⚖️ How much does a US Supreme Court justice make?
Most U.S. Supreme Court justices, and a typical full-time justice, make $306,600 a year. The Chief Justice makes $320,700.
Pay is set by official salary schedules: nearly all justices get one fixed rate, and the Chief Justice gets a higher rate.
US Most people, typical, the top
| Who | Yearly earnings | Based on |
|---|---|---|
| Most Supreme Court justices (associate justices) | $306,600 | U.S. Courts 2026 salary table |
| The Chief Justice | $320,700 | U.S. Courts 2026 salary table |
US federal judges and Supreme Court justices: salaries
Supreme Court justices are paid a salary set by Congress, with the Chief Justice paid a little more. Lower federal judges are shown for comparison.
Highest: Chief Justice of the United States at $320,700. Lowest: U.S. District Court Judge at $249,900. Average of 4: $285,525.
| Place | Yearly salary | Notes and source |
|---|---|---|
| Chief Justice of the United States | $320,700 | 2026 salary U.S. Courts, Judicial Compensation |
| Associate Justice of the Supreme Court | $306,600 | 2026 salary, same for each Associate Justice U.S. Courts, Judicial Compensation |
| U.S. Court of Appeals Circuit Judge | $264,900 | 2026 salary U.S. Courts, Judicial Compensation |
| U.S. District Court Judge | $249,900 | 2026 salary U.S. Courts, Judicial Compensation |
As of 2026-10-04
Per month and per day
| Who | Per month | Per day (÷365) |
|---|---|---|
| Most Supreme Court justices (associate justices) | $25,550 | $840 |
| The Chief Justice | $26,725 | $879 |
Where does the money come from?
- Annual salary: The U.S. Courts lists an annual salary for associate justices and the Chief Justice. Source
- Teaching pay: Justices may be paid for certain teaching, subject to ethics rules and limits. Source
- Retirement annuity: Eligible retired justices may receive a lifetime annuity equal to their salary when they retired. Source
How pay changes with experience
| Stage | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Justice | $306,600 Estimate | 2026 U.S. Courts judicial compensation table. (Source) |
| Chief Justice | $320,700 Estimate | 2026 U.S. Courts judicial compensation table. (Source) |
What famous US Supreme Court justices make
| Who | Amount |
|---|---|
| ⚖️ John G. Roberts Jr. Chief Justice of the United States | $320,700 (2026) The U.S. Chief Justice's salary is fixed by law at $320,700 a year. |
| ⚖️ Clarence Thomas U.S. Supreme Court Justice | $306,600 (2026) Justice Thomas's salary is set at $306,600 a year. |
How do you become a US Supreme Court justice?
The U.S. Constitution sets no required age, degree, profession, or law license for a Supreme Court Justice. Many nominees have legal training and experience, but these are not formal requirements. The President nominates a person, the Senate confirms, and the President appoints them.
- Study law (helpful, but not required).
- Build legal experience, a common path but not a formal requirement.
- Be nominated by the U.S. President.
- The Senate confirms the nominee, and the President appoints them.
Qualifications and exams
The U.S. Constitution sets no age, education, profession, or law-license requirement. Appointment requires presidential nomination and Senate confirmation.
A day as a US Supreme Court justice
On argument days, justices listen to lawyers and ask questions about the cases. They read case records, discuss cases in private meetings, write opinions, and choose which cases to hear.
Common questions
What do U.S. associate justices earn in 2026?
In 2026, an associate justice's annual salary is $306,600, according to the U.S. Courts salary table. Source
What is the Chief Justice's 2026 salary?
The Chief Justice's annual salary in 2026 is $320,700, according to the U.S. Courts salary table. Source
Can a justice earn money for speeches?
Justices cannot accept pay for an appearance or speech. They may be paid for certain teaching at an accredited school or educational program, subject to rules and limits. Source
Can a retired justice keep receiving pay?
Yes. A justice may retire at age 65 with 15 years of service, or at age 70 with 10 years. The lifetime annuity equals the salary at retirement. Source
This section summarizes public sources. We only show numbers that have a source.
Close jobs in official statistics
In Japan
Japan Most people, typical, the top
| Who | Yearly earnings | Based on |
|---|---|---|
| Most Supreme Court justices | $122,240 | Official 2026 salary table ×12 |
| The Chief Justice | $167,600 | Official 2026 salary table ×12 |
Related questions
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Data table and sources
- www.uscourts.gov/about-federal-courts/about-federal-judges/judicial-compensation
- www.fjc.gov/history/judges/judicial-salaries-supreme-court-justices
- www.courts.go.jp/assets/db2026_103.pdf
- laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/323AC0000000075
- www.supremecourt.gov/about/faq_general.aspx
- www.supremecourt.gov/about/procedures.aspx
- uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?edition=prelim&req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title28-se
- www.supremecourt.gov/about/Code-of-Conduct-for-Justices_November_13_2023.pdf
- www.uscourts.gov/about-federal-courts/about-federal-judges/authorized-judgeships
- www.congress.gov/crs-product/R44235
- The Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court earns $320,700 a year. (US Courts (uscourts.gov))
- A US Supreme Court justice, other than the Chief Justice, earns $306,600 a year. (US Courts (uscourts.gov))