Best programs to become a judge
BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry-level education for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates. It also expects 5 years or more of related work experience. The field of study that leads most directly to this job is Law (IPEDS completions).
1 college program at 210 schools trains judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates, graduating 36,920 people a year (IPEDS completions). The job pays a median of $153,990 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
About 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.
Best programs to study to become a judge
Ranked by graduates per year (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are College Scorecard figures for people who finished the program, reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. That is a different measurement from the occupation-wide wages further down this page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CIP 22.0101 | 36,920 | 100.0% | 210 | — | — |
Top 50 schools by graduates into this job
Counting every feeder program a school offers, not just its largest one.
| # | School | Graduates / yr | Top feeder program | Grad rate | Net price | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgetown University Washington, DC Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 703 | Law | 95% | $22,242 | 13% |
| 2 | Harvard University Cambridge, MA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 603 | Law | 98% | $15,013 | 4% |
| 3 | George Washington University Washington, DC Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 569 | Law | 84% | $29,789 | 47% |
| 4 | Suffolk University Boston, MA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 487 | Law | 61% | $28,895 | 82% |
| 5 | Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 457 | Law | 96% | $15,315 | 4% |
| 6 | Fordham University Bronx, NY Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 420 | Law | 82% | $38,931 | 59% |
| 7 | New York University New York, NY Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 417 | Law | 88% | $29,023 | 9% |
| 8 | American University Washington, DC Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 401 | Law | 75% | $30,225 | 62% |
| 9 | University of Miami Coral Gables, FL Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 383 | Law | 84% | $26,589 | 19% |
| 10 | Brooklyn Law School Brooklyn, NY Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 355 | Law | — | — | — |
| 11 | University of California College of the Law - San Francisco San Francisco, CA Public · 1 feeder program | 355 | Law | — | — | — |
| 12 | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI Public · 1 feeder program | 343 | Law | 93% | — | 16% |
| 13 | University of California - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA Public · 1 feeder program | 330 | Law | 93% | — | 9% |
| 14 | Mitchell Hamline School of Law Saint Paul, MN Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 329 | Law | — | — | — |
| 15 | New England Law - Boston Boston, MA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 327 | Law | — | — | — |
| 16 | South Texas College of Law Houston Houston, TX Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 325 | Law | — | — | — |
| 17 | New York Law School New York, NY Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 312 | Law | — | — | — |
| 18 | Widener University Chester, PA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 312 | Law | 68% | $29,049 | 71% |
| 19 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX Public · 1 feeder program | 307 | Law | 89% | — | 27% |
| 20 | Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles, CA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 305 | Law | 79% | $36,488 | 45% |
| 21 | University of Virginia - Main Campus Charlottesville, VA Public · 1 feeder program | 304 | Law | 96% | — | 17% |
| 22 | Yeshiva University New York, NY Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 303 | Law | 83% | $39,696 | 56% |
| 23 | Northwestern University Evanston, IL Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 292 | Law | 95% | $14,799 | 8% |
| 24 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZ Public · 1 feeder program | 290 | Law | 68% | — | 90% |
| 25 | Southwestern Law School Los Angeles, CA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 289 | Law | — | — | — |
| 26 | Stetson University DeLand, FL Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 289 | Law | 62% | $21,948 | 72% |
| 27 | University of Denver Denver, CO Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 286 | Law | 76% | $29,726 | 78% |
| 28 | University of California - Berkeley Berkeley, CA Public · 1 feeder program | 283 | Law | 93% | — | 11% |
