Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates Salary in Columbia, SC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Columbia, SC

Median annual salary $99,240 -36.5% vs national
Median hourly $47.71
10th percentile $44,990
90th percentile $218,380
Employed locally 110
National median $156,210

Compare Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Columbia, SC stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates
in
Columbia, SC
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $44,990
    25th
    $72,610
    50th (median)
    $99,240
    75th
    $207,180
    90th
    $218,380

    Columbia economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $66,146 2023 • Census ACS
    Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates salary vs area income 150% Median Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates salary is 50% above the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $229,760
    Longview-Kelso, WA $224,040
    Worcester, MA $221,710
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $221,710
    Massachusetts $221,710
    Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $218,190

    Nearby metros — Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $168,530
    Spartanburg, SC $122,990
    Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC $102,340
    Charleston-North Charleston, SC $93,220
    Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ $89,990
    Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC $84,000

    Related occupations in Columbia, SC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Lawyers $103,000
    Paralegals and Legal Assistants $49,730
    Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers $48,100
    Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers $74,690
    Legal Support Workers, All Other $54,290
    Judicial Law Clerks $73,490

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates make per hour in Columbia?

    The median hourly wage for Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates in Columbia, SC is $47.71, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $101.85 or more per hour.

    Is Columbia above or below average for Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates salaries?

    The median Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates salary in Columbia, SC is 36.5% below the national median of $156,210. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates in Columbia?

    Entry-level Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates (10th percentile) earn around $44,990 per year in Columbia, SC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $72,610.