A trial judge (juez de letras) in Chile earns between 6,547,844 and 8,382,488 Chilean pesos gross per month, depending on grade, according to the [Judiciary's pay scale](https://www.pjud.cl/docs/download/78255) in force since 1 June 2026. At the top, grades I and II, which correspond to the Supreme Court, exceed 14.7 million pesos gross per month.
A judge's pay depends on the grade of the post, not the person: each court is assigned a grade according to its rank and location. Here is the full scale, how a judge's salary in Chile is made up, how many minimum wages it equals and how to become a judge.
How much a judge earns in Chile by grade
The Judiciary's job description sheet places the general-jurisdiction trial judge in grades V to VII of the senior scale. The court secretary is in grades VII to IX. These are the amounts for those grades (Chilean pesos):
| Post | Grade | Gross monthly pay |
|---|---|---|
| Trial judge | V | 8,382,488 |
| Trial judge | VI | 7,497,024 |
| Trial judge or court secretary | VII | 6,547,844 |
| Court secretary | VIII | 5,379,322 |
| Court secretary | IX | 5,052,903 |
The amounts are from the senior staff scale for members of the public pension institute (IPS). The Judiciary publishes a separate scale for those in private pension funds (AFPs), with slightly different amounts. These are gross figures: health and pension contributions and income tax are deducted.
The Judiciary's full pay scale
| Grade | Gross monthly pay (CLP) | Equals minimum wages |
|---|---|---|
| I | 14,720,785 | 26.6 |
| II | 14,709,608 | 26.6 |
| III | 10,208,080 | 18.4 |
| IV | 9,578,589 | 17.3 |
| V | 8,382,488 | 15.1 |
| VI | 7,497,024 | 13.5 |
| VII | 6,547,844 | 11.8 |
| VIII | 5,379,322 | 9.7 |
| IX | 5,052,903 | 9.1 |
| X | 3,398,850 | 6.1 |
| XI | 2,909,860 | 5.3 |
The scale does not name the posts in each grade. Grades I and II are the only ones receiving the "leveling bonus", which the scale itself describes as an "exclusive benefit for the Justices and the Prosecutor of the Supreme Court". The minimum wage comparison is our calculation using the 553,553-peso monthly minimum in force since May 2026 (see Chile's minimum wage).
How a judge's salary is made up
The base salary is a small share of the total. The judicial allowance weighs most. This is the breakdown for a grade V judge, according to the scale:
| Component (grade V) | Monthly amount (CLP) |
|---|---|
| Base salary | 1,054,781 |
| Professional allowance | 843,825 |
| Judicial allowance | 3,769,616 |
| Modernization allowance base component | 566,822 |
| Responsibility allowance | 489,090 |
| Leveling allowance | 851,040 |
| Other bonuses and increments | 807,314 |
| Gross total | 8,382,488 |
Judges may also receive variable performance increments, institutional (7%) and collective (6%), calculated on the base salary and the professional and judicial allowances. They are paid quarterly the following year and only if the court meets its targets.
How much Supreme Court justices earn
Supreme Court justices are at the top of the scale: 14,720,785 and 14,709,608 pesos gross per month in grades I and II for IPS members. Their pay rose almost 32% after the 2023 adjustment laws, according to El Mostrador. For comparison, the president earns 11,070,064 pesos gross (how much Chile's president earns); see also how much a minister earns and how much a senator earns.
What a trial judge does
According to the Judiciary's sheet, trial courts are single-judge courts of first instance: one judge hears and decides every matter filed, over a municipality or group of municipalities, except those the law assigns to other courts. The judge also runs the court, with administrative and disciplinary powers, and supervises 5 to 15 staff. Their superior is the regional Court of Appeals.
| Post in a trial court | Career track | Grades |
|---|---|---|
| Trial judge | Primary (senior scale) | V to VII |
| Court secretary | Primary (senior scale) | VII to IX |
| Chief clerk or first officer | Staff | XI to XIII |
| Second to fourth officer | Staff | XII to XVI |
| Court room officer | Staff | XVII to XVIII |
How to become a judge in Chile
- Basic requirements: under Article 252 of the Organic Code of Courts, being Chilean, holding a law degree and completing the training program for the primary career track.
- Training program: run by the Judicial Academy, which selects candidates through a competition.
- Appointment: the president appoints judges from shortlists drawn up by the Courts of Appeals; Supreme Court justices are appointed from a list of five proposed by the Court, with Senate approval.
- Career: promotion runs through the primary track, from lower courts to Courts of Appeals and eventually the Supreme Court.
How a judge's pay in Chile compares with other posts
| Post | Approximate gross monthly pay (CLP) |
|---|---|
| Supreme Court justice (grade I) | 14.7 million |
| President of the Republic | 11.1 million |
| Trial judge (grade V) | 8.4 million |
| Trial judge (grade VII) | 6.5 million |
| Monthly minimum wage | 553,553 |
For other public salaries, see how much a police officer earns and how much a member of Congress earns. A regional ranking of heads of state is in how much Latin American presidents earn.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a trial judge earn in Chile?
Between 6,547,844 and 8,382,488 pesos gross per month, depending on grade (VII to V), according to the Judiciary's scale in force since June 2026.
How much does a Supreme Court justice earn?
About 14.7 million pesos gross per month in grades I and II of the scale, for IPS members.
Are judges' salaries gross or net?
The scale shows gross amounts. Net pay is lower after health, pension and tax deductions.
What does it take to become a judge in Chile?
Being Chilean, a lawyer, and completing the Judicial Academy's training program, under Article 252 of the Organic Code of Courts.
