Careers / Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers
Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers — Career Decision Dashboard
United States
Opens your browser print dialog — choose “Save as PDF”.
Report generated from official BLS OEWS and O*NET data — United States.
Median annual wage
$117,860
United States, 2025
Employment
16,370
United States, 2025
Typical education
Doctoral Degree
Job Zone 5
Skills identified
35
10 related careers
Career overview
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.
- O*NET code
- 23-1021.00
- Job zone
- 5
- Experience required
- Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years
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.
Choose a location
Salary analysis — United States
10th percentile
$61,110
25th percentile
$81,140
75th percentile
$159,680
90th percentile
$207,480
Most important skills
- Critical Thinking4.5
- Reading Comprehension4.5
- Active Listening4.5
- Judgment and Decision Making4.3
- Writing4.3
- Speaking4.1
- Social Perceptiveness4.0
- Active Learning4.0
- Monitoring3.9
- Complex Problem Solving3.9
- Time Management3.4
- Negotiation3.1
What skills do you need?
Select the skills you already have
Skills listed are those O*NET rates at importance 3.0 or above for this occupation. Set your own level on the same 0–7 O*NET scale.
Skill coverage
0%
0 of 15 identified skills
Matched
0
Missing
15
Your selected skills cover approximately 0% of the skills identified for this occupation in O*NET. This is a coverage measure of listed skills only — it is not a qualification, hiring or interview outcome.
Skills to develop
| Skill | Importance | Required level | Your level | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active Listening | 4.5 | 5.8 | Not selected | 5.8 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.5 | 5.3 | Not selected | 5.3 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.5 | 5.0 | Not selected | 5.0 |
| Writing | 4.3 | 5.1 | Not selected | 5.1 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 4.3 | 4.9 | Not selected | 4.9 |
| Speaking | 4.1 | 5.0 | Not selected | 5.0 |
| Active Learning | 4.0 | 4.3 | Not selected | 4.3 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 4.0 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Monitoring | 3.9 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.9 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Time Management | 3.4 | 3.4 | Not selected | 3.4 |
| Negotiation | 3.1 | 3.5 | Not selected | 3.5 |
| Persuasion | 3.0 | 3.6 | Not selected | 3.6 |
| Coordination | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.0 | 2.9 | Not selected | 2.9 |
Ordered by required level gap multiplied by O*NET importance. No prediction or recommendation is implied.
Related careers
Supplemental
National median $76,210
Compare with Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing OfficersSupplemental
National median $58,650
Compare with Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing OfficersSupplemental
National median $93,790
Compare with Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing OfficersSupplemental
National median $80,730
Compare with Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing OfficersSupplemental
National median $72,420
Compare with Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing OfficersSupplemental
National median $54,210
Compare with Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing OfficersSupplemental
National median $80,730
Compare with Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing OfficersSupplemental
National median $55,570
Compare with Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing OfficersSupplemental
National median $48,700
Compare with Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing OfficersSupplemental
National median $62,890
Compare with Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing OfficersHow salary varies by location
| Location | Median | Employment | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| DC | $181,060 | 300 | 2025 |
| Tallahassee, FL | $177,150 | 60 | 2025 |
| Kansas City, MO | $164,530 | 60 | 2025 |
| Washington, DC | $151,990 | 660 | 2025 |
| IN | $145,290 | 70 | 2025 |
| Lansing, MI | $144,660 | 120 | 2025 |
| Charlotte, NC | $140,050 | 40 | 2025 |
| Providence, RI | $139,240 | 50 | 2025 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $138,260 | 40 | 2025 |
| Toledo, OH | $134,930 | 30 | 2025 |
| AL | $134,810 | 70 | 2025 |
| MD | $133,460 | 430 | 2025 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $132,250 | 40 | 2025 |
| WI | $132,250 | 60 | 2025 |
| Raleigh, NC | $131,660 | 130 | 2025 |
| Cleveland, OH | $131,440 | 110 | 2025 |
| St. Louis, MO | $131,160 | 80 | 2025 |
| New York, NY | $130,960 | 1,230 | 2025 |
| Baltimore, MD | $130,940 | 260 | 2025 |
| Seattle, WA | $130,270 | 180 | 2025 |
Career transition paths
Compare the skills of a career you hold today with Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers to see shared skills, target-only skills and skill overlap.
Build a transition comparisonCareer and skills data: O*NET 31.0.
Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, 2025 (May 2025 release).
Figures are periodic published survey snapshots, not real-time market rates.