Federal judge salaries in the United States
Federal judge salaries in the United States are determined by the United States Congress and are governed in part by the United States Constitution, depending in part on the court on which the judge sits. In particular, United States federal judges confirmed under Article III of the Constitution have compensation that "shall not be diminished during their continuance in office." Other federal judges have salaries that may be adjusted without direct constitutional constraints, however statutory schemes usually govern these salaries. Debates over judicial salaries and their increase and treatment have occurred since the ratification of the Constitution.
Compensation varies based upon the particular judgeship, though it generally increases commensurate with the office.
Article III judges
Article III federal judges are those appointed under Article III, Section 1 of the U.S Constitution. Due to the Compensation Clause, these judges are federal judges that may not have their salaries diminished during their time in office, and are appointed to indefinite terms and may not be removed unless they resign or are impeached.Supreme Court
The United States Supreme Court is the highest federal appellate court. Its members are commonly called justices.The following table lists salary increases for the justices from 1789 to present.
Appeals Court
The following is a list of salaries for judges on the United States Court of Appeals.| Year | Salary | inflation adjusted figures |
| 1891 | $6,000 | Data not available |
| 1903 | $7,000 | $ |
| 1919 | $8,500 | $ |
| 1926 | $12,500 | $ |
| 1946 | $17,500 | $ |
| 1955 | $25,500 | $ |
| 1964 | $33,000 | $ |
| 1969 | $42,500 | $ |
| 1975 | $44,600 | $ |
| 1976 | $46,800 | $ |
| 1977 | $57,500 | $ |
| 1978 | $60,700 | $ |
| 1979 | $65,000 | $ |
| 1980 | $70,900 | $ |
| 1981 | $74,300 | $ |
| 1982 | $77,300 | $ |
| 1984 | $80,400 | $ |
| 1985 | $83,200 | $ |
| 1987 | $85,700 | $ |
| 1987 | $95,000 | $ |
| 1990 | $102,500 | $ |
| 1991 | $132,700 | $ |
| 1992 | $137,300 | $ |
| 1993 | $141,700 | $ |
| 1998 | $145,000 | $ |
| 2000 | $149,900 | $ |
| 2001 | $153,900 | $ |
| 2002 | $159,100 | $ |
| 2003 | $164,000 | $ |
| 2004 | $167,600 | $ |
| 2005 | $171,800 | $ |
| 2006 | $175,100 | $ |
| 2008 | $179,500 | $ |
| 2009 | $184,500 | $ |
| 2010 | $184,500 | $ |
| 2011 | $184,500 | $ |
| 2012 | $184,500 | $ |
| 2013 | $184,500 | $ |
| 2014 | $211,200 | $ |
| 2015 | $213,300 | $ |
| 2016 | $215,400 | $ |
| 2017 | $217,600 | $ |
| 2018 | $220,600 | $ |
| 2019 | $223,700 | $ |
| 2020 | $229,500 | N/A |
District Court
The following is a table of district judge salaries in the United States. District judge salaries varied based on the state prior to 1891. They were unified in 1891.| Year | Salary | inflation adjusted figures |
| 1891 | $5,000 | $ |
| 1903 | $6,000 | $ |
| 1919 | $7,500 | $ |
| 1926 | $10,000 | $ |
| 1946 | $15,000 | $ |
| 1955 | $22,500 | $ |
| 1964 | $30,000 | $ |
| 1969 | $40,000 | $ |
| 1975 | $42,000 | $ |
| 1976 | $44,000 | $ |
| 1977 | $54,500 | $ |
| 1978 | $57,500 | $ |
| 1979 | $61,500 | $ |
| 1980 | $67,100 | $ |
| 1981 | $70,300 | $ |
| 1982 | $73,100 | $ |
| 1984 | $76,000 | $ |
| 1985 | $78,700 | $ |
| 1987 | $81,100 | $ |
| 1987 | $89,500 | $ |
| 1990 | $96,600 | $ |
| 1991 | $125,100 | $ |
| 1992 | $129,500 | $ |
| 1993 | $133,600 | $ |
| 1998 | $136,700 | $ |
| 2000 | $141,300 | $ |
| 2001 | $145,100 | $ |
| 2002 | $150,000 | $ |
| 2003 | $154,700 | $ |
| 2004 | $158,100 | $ |
| 2005 | $162,100 | $ |
| 2006 | $165,200 | $ |
| 2008 | $169,300 | $ |
| 2009 | $174,000 | $ |
| 2010 | $174,000 | $ |
| 2011 | $174,000 | $ |
| 2012 | $174,000 | $ |
| 2013 | $174,000 | $ |
| 2014 | $199,100 | $ |
| 2015 | $201,100 | $ |
| 2016 | $203,100 | $ |
| 2017 | $205,100 | $ |
| 2018 | $208,000 | $ |
| 2019 | $210,900 | $ |
| 2020 | $216,400 | N/A |