| 29 | University of Houston Houston, TX Public · 1 feeder program | 283 | Law | 65% | — | 74% |
| 30 | University of Illinois Chicago Chicago, IL Public · 1 feeder program | 277 | Law | 62% | — | 77% |
| 31 | Washington University in St Louis St. Louis, MO Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 274 | Law | 94% | $14,126 | 12% |
| 32 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago, IL Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 263 | Law | 73% | $33,454 | 82% |
| 33 | Pace University New York, NY Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 261 | Law | 60% | $29,994 | 76% |
| 34 | Hofstra University Hempstead, NY Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 260 | Law | 69% | $34,539 | 68% |
| 35 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 254 | Law | 97% | $22,055 | 5% |
| 36 | University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WI Public · 1 feeder program | 252 | Law | 90% | — | 45% |
| 37 | St. John's University - New York Queens, NY Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 249 | Law | 66% | $27,359 | 83% |
| 38 | Barry University Miami, FL Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 241 | Law | 38% | $24,719 | 77% |
| 39 | University of San Diego San Diego, CA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 234 | Law | 84% | $26,035 | 52% |
| 40 | Southern University and A & M College Baton Rouge, LA Public · 1 feeder program | 231 | Law | 27% | — | 35% |
| 41 | Duke University Durham, NC Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 230 | Law | 97% | $16,260 | 6% |
| 42 | Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago, IL Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 230 | Law | 75% | $19,899 | 55% |
| 43 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 229 | Law | 92% | $26,873 | 10% |
| 44 | Southern Methodist University Dallas, TX Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 225 | Law | 84% | $33,246 | 63% |
| 45 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN Public · 1 feeder program | 222 | Law | 85% | — | 80% |
| 46 | Pennsylvania State University - Main Campus University Park, PA Public · 1 feeder program | 221 | Law | 86% | — | 61% |
| 47 | Emory University Atlanta, GA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 220 | Law | 91% | $20,586 | 11% |
| 48 | Michigan State University East Lansing, MI Public · 1 feeder program | 220 | Law | 81% | — | 85% |
| 49 | Boston University Boston, MA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 215 | Law | 89% | $21,956 | 11% |
| 50 | University of Chicago Chicago, IL Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 215 | Law | 96% | $13,333 | 4% |
Fields of study that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level, the tier our program pages are built on. Numbers are graduates per year.
What judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates earn
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
Top-paying states
Top-paying metro areas
Job outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.
Where the jobs are, state by state
Pick a state for in-state pay, the schools there, and the programs they run.
| State | Median pay | Jobs | Concentration | Schools | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $216,390 | 2,270 | 1.51× | 15 | 4,110 |
| Massachusetts | $221,710 | 610 | 1.08× | 8 | 2,090 |
| Florida | $186,040 | 1,380 | 0.90× | 11 | 2,037 |
| Texas | $139,990 | 2,770 | 1.27× | 10 | 2,016 |
| Pennsylvania | $110,580 | — | — | 8 | 1,562 |
| Virginia | $104,000 | 1,270 | 2.00× | 8 | 1,143 |
| Ohio | $95,260 | 1,720 | 2.01× | 9 | 1,058 |
| Michigan | $51,210 | 570 | 0.83× | 6 | 1,035 |
| Georgia | $133,660 | 1,190 | 1.57× | 5 | 834 |
| Louisianamoderate | $83,040 | 180 | 0.59× | 4 | 816 |
| Minnesotamoderate | $190,110 | 590 | 1.30× | 3 | 698 |
| Missourimoderate | — | 600 | 1.32× | 4 | 690 |
| Indianamoderate | $183,000 | 790 | 1.59× | 4 | 643 |
| Tennessee | $208,350 | 420 | 0.83× | 5 | 613 |
| Washingtonmoderate | $134,270 | 1,040 | 1.90× | 3 | 592 |
| New Jerseymoderate | $204,160 | 920 | 1.39× | 3 | 573 |
| Connecticutmoderate | $217,760 | 230 | 0.88× | 3 | 479 |
| Coloradomoderate | $198,790 | 620 | 1.39× | 3 | 461 |
| Wisconsinlimited | $76,620 | 130 | 0.30× | 2 | 426 |
| Marylandlimited | $172,190 | 170 | 0.40× | 2 | 412 |
| South Carolinalimited | $86,210 | 670 | 1.87× | 2 | 404 |
| Oregonmoderate | $166,400 | 40 | 0.14× | 3 | 403 |
| Arizonalimited | $93,280 | 590 | 1.18× | 2 | 385 |
| Alabamamoderate | $52,850 | 560 | 1.73× | 3 | 362 |
| Kentuckymoderate | $150,650 | 370 | 1.19× | 3 | 332 |
| Mississippilimited | $49,960 | 360 | 2.00× | 2 | 282 |
| Iowalimited | $147,510 | 410 | 1.68× | 2 | 276 |
| Nebraskalimited | $208,180 | 160 | 1.03× | 2 | 254 |
| Arkansaslimited | — | 240 | 1.20× | 2 | 245 |
