Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers
Also called Administrative Hearings Officer, Administrative Judge, Administrative Law Judge, or Hearings Officer
Updated · Source: O*NET 31.0
What Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers do
You run the hearing when someone disputes a government decision, listen to both sides, and write the ruling that settles it.
When a person is denied disability benefits, fined for a safety violation, or told they broke an environmental rule, they can ask for a hearing. You are the one who runs that hearing. You are not a courtroom judge in a criminal trial. You work inside or alongside a government agency, deciding claims about program eligibility, penalties, and whether rules were followed.
The job has two halves. In the hearing room you are in charge: you keep things fair, decide what evidence counts, rule on requests from each side, and have witnesses promise to tell the truth. Away from the hearing you read, research the law and past decisions, and write up your decision, called an opinion, explaining exactly why you ruled the way you did.
A day in the life
You start at a desk, indoors, with email and a stack of files. You read a claim file before the hearing: applications, medical records, employer paperwork. You look up the rules and older decisions that apply.
Then the hearing begins and you take charge of the room. The person making the claim (the claimant) sits across from you, sometimes with a lawyer, sometimes alone and nervous. You have them promise to tell the truth, listen closely, and ask questions. You decide when one side says something should not be allowed as evidence. If the decision goes against them, you explain how to appeal.
Back at your desk, you write your decision. It has to be clear, accurate, and finished on time, because more hearings are already scheduled.
This could fit you if you…
- ✓Can listen patiently to someone tell their story and still weigh the evidence fairly
- ✓Enjoy digging through laws, rules, and past decisions to find the right answer
- ✓Write clearly enough that a stranger can follow your reasoning
- ✓Stay calm and in charge when people in the room disagree
- ✓Like structure, schedules, and keeping records accurate
You might not like it if you…
- –Want to be an advocate for one side rather than the neutral decider
- –Dislike sitting indoors reading and writing for long stretches
- –Struggle when deadlines stack up and decisions are still owed
- –Need a fast route in, since this usually takes a professional degree and five years or more of work experience
How people get in
- 1Finish a bachelor's degree and build strong reading, writing, and speaking skills along the way.
- 2Go to law school, since the typical entry education for this work is a doctoral or professional degree in law.
- 3Pass the exam your state requires before you can work as a lawyer, then start practicing law.
- 4Spend five years or more gaining experience, ideally in areas like government benefits, health and safety rules, or environmental regulation.
- 5Apply for hearing officer or administrative law judge openings with government agencies; many hire through a competitive selection process.
- 6Expect short-term on-the-job training once hired, where you learn that agency's rules, forms, and hearing procedures.
Who tends to enjoy it
Organizing
People who like keeping things accurate, orderly, and running on schedule.
Leading
People who like persuading, selling, starting things, and taking charge.
Curious
People who like figuring things out, research, science, and solving problems.
Official task list
Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers 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)
- 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.
A typical day involves
Skills that matter most
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Writing
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Speaking
What you'll need to know
- English Language
- Law and Government
- Administrative
- Computers and Electronics
- Customer and Personal Service
How much Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers make
The median pay for Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers in the U.S. is $117,860 a year ($56.67 an hour). Most earn between $61,110 and $207,480. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025)
Pay depends a lot on where you live: the median is highest in District of Columbia ($181,060) and lowest in Delaware ($56,830).
Pay by state and territory
| State | Median pay | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $134,810 | 70 |
| Arizona | $123,240 | 300 |
| Arkansas | $63,660 | 340 |
| Colorado | $121,410 | 220 |
| Connecticut | $95,310 | 300 |
| Delaware | $56,830 | 70 |
| District of Columbia | $181,060 | 300 |
| Florida | $115,920 | 570 |
| Georgia | $67,990 | 490 |
| Hawaii | $106,480 | 50 |
| Idaho | $65,050 | 110 |
| Illinois | $104,990 | 550 |
| Indiana | $145,290 | 70 |
| Iowa | $123,500 | 80 |
| Kansas | $126,570 | 40 |
| Louisiana | $126,440 | 140 |
| Maine | $75,960 | 120 |
| Maryland | $133,460 | 430 |
| Massachusetts | $113,750 | 270 |
| Michigan | $127,420 | 390 |
| Minnesota | $126,360 | 120 |
| Mississippi | $66,310 | 110 |
| Missouri | $129,670 | 160 |
| Montana | $83,910 | 90 |
| Nebraska | $117,060 | 30 |
| Nevada | $87,240 | 170 |
| New Jersey | $128,320 | 330 |
| New Mexico | $80,800 | 140 |
| New York | $123,170 | 1,400 |
| North Carolina | $129,960 | 260 |
| Ohio | $79,000 | 690 |
| Oklahoma | $122,930 | 90 |
| Oregon | $89,220 | 480 |
| Pennsylvania | $98,010 | 800 |
| Puerto Rico | $88,530 | 40 |
| South Carolina | $94,880 | 130 |
| Tennessee | $107,740 | 380 |
| Texas | $100,400 | 1,300 |
| Utah | $103,380 | 190 |
| Washington | $122,390 | 330 |
| West Virginia | $78,870 | 90 |
| Wisconsin | $132,250 | 60 |
Where to study for this
College programs that commonly lead to this career, and how many US colleges offer each.
- Law 212 colleges
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Source: O*NET 31.0 Database (USDOL/ETA), occupation 23-1021.00, used under CC BY 4.0 and modified by Whittle. Pay: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), SOC 23-1021. Outlook and entry education: BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Program links: NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. How we build these pages.