Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers
Also called: Administrative Law Judges
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.
Also called: Adjudications Specialist, Adjudicator, Administrative Hearing Officer, Administrative Hearings Officer, Administrative Judge, Administrative Law Judge
Median pay
$117,860
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$61,110 – $207,480
People employed
16,370
Holland code
CEI
Conventional · Enterprising · Investigative
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Are you comfortable sitting at a desk most of the day?
- 2.Do you prefer working indoors?
- 3.Do you want a lot of freedom to make your own decisions?
- 4.Do you prefer doing your own work rather than directing others?
- 5.Do you enjoy serving customers or the public?
- 6.Do you want a job with little physical risk?
- 7.Are you happy working mostly on your own, with little contact with others?
- 8.Do you work well under tight deadlines?
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines are common
Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (40 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers salary in every state →
What administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers do
- 01Monitor 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.
- 02Prepare written opinions and decisions.
- 03Conduct hearings to review and decide claims regarding issues, such as social program eligibility, environmental protection, or enforcement of health and safety regulations.
- 04Rule on exceptions, motions, and admissibility of evidence.
- 05Research and analyze laws, regulations, policies, and precedent decisions to prepare for hearings and to determine conclusions.
- 06Determine existence and amount of liability according to current laws, administrative and judicial precedents, and available evidence.
Skills that matter most
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Writing
- Speaking
- Active Learning
Knowledge
- English Language
- Law and Government
- Administrative
- Computers and Electronics
- Customer and Personal Service
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Integrity
- Cautiousness
- Intellectual Curiosity
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a graduate degree (O*NET Job Zone 5).
- Related work experience: over 4 years, up to and including 6 years.
- On-the-job training: over 6 months, up to and including 1 year.
- A professional certification is often expected.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers
- Labor Relations Specialists79% · −19%
- Compliance Managers78% · group pay
- Chief Executives74% · +82%
- Fraud Examiners, Investigators and Analysts74% · group pay
- Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers73% · group pay
Majors that lead here
- Law
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.