SOC 23-1023 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates — Des Moines
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
At $147,510, median pay for Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates in Des Moines, IA tracks the national median of $153,990 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $147,510, median pay for Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates in Des Moines, IA tracks the national median of $153,990 closely. Pay ranges from under $45,470 at the tenth percentile to more than $178,240 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $45,470 to $165,950.
Employment stands at 90, or 0.2 jobs per thousand held locally. Of the 508 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 19th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $45,470 | −70.5% |
| 25th | $45,470 | −70.5% |
| Median (50th) | $147,510 | −4.2% |
| 75th | $165,950 | +7.8% |
| 90th | $178,240 | +15.7% |
| Mean | $133,430 | −13.4% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Des Moines run 12.2% below the national average, so the median of $147,510 goes as far as $168,007 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 9.1% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$147,510as reported by BLSLocal price level
87.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$168,007US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $147,510 a year, 4.2% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $45,470 to $178,240 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 90 jobs in this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates in Des Moines, IA?
The median annual wage is $147,510, or $70.92 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $153,990, so pay in Des Moines, IA is 4.2% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Des Moines, IA earns more than $178,240 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $45,470 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 90 jobs in this occupation in Des Moines, IA. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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