Salary Comparison: Judges vs. Plastic Surgeons (BLS 2021 Data)

Median Annual Wages (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2021)

Occupation	Median Annual Wage
Judges, Magistrate Judges & Magistrates	$136,900
Plastic Surgeons	$288,310

Contextual Factors

• Judges: Government pay scale; tenure; defined benefit pension; high prestige; lower variance
• Plastic Surgeons: Private practice vs. academic; cosmetic vs. reconstructive mix; high overhead; malpractice; RVU-driven; wider income range

Training Duration

• Judge: Law school (3 yr) + legal practice (typically 10+ yr) → appointment/election
• Plastic Surgeon: Med school (4) + Gen Surg (5–6) + Plastics (3) = 12–13 yr post-college

Note

2021 data; current figures likely higher for both. Medscape 2023: Plastic Surgery avg $576K; Judicial salaries set by statute.