Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers earn a median of $117,860 per year ($56.67/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 0.0% through 2035, with about 500 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Doctoral or professional degree.
- SOC 23-1021
- Legal
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Administrative Law Judge, Adjudicator, and Hearing Officer in four numbers
- Median pay
- $117,860a year, or $56.67/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $61KTop 10% $207K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- 0.0%Slower than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career0%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career 0% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 50017,400 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202517.4K
- Projected 203517.4K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 17.4K Projected 2035 17.4K - Typical education
- Doctorateneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Some college11.2%
- Associate's11.2%
- Bachelor's20%
- Professional degree13.8%
- Doctorate37.3%
- Post-doctoral training5.1%
Highest education held by administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers Segment Value Some college 11.2% Associate's 11.2% Bachelor's 20% Professional degree 13.8% Doctorate 37.3% Post-doctoral training 5.1%
Also advertised as: Adjudications Specialist, Adjudicator, Administrative Hearings Officer, Administrative Judge, Administrative Law Judge, Appeals Examiner.
Pay
How much do Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers make?
Every administrative law judge, adjudicator, and hearing officer in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$117,860
Middle half earn $81,140 to $159,680
- 10th
- $61,110
- 25th
- $81,140
- 75th
- $159,680
- 90th
- $207,480
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $61,110 |
| 25th | $81,140 |
| Median | $117,860 |
| 75th | $159,680 |
| 90th | $207,480 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $117,860
- Median hourly wage
- $56.67/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $125,990
- People employed
- 16,370
Versus all US occupations
At $117,860, Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers earn 131% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $66,880 a year.
Versus legal occupations
Inside the Legal group, where the middle occupation pays $159,670, this is 26% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $207,480 or more while the bottom 10% earn $61,110, a gap of 3.4×. That is an unusually wide spread, which usually tracks specialisation, employer type and years of experience.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 84% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
District of Columbia pays the most at $181,060, and still leads at $164,748 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1District of Columbia | $181,060 | $164,748 | 300 |
| 2Indiana | $145,290 | $155,675 | 70 |
| 3Alabama | $134,810 | $151,774 | 70 |
| 4Maryland | $133,460 | $127,154 | 430 |
| 5Wisconsin | $132,250 | $140,549 | 60 |
| 6North Carolina | $129,960 | $137,777 | 260 |
| 7Missouri | $129,670 | $142,782 | 160 |
| 8New Jersey | $128,320 | $117,936 | 330 |
| 9Michigan | $127,420 | $132,430 | 390 |
| 10Kansas | $126,570 | $140,527 | 40 |
Job outlook
Is Administrative Law Judge, Adjudicator, and Hearing Officer a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Slower than average. 0.0% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | 0% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Slower than average
BLS projects employment of Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers to change 0.0% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 0 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 500 openings are projected each year, 2.9% of the 17,400 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of judges and hearing officers is projected to show little or no change from 2025 to 2035.
Despite limited employment growth, about 1,300 openings for judges and hearing officers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Projected employment of judges and hearing officers varies by occupation (see table).
Getting in
How to become an Administrative Law Judge, Adjudicator, and Hearing Officer
Judges and hearing officers typically need a law degree and work experience as a lawyer. However, specific requirements may vary.
Most judges and magistrates must be appointed or elected to their positions, a process that often requires political support. Many local and state judges are appointed to serve fixed, renewable terms that may have mandatory retirement ages ranging from 65 to 75. Federal and some state judges are appointed for life. Judicial nominating commissions screen candidates for judgeships in many states and for some federal judgeships.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Doctoral or professional degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
5 years or more
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Considerable preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers.
- Doctoral Degree37.3%
- Bachelor's Degree20%
- First Professional Degree13.8%
- Some College Courses11.2%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree11.2%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Doctoral Degree | 37.3% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 20% |
| First Professional Degree | 13.8% |
| Some College Courses | 11.2% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 11.2% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does an Administrative Law Judge, Adjudicator, and Hearing Officer do?
Conduct hearings to recommend or make decisions on claims concerning government programs or other government-related matters. Determine liability, sanctions, or penalties, or recommend the acceptance or rejection of claims or settlements.
Judges and hearing officers oversee legal matters in court or administrative proceedings. They may conduct pretrial hearings, facilitate negotiations between opposing parties, and issue legal decisions.
Day-to-day tasks
- Prepare written opinions and decisions.
- Rule on exceptions, motions, and admissibility of evidence.
- Monitor and direct the activities of trials and hearings to ensure that they are conducted fairly and that courts administer justice while safeguarding the legal rights of all involved parties.
- Conduct hearings to review and decide claims regarding issues, such as social program eligibility, environmental protection, or enforcement of health and safety regulations.
