How much does a NYS county Judge get paid?
Asked by: Gia Olson | Last update: January 26, 2026Score: 4.7/5 (8 votes)
NYS County Judge salaries vary significantly by county, but generally fall in the $120,000 to over $200,000 range as of recent data, with higher pay in more populous counties like Westchester (around $136,700 as of 2014) and lower in some upstate areas. A 2024 pay bulletin indicated state judges' salaries could reach around $232,600 with recent adjustments, while salary aggregators show averages for all judges in NY around $129,000, reflecting diverse roles.
How much does a NY state judge make?
New York judge salaries vary significantly by court, with State Supreme Court Justices earning around $232,600 and Court of Claims judges earning $208,000 (plus $219,200 for the Presiding Judge) as of recent updates, while other roles like Federal Judges and various County Judges have different scales, with general averages fluctuating but often showing figures in the $100k-$200k+ range depending on jurisdiction and seniority.
Do judges get paid more than lawyers?
Depends on what the lawyer did before running for (or being appointed) judge. If they worked for the government (prosecutor to judge is a fairly common pipeline), then they will make more as a judge. If they were in private practice (especially in a large firm), it will be a substantial pay cut.
How much do town justices make in NY?
As of Jan 3, 2026, the average annual pay for a Town Justice in New York is $86,348 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $41.51 an hour.
Which judge gets paid the most?
The highest-paid judge in the U.S. federal system is the Chief Justice of the United States, earning $312,200 annually as of 2024, followed by Supreme Court Associate Justices at $298,500, while Judge Judy (Judy Sheindlin) earned significantly more ($47 million/year) in her television role before retiring, highlighting that entertainment judges far out-earn public officials.
Man Singlehandedly Dismantles Case Against Him in Court
What is a judge's average salary?
Average base salary
The average salary for a judge is $160,821 per year in California. 34 salaries taken from job postings on Indeed in the past 36 months (updated December 9, 2025).
What is the president's salary?
The U.S. President receives a $400,000 annual salary, a rate set in 2001, plus a $50,000 expense account for official duties, a $100,000 non-taxable travel account, and $19,000 for entertainment, along with perks like housing, healthcare, and security, though some presidents donate their salary.
Do you have to be a lawyer to be a Judge in NY?
Town and village court justices are the only judges in New York State who do not have to be lawyers admitted to the practice of law. Of the roughly 1,830 presently in office, approximately 700 have gone to law school.
What state pays judges the least?
The lowest-paid general jurisdiction judges in 2023, according to the report, were in Puerto Rico, which ranked 55th with an annual salary of $89,600, followed by Northern Mariana, ranked 54th at $120,000, and West Virginia, which was ranked 53rd with $132,300.
What is the salary of a local Judge?
Average Judge Salary In India
In India, a judge will have an average earning of ₹250,000 (Supreme Court judges) to ₹44,840 per month (lower judiciary). The wages vary according to courts, states, and positions. House rent, travel and medical benefits are also allowances to the total compensation.
Do judges get salary for life?
(a) Any justice or judge of the United States appointed to hold office during good behavior may retire from the office after attaining the age and meeting the service requirements, whether continuous or otherwise, of subsection (c) and shall, during the remainder of his lifetime, receive an annuity equal to the salary ...
Can I be a judge without a law degree?
Not every type of judgeship requires that you get a law degree and become a lawyer. But if you want to qualify to become a judge in a higher court, you must attend an American Bar Association (ABA) accredited law school and get a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree.
Do lawyers make $500,000 a year?
Yes, many lawyers earn $500,000 or more annually, especially Big Law partners, senior corporate counsel, specialized litigators, and successful solo practitioners in high-value fields like IP or medical malpractice, though this is not the norm for all attorneys, with median salaries being much lower. Reaching this income level requires specialization, strategic business growth, marketing, and often working in major markets, with top-tier law firms (Big Law) offering high starting salaries and significant bonuses that can push senior associates past the $500K mark.
How long does it take to become a judge in NY?
The judicial selection process is extensive and challenging. Although the time involved can vary depending on available vacancies, the complete process could take up to 8 months from initial evaluation to judicial appointment.
Which type of judge makes the most money?
The judges who make the most money are typically Federal Judges, especially the Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, followed by Associate Justices, with significant salaries also for Federal Circuit and District Judges, though state-level appellate and supreme court justices, and some specialized roles like Administrative Patent Judges, can also earn very high incomes, depending on the jurisdiction and specific court.
What is the top pay for a NYS court officer?
While ZipRecruiter is seeing salaries as high as $87,523 and as low as $20,787, the majority of Court Officer salaries currently range between $43,200 (25th percentile) to $72,200 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $80,411 annually in New York.
Why do judges retire at 70?
Requiring judges to retire at age 70, or at any particular age, is rooted in the idea that litigants are entitled to mentally competent judges. While there is no exact correlation between age and mental competency, there is a general correlation between the two.
In which states can you be a judge without being a lawyer?
Thirty-one states have some courts where judges do not have to be a lawyer (Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South ...
What is the salary of a US senator?
A U.S. Senator's base salary is $174,000 per year, a rate unchanged since 2009, though leaders (Majority/Minority Leaders, President pro tempore) earn more, around $193,400 annually, with additional allowances for staff and office expenses. Their compensation includes health and retirement benefits, and they can have substantial other incomes, as many come from successful careers in business or law before entering politics.
Did Michelle Obama pass the bar?
Yes, Michelle Obama did pass the Illinois bar exam, but she failed it on her first attempt after graduating from Harvard Law School before passing it on her second try, later becoming a licensed attorney in Illinois and having a successful legal career before becoming First Lady. She was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1989 and went on to work in intellectual property law at a firm where she met her husband, Barack Obama.
Is becoming a judge harder than a lawyer?
Yes, becoming a judge is generally much harder than becoming a lawyer because it requires years of successful legal practice, navigating political hurdles (election or appointment), and facing intense competition for a limited number of spots, whereas becoming a lawyer primarily requires law school and passing the bar exam, making the path to judgeship a significantly more difficult, specialized, and selective career progression.
How old is the youngest judge?
At just 25, Jasmine Twitty made history in 2015 by becoming the youngest municipal court judge in U.S. history when she was appointed in Easley, South Carolina.
Does the first lady get a salary?
No, the First Lady does not get paid a salary, as the role is unofficial, not an elected or statutory government position, but she receives perks like White House residency, security, and a staff (paid for by taxpayers) to support her duties, which have evolved from purely social to include policy and public engagement. While she earns no direct income for the role, her support staff's salaries are covered, and she may sometimes engage in paid work (like Dr. Jill Biden's teaching) but often don't, as it's seen as a full-time, unpaid "office of honor".
Which President was never actually elected?
The only U.S. President never elected to the presidency or vice presidency was Gerald R. Ford, who became President in 1974 after Richard Nixon's resignation and Spiro Agnew's earlier resignation, assuming office under the 25th Amendment and later losing the 1976 election. While other presidents (Tyler, Fillmore, Johnson, Arthur) also never won a presidential election, Ford uniquely served as President without being elected to either the Presidency or the Vice Presidency.
How much does Donald Trump make a year?
Trump's 2024 assets were valued at $1.6 billion or more, and his income that year was over $600 million. Income sources included crypto, golf clubs, and licensing. This was revealed in a public financial disclosure on June 13, 2025.