CFChooseField
Legal

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.

Visual summary of pay, outlook, skills, interests, and preparation for Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates
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Median pay

$156,210
Median annual pay for Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
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10-year growth

2.5%
Projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Annual openings

900
Projected annual openings, including growth and replacement demand.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Employment

27,300
Estimated U.S. employment for Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates in 2024.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
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Jobs added or lost

+700
Projected numeric employment change from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Entry preparation

Doctoral or professional degree
Typical additional preparation: 5 years or more of related work experience; Short-term on-the-job training.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024 profile
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O*NET occupation profile

What the work involves

Strongest O*NET signals first.

Essential skills

  1. 1Active Listening
  2. 2Critical Thinking
  3. 3Reading Comprehension
  4. 4Speaking
  5. 5Writing
  6. 6Active Learning

Knowledge areas

  1. 1Law and Government
  2. 2English Language
  3. 3Administration and Management
  4. 4Psychology
  5. 5Customer and Personal Service
  6. 6Public Safety and Security

Abilities

  1. 1Deductive Reasoning
  2. 2Oral Comprehension
  3. 3Written Comprehension
  4. 4Inductive Reasoning
  5. 5Oral Expression
  6. 6Speech Clarity

Career interests

  1. 1Enterprising
  2. 2Conventional
  3. 3Social
  4. 4Investigative
  5. 5Realistic
  6. 6Artistic

Work styles

  1. 1Dependability
  2. 2Integrity
  3. 3Attention to Detail
  4. 4Self-Control
  5. 5Leadership Orientation
  6. 6Intellectual Curiosity

Work activities

  1. 1Making Decisions and Solving Problems
  2. 2Getting Information
  3. 3Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
  4. 4Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
  5. 5Processing Information
  6. 6Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge

Work context

  1. 1Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
  2. 2Freedom to Make Decisions
  3. 3Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
  4. 4Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
  5. 5Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
  6. 6E-Mail

Representative tasks

  • 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.

Software and tools

Microsoft Excel · in demandMicrosoft Office software · in demandMicrosoft Outlook · in demandAdobe Acrobat · hot technologyMicrosoft PowerPoint · hot technologyMicrosoft Word · hot technologyCourtroom scheduling softwareEmail softwareHyland OnBase Enterprise Content ManagementLexisNexisLinkedInOnline databases

Sources

BLS provides national pay, employment, and projections. O*NET provides skills, interests, preparation, tasks, work context, and tools.

ChooseField compares fields using public labor-market and professional sources.