SalaryExplorer

SOC 23-1023 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS

Judges, Magistrate Judges, and MagistratesNashville

Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN · 3 metro areas compared

$218,190 /year
$104.90per hour
200jobs in area
+41.7%vs US median

The median wage for Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates in Nashville, TN is $218,190 per year, well above the national median of $153,990.

Wage distribution · annual

Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners

US MEDIAN $153,99010TH$113,83025TH$202,010MEDIAN$218,190

Salary overview

The median wage for Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates in Nashville, TN is $218,190 per year, well above the national median of $153,990. The gap of 41.7% is among the widest recorded for this occupation. Pay ranges from under $113,830 at the tenth percentile to more than $225,980 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $202,010 to $218,190.

Employment stands at 200, or 0.2 jobs per thousand held locally. Knoxville leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $148,580. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 9th of 609 by median pay.

Percentile breakdown

Annual wages by percentile · Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN · May 2025
PercentileAnnualvs US median
10th$113,830−26.1%
25th$202,010+31.2%
Median (50th)$218,190+41.7%
75th$218,190+41.7%
90th$225,980+46.7%
Mean$196,660+27.7%

Other metro areas in Tennessee

Median annual wage for Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates, by metro area
#Metro areaMedianJobsRelative
1Knoxville$148,58040
2Memphis$124,87040
3Chattanooga$107,67040

What the pay is worth locally

Prices in Nashville run 8.1% below the national average, so the median of $218,190 goes as far as $237,421 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 54.2% above the national median in real terms.

Published median

$218,190as reported by BLS

Local price level

91.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024

Adjusted for local prices

$237,421US average = 100 · BEA 2024

Key takeaways

  • Median pay is $218,190 a year, 41.7% above the national median.
  • Published pay spans $113,830 to $225,980 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
  • The area has 200 jobs in this occupation.
  • The highest-paying metro area covered is Knoxville, at $148,580.

Frequently asked questions

What is the median wage for Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates in Nashville, TN?

The median annual wage is $218,190, or $104.90 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 Nashville, TN is 41.7% higher. 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 Nashville, TN earns more than $225,980 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.

What is the starting range?

The tenth percentile wage is $113,830 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.

Which area nearby pays the most?

The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Knoxville, at $148,580 per year.

How many jobs are there in this occupation here?

The survey estimates 200 jobs in this occupation in Nashville, TN. 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.

Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates in Nashville, TN Earn $218,190 — 41.7% Above Average (2025) | Salary Explorer