Supreme Court of Maryland: $245,433
- California State Bar Court Judges (for part of 2025):
- Presiding Judge: up to $280,052
- Hearing Judge: $244,727 to $280,052
In general, judges typically earn between approximately $150,000 to over $300,000 a year depending on their court and role. Federal judges tend to have higher salaries than state judges. This range gives a good overview of how much judges make as of 2025 in the United States.
