To become a judge in the US, you'll usually earn a law degree (a Juris Doctor), spend years practicing as a licensed lawyer, then win an appointment or an election to the bench. Federal administrative law judges are a separate route: they typically need 7 years as a licensed attorney and must pass a competitive exam from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
There's no judge school you can enroll in straight from college. The bench is the far end of a legal career, and getting there often depends as much on reputation and selection as on qualifications.
The figures below come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook, read on 26 October 2026.
Judges in numbers
| Measure | BLS figure |
|---|---|
| Median pay, judges and hearing officers (May 2025) | $132,800 a year, $63.85 an hour |
| Median pay, judges, magistrate judges and magistrates | $153,990 a year |
| Median pay, administrative law judges and hearing officers | $117,860 a year |
| Jobs in 2025 | 42,700 |
| Projected growth 2025 to 2035 | 2%, slower than average |
| Openings each year | About 1,300 on average |
Those pay figures are as of October 2026. Most openings come from judges retiring or leaving, not from new seats.
How to become a judge, step by step
- Earn a bachelor's degree. Any major works. BLS says a law degree usually takes 7 years of full-time study after high school: 4 years of undergraduate study, then 3 years of law school.
- Graduate from law school with a J.D. Courses cover constitutional law, contracts, property law, civil procedure and legal writing.
- Pass the bar and get licensed. Judges typically must keep a law license and good standing with their state bar.
- Build years of legal experience. BLS lists 5 years or more of related work experience as typical. Some graduates do a 1- or 2-year judicial clerkship first.
- Get selected. Most judges and magistrates are appointed or elected, which often needs political support. Judicial nominating commissions screen candidates in many states and for some federal judgeships.
- Complete judicial training. New judges may do mock trials, mentoring and courses on judicial ethics or relations with news media, plus continuing legal education.
The selection step is the real filter
Here's what most career guides gloss over. Qualifications get you on the list, but selection gets you the job. BLS says most judges and magistrates must be appointed or elected, a process that often requires political support. Many local and state judges serve fixed, renewable terms, and those can carry mandatory retirement ages ranging from 65 to 75. Federal and some state judges are appointed for life.
That's why a clerkship, a strong courtroom record and a good name in your local bar matter so much. They're what nominating commissions and voters look at.
Not every judge needs a law degree
A J.D. is typical, but BLS notes that hearing officers, magistrates and even judges in some jurisdictions aren't required to have one. Some states let people who aren't lawyers hold limited-jurisdiction posts, such as some magistrate or hearing officer roles. Opportunities are better, though, for those with experience practicing law.
Administrative law judges: a different door
Administrative law judges, adjudicators and hearing officers decide disputes inside government agencies. They held about 17,400 jobs in 2025, and 53% of those were in state government, 31 in every 100 in the federal government and 15 in every 100 in local government. Federal administrative law judges typically need 7 years as a licensed attorney and must pass the competitive OPM exam.
Where judges work and what they earn
| Role and employer | Median pay, May 2025 |
|---|---|
| Judges and magistrates, state government | $176,500 |
| Judges and magistrates, local government | $102,460 |
| Administrative law judges, federal government | $135,700 |
| Administrative law judges, state government | $106,050 |
| Administrative law judges, local government | $94,520 |
Those figures are as of October 2026. Judges, magistrate judges and magistrates held about 25,300 jobs, with 56% in state government and the rest in local government.
The work is demanding. Judges sit for long periods giving undivided attention, may travel between courthouses, and can be on call at nights or weekends to issue emergency orders such as search warrants or restraining orders.
Getting a feel for the courtroom
If you're early in your career, time in court helps. Our guide to court transcription jobs covers one way to see proceedings up close, and if you're already practicing, these ChatGPT prompts for lawyers can take some of the drafting load off while you build your record.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
My verdict
Becoming a judge is a long game: around 7 years of study, years of practice, then a selection process you don't fully control. If it's your goal, think about it early. Aim for a clerkship, build a respected courtroom record and get involved in your state bar, because that's what nominating commissions and voters notice. If you'd like a faster, more exam-based route, look at administrative law judge roles.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to become a judge?
A law degree usually takes 7 years after high school, and BLS lists 5 years or more of legal experience as typical, so most judges reach the bench well over a decade after starting college.
Do you need to be a lawyer to be a judge?
Usually, yes. A J.D. and law license are typical, but BLS says hearing officers, magistrates and some judges in certain jurisdictions aren't required to have a law degree.
How are judges chosen in the US?
Most judges and magistrates are appointed or elected. Judicial nominating commissions screen candidates in many states and for some federal judgeships.
How much do judges make?
BLS reports a median of $153,990 a year for judges, magistrate judges and magistrates, and $132,800 for judges and hearing officers overall, in May 2025.
What is an administrative law judge?
A judge who decides cases inside government agencies. Federal administrative law judges typically need 7 years as a licensed attorney and must pass an OPM exam.
Do judges serve for life?
Federal and some state judges are appointed for life. Many local and state judges serve fixed, renewable terms, which may carry mandatory retirement ages from 65 to 75.
Does a clerkship help you become a judge?
It helps. Clerkships, usually 1- or 2-year terms, let law graduates develop the skills a legal career needs and see how judges work.
What is the job outlook for judges?
BLS projects 2% growth from 2025 to 2035, slower than average, with about 1,300 openings a year.