- Research and analyze laws, regulations, policies, and precedent decisions to prepare for hearings and to determine conclusions.
- Issue subpoenas and administer oaths in preparation for formal hearings.
- Determine existence and amount of liability according to current laws, administrative and judicial precedents, and available evidence.
- Explain to claimants how they can appeal rulings that go against them.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most judges and hearing officers work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week. Some courthouses have evening and weekend hours. In addition, judges may have to be on call during nights or weekends to issue emergency orders, such as search warrants or restraining orders.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeSeated for more than half the working day.
Standing
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Where administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers work
Share of jobs by employer type
- State government, excluding education and hospitals53%
- Federal government31%
- Local government, excluding education and hospitals15%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| State government, excluding education and hospitals | 53% |
| Federal government | 31% |
| Local government, excluding education and hospitals | 15% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension4.5
- Active Listening4.5
- Critical Thinking4.5
- Writing4.3
- Speaking4.1
- Active Learning4.0
- Monitoring3.9
- Learning Strategies3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.5 |
| Active Listening | 4.5 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.5 |
| Writing | 4.3 |
| Speaking | 4.1 |
| Active Learning | 4.0 |
| Monitoring | 3.9 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Judgment and Decision Making4.3
- Social Perceptiveness4.0
- Complex Problem Solving3.9
- Time Management3.4
- Negotiation3.1
- Coordination3.0
- Persuasion3.0
- Instructing2.9
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Judgment and Decision Making | 4.3 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 4.0 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.9 |
| Time Management | 3.4 |
| Negotiation | 3.1 |
| Coordination | 3.0 |
| Persuasion | 3.0 |
| Instructing | 2.9 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Information retrieval or search software
- Internet browser software
- Legal management software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits an Administrative Law Judge, Adjudicator, and Hearing Officer?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Administrative Law Judge, Adjudicator, and Hearing Officer |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 1 |
| Investigative | 4 |
| Artistic | 2 |
| Social | 3 |
| Enterprising | 5 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around organising, following procedures and working precisely with data, combined with leading, persuading, selling and making decisions.
- Conventional5.5
- Enterprising5.1
- Investigative4.0
- Social3.0
- Artistic1.7
- Realistic1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Administrative Law Judge, Adjudicator, and Hearing Officer
O*NET related occupations
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More legal careers
Median annual pay, with administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers highlighted
- Lawyer$159,670
- BigLaw Equity Partner$159,670
- Non-Equity Partner$159,670
- BigLaw Senior Associate$159,670
- Public Company General Counsel$159,670
- Mergers and Acquisitions Attorney$159,670
- Judge$153,990
- Administrative Law Judge, Adjudicator, and Hearing Officer$117,860
- Paralegal$62,890
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Lawyer | $159,670 |
| BigLaw Equity Partner | $159,670 |
| Non-Equity Partner | $159,670 |
| BigLaw Senior Associate | $159,670 |
| Public Company General Counsel | $159,670 |
| Mergers and Acquisitions Attorney | $159,670 |
| Judge | $153,990 |
| Administrative Law Judge, Adjudicator, and Hearing Officer | $117,860 |
| Paralegal | $62,890 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Administrative Law Judge, Adjudicator, and Hearing Officer appears on
Questions
Administrative Law Judge, Adjudicator, and Hearing Officer: frequently asked questions
How much do Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers make?
Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers earn a median of $117,860 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 131% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $56.67/hr. The middle half earn between $81,140 and $159,680. The top 10% earn $207,480 or more.
Do you need a degree to become an Administrative Law Judge, Adjudicator, and Hearing Officer?
Yes, and beyond a bachelor's: BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry requirement for Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers. Employers typically expect 5 years or more of related work experience first. BLS also lists short-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 37.3% hold doctoral degree.
Is Administrative Law Judge, Adjudicator, and Hearing Officer a growing career?
It is growing, but slowly: 0.0% over 2025–2035 against 3.5% for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 500 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does an Administrative Law Judge, Adjudicator, and Hearing Officer do?
Judges and hearing officers oversee legal matters in court or administrative proceedings. A core O*NET task: prepare written opinions and decisions. Employers most often ask for Data base user interface and query software, Document management software, Electronic mail software.
Which states pay Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers the most?
The highest state medians for Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers are District of Columbia ($181,060), Indiana ($145,290), Alabama ($134,810) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits an Administrative Law Judge, Adjudicator, and Hearing Officer?
O*NET scores Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers highest on the Conventional, Enterprising and Investigative interest areas, so the work mixes organising, following procedures and working precisely with data with leading, persuading, selling and making decisions. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ESTJ, ENTJ, ESFJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.