Administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $61,110 | $29.38 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $117,860 | $56.67 |
| Mean (average) | $125,990 | $60.57 |
| 90th percentile | $207,480 | $99.75 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 42 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $134,810 | $76,160 | $207,480 | 70 | 0.32 |
| Arizona | $123,240 | $76,480 | $169,330 | 300 | 0.89 |
| Arkansas | $63,660 | $45,610 | $121,260 | 340 | 2.46 |
| Colorado | $121,410 | $77,950 | $207,480 | 220 | 0.71 |
| Connecticut | $95,310 | $78,520 | $154,560 | 300 | 1.69 |
| Delaware | $56,830 | $40,540 | $127,730 | 70 | 1.39 |
| District of Columbia | $181,060 | $107,050 | $207,480 | 300 | 3.99 |
| Florida | $115,920 | $73,920 | $207,480 | 570 | 0.55 |
| Georgia | $67,990 | $48,930 | $195,190 | 490 | 0.96 |
| Hawaii | $106,480 | $79,860 | $139,480 | 50 | 0.77 |
| Idaho | $65,050 | $59,840 | $115,920 | 110 | 1.17 |
| Illinois | $104,990 | $59,990 | $180,960 | 550 | 0.85 |
| Indiana | $145,290 | $89,440 | $207,480 | 70 | 0.21 |
| Iowa | $123,500 | $78,810 | $143,490 | 80 | 0.51 |
| Kansas | $126,570 | $108,890 | $207,480 | 40 | 0.28 |
| Louisiana | $126,440 | $61,110 | $224,240 | 140 | 0.68 |
| Maine | $75,960 | $60,280 | $147,390 | 120 | 1.73 |
| Maryland | $133,460 | $62,390 | $203,990 | 430 | 1.49 |
| Massachusetts | $113,750 | $82,620 | $183,350 | 270 | 0.7 |
| Michigan | $127,420 | $61,550 | $207,480 | 390 | 0.84 |
| Minnesota | $126,360 | $83,280 | $158,390 | 120 | 0.4 |
| Mississippi | $66,310 | $38,910 | $207,480 | 110 | 0.91 |
| Missouri | $129,670 | $74,980 | $207,480 | 160 | 0.53 |
| Montana | $83,910 | $48,280 | $129,440 | 90 | 1.65 |
| Nebraska | $117,060 | $92,480 | $207,480 | 30 | 0.31 |
| Nevada | $87,240 | $61,480 | $150,510 | 170 | 1.05 |
| New Jersey | $128,320 | $87,130 | $184,120 | 330 | 0.74 |
| New Mexico | $80,800 | $53,680 | $196,660 | 140 | 1.57 |
| New York | $123,170 | $87,130 | $166,320 | 1,400 | 1.37 |
| North Carolina | $129,960 | $78,890 | $207,480 | 260 | 0.5 |
| Ohio | $79,000 | $57,530 | $160,370 | 690 | 1.19 |
| Oklahoma | $122,930 | $63,630 | $207,480 | 90 | 0.51 |
| Oregon | $89,220 | $64,130 | $166,040 | 480 | 2.34 |
| Pennsylvania | $98,010 | $67,130 | $160,120 | 800 | 1.26 |
| Puerto Rico | $88,530 | $61,970 | $207,480 | 40 | 0.42 |
| South Carolina | $94,880 | $55,480 | $207,480 | 130 | 0.54 |
| Tennessee | $107,740 | $41,740 | $207,480 | 380 | 1.09 |
| Texas | $100,400 | $45,450 | $161,700 | 1,300 | 0.88 |
| Utah | $103,380 | $57,390 | $176,050 | 190 | 1.05 |
| Washington | $122,390 | $98,350 | $181,940 | 330 | 0.89 |
| West Virginia | $78,870 | $51,570 | $187,990 | 90 | 1.16 |
| Wisconsin | $132,250 | $92,660 | $207,480 | 60 | 0.19 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 500. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers
- Typical entry education
- Doctoral or professional degree
- Related work experience
- 5 years or more
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Law CIP 22.0101
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Prepare written opinions and decisions.
- Conduct hearings to review and decide claims regarding issues, such as social program eligibility, environmental protection, or enforcement of health and safety regulations.
- Rule on exceptions, motions, and admissibility of evidence.
- Research and analyze laws, regulations, policies, and precedent decisions to prepare for hearings and to determine conclusions.
- Determine existence and amount of liability according to current laws, administrative and judicial precedents, and available evidence.
- Issue subpoenas and administer oaths in preparation for formal hearings.
- Explain to claimants how they can appeal rulings that go against them.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Adobe Acrobat (hot technology)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- SAP software (hot technology)
- Courtroom scheduling software
- Email software
- LexisNexis
- Online databases
- Thomson Reuters Westlaw
- Videoconferencing software
- Web browser software
Transferable skills for career changers: Judgment and Decision Making, Social Perceptiveness, Complex Problem Solving, Time Management, Negotiation, Coordination.
Common job titles: Adjudications Specialist, Adjudicator, Administrative Hearings Officer, Administrative Judge, Administrative Law Judge, Appeals Examiner, Appeals Referee, Claims Adjudicator, Hearings Officer, Workers' Compensation Hearings Officer.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers make?
The national median annual wage for administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers was $117,860 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $61,110 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $207,480. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers need?
BLS lists doctoral or professional degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with 5 years or more of related work experience and short-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers to change 0.0% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 500 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were District of Columbia ($181,060), Indiana ($145,290), Alabama ($134,810). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.