Preside over court cases, rule on law and procedure, and issue decisions and sentences.
You may also see this posted as: District Court Judge, Magistrate, Superior Court Judge, Circuit Court Judge, Circuit Judge, County Judge.
Courtrooms and chambers.
Full-time weekday schedule, sometimes long
Enterprising
leading, persuading, selling, or turning an idea into action
Conventional
organizing information, following systems, and getting details right
Social
helping, teaching, caring for, or supporting other people
O*NET job zone 5 of 5
Extensive preparation—often graduate education and significant experience—is common.
Examples employers report—not a checklist you must already know.
May 2025 BLS wage & employment 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.
Statewide medians are a better starting point than the national number. Your city and experience still matter.
Doctoral / professional degree
Training path: Law degree + license.
Related work experience: 5 years or more.
On-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training.
Most judges are licensed attorneys, and many reach the bench by election or appointment.
Licensing rules and available programs change by state. These federal tools take you to the current official listings.
A capstone legal career reached after years as a lawyer, often through election or appointment.
Run the Reality Check — build the life you want and see the salary it takes, then compare it to this one.
Browse verified internships, fellowships, and programs — many paid — that lead into fields like this.
Free resume templates, interview practice, and getting-hired guides in the Careers kit.
Standard Occupational Classification 23-1023. Pay and employment from the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey; outlook and openings from the 2024–34 employment projections; job context from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; tasks, interests, work styles, software examples, and job zone from O*NET 30.3. See something off? Tell us.