Preside over court cases, rule on law and procedure, and issue decisions and sentences.
Courtrooms and chambers.
Full-time weekday schedule, sometimes long
May 2024–25 BLS wage data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.
Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.
“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.
Doctoral / professional degree
Training path: Law degree + license.
Most judges are licensed attorneys, and many reach the bench by election or appointment.
A capstone legal career reached after years as a lawyer, often through election or appointment.
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Standard Occupational Classification 23-1023. Pay, employment, and outlook from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wage survey and 2024–34 employment projections). See something off? Tell us.