| Kansaslimited | $148,910 | 420 | 1.91× | 2 | 222 |
| Utahlimited | $92,780 | 100 | 0.37× | 2 | 219 |
| Rhode Islandlimited | $239,760 | 120 | 1.53× | 1 | 170 |
| Idaholimited | $172,920 | 250 | 1.91× | 1 | 135 |
| Vermontlimited | $194,170 | 80 | 1.71× | 1 | 132 |
| Nevadalimited | $166,360 | 90 | 0.37× | 1 | 119 |
| New Mexicolimited | $205,400 | 250 | 1.83× | 1 | 102 |
| Hawaiilimited | $211,810 | 120 | 1.22× | 1 | 101 |
| West Virginialimited | $63,240 | 350 | 3.20× | 1 | 91 |
| Mainelimited | $161,470 | 100 | 0.97× | 1 | 87 |
| Montanalimited | $84,630 | 70 | 0.90× | 1 | 81 |
| North Dakotalimited | $171,100 | 130 | 1.90× | 1 | 73 |
Skills and knowledge
From O*NET, the U.S. Department of Labor's occupational database. Importance is a 1 to 5 scale.
What they do day to day
- 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.
Skills
- Active Listening5.0
- Critical Thinking4.9
- Reading Comprehension4.3
- Writing4.1
- Speaking4.1
- Active Learning4.0
- Monitoring3.9
- Learning Strategies2.8
Knowledge areas
- Law and Government4.9
- English Language4.5
- Administration and Management3.6
- Psychology3.4
- Customer and Personal Service3.3
- Public Safety and Security3.1
Abilities
- Oral Comprehension4.6
- Deductive Reasoning4.6
- Written Comprehension4.4
- Inductive Reasoning4.3
- Oral Expression4.3
- Speech Clarity4.1
Core activities
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems4.9
- Getting Information4.8
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public4.6
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards4.5
- Processing Information4.4
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge4.2
How to get in
How to become a judge
- Typical entry education
- Doctoral or professional degree
- Work experience needed
- 5 years or more
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Every major mapped to this job
The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.
All 1 majors mapped to Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates1 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
- 22.0101Law
Related careers
Jobs O*NET identifies as close to this one, with their own pay and outlook.
Common questions
What degree do you need to become a judge?+
BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry-level education for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates. It also expects 5 years or more of related work experience. The field of study that leads most directly to this job is Law (IPEDS completions).
Which college majors lead to becoming a judge?+
The field of study that leads most directly to this job is Law (IPEDS completions). In all, the NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 1 program to this job, which graduates about 36,920 people a year.
How much do judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates earn?+
The median is $153,990 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). The middle range runs from $46,950 at the 10th percentile to $221,710 at the 90th. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.
Is demand for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates growing?+
BLS projects a +2.5% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, about as fast as average, with roughly 900 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.
How many schools offer programs for this career?+
210 institutions reported graduates from at least one of the 1 program that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.
What other job titles do judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates work under?+
Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Judge, Magistrate, District Court Judge, Superior Court Judge among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 23-1023.
About the data on this page
Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024-25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).
BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics
May 2025Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.
BLS Employment Projections
2024–34Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.
IPEDS Completions
2024-25 (provisional)Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.
College Scorecard, Field of Study
2020-21 cohortsMedian graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.
Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes
latest availableGraduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.
NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk
CIP 2020 / SOC 2018Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.
O*NET Database 30.3
30.3Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.
Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA
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