The President only earns $400k per year. His job is more demanding than any CEO I can think of. But he's not in it for the money, he is a public servant.
Likewise, $165K is a respectable salary and plenty to have decent lifestyle in the DC area. If they need more than that, we don't need them.
Decent, sure. Great, no.
I think the issue is that without sufficient pay, WHO becomes a judge?
The people who either A-are independently wealthy, or, B-are not very successful as private lawyers, or C-are too lazy to become successfull lawyers. B and C would make more in the private sector, and A isn't exactly the "common man" as most people would say.