Also called: Judicial Referee, Hearing Master, Family Law Commissioner
A lawyer appointed by judges to decide specific cases like child support, traffic, small claims, or restraining orders.
Commissioners work like judges, wearing robes and ruling from the bench, but they're hired rather than elected. A family law commissioner might decide a dozen child support and custody disputes in one busy day.
Often set as a percentage of trial-judge pay. Estimate.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Professional degree (MD, JD, DVM…), about 12 years after high school. J.D., bar license, and usually 5-10 years of practice.
Ways in: 4-year college, Professional school. Training cost: Over $150k.
Majors to look at: Political Science, Sociology, Criminal Justice.
Growing about average (about 3% over 10 years). BLS judges and magistrates, 2025-35.
Low risk for 10 years. AI helps prepare child support math and forms; ruling from the bench on family and small cases stays human.
Classes: AP U.S. Government, Psychology, Speech and debate, Statistics.
Official data: O*NET occupation 23-1023.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.