Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers
Also called: Adjudications Specialist, Adjudicator, Administrative Hearing Officer, Administrative Hearings Officer, Administrative Judge, Administrative Law Judge, Appeals Examiner, Appeals Officer
Conduct hearings to recommend or make decisions on claims concerning government programs or other government-related matters.
What Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers do
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.
- Schedule hearings.
- Review and evaluate data on documents, such as claim applications, birth or death certificates, or physician or employer records.
- Authorize payment of valid claims and determine method of payment.
- Confer with individuals or organizations involved in cases to obtain relevant information.
Typical path into the job (BLS)
Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers salary
The median annual wage for Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers is $117,860 (BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, national). The lowest 10 percent earn less than $61,110 and the highest 10 percent earn more than $207,480. The mean annual wage is $125,990.
The mean hourly wage of $60.00 is 8.3× the federal minimum wage of $7.25. State minimums are higher in most large states. Minimum wage by state →
How does your pay compare with people your age?
Your numbers are not sent or stored. The comparison uses this occupation's BLS wage percentiles, adjusted for age with BLS median weekly earnings by age group (Q3 2026).
Pay by percentile
Annual wage percentiles from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Percentiles are a good proxy for pay by experience.
Projected pay for Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers (3, 5 and 10 years)est.
Today $117,860 → in 3 years $124,600 → in 5 years $129,300 → in 10 years $141,900 (10-year range $122,000–$164,700). The model assumes pay growth of +1.9% per year.
What drives the annual growth rate
Projected pay = current pay × (1 + annual growth)^years. The annual growth rate starts from a base wage-growth rate and adds or subtracts labor demand (BLS projected employment growth), wage momentum and AI replacement risk for each occupation. Projections are not guarantees. How it is calculated →
Outlook score for Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers
Each component is a percentile rank among all occupations in the same country (0–100). Weights: labor demand 25, wage momentum / openings 15, pay level 15, AI resistance 25, aging workforce 10 (Japan only), entry barrier 10.
Will AI replace Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers? AI replacement risk
How AI is changing this job
A written analysis for this occupation is being prepared.
AI replacement risk compares the parts of a job that are easy to hand to AI or software (processing information, documentation, repetitive computer work) with the parts that are hard to automate (physical work, working closely with people, judgment in unpredictable settings), using O*NET work activities, work context, skills and knowledge. The result is a relative position among all occupations in the country, scaled to 0–100%. Methodology →
Labor demand for Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers
Employment projections are from the BLS Employment Projections program (2025–35). Annual openings include both new jobs and replacement of workers who leave the occupation.
Skills, education and requirements for Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers
Key skills
O*NET skill level ratings (0–7).
Key knowledge areas
What the work involves
Important abilities
Education of workers
Training before entry
Related work experience
Job Zone 5 — extensive preparation needed (O*NET)
Difficulty of entry: ★★★★☆ Demanding (from education, training, experience and Job Zone)
How to become Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers
A step-by-step guide for this occupation is being prepared. The education, training and experience data above show the typical path.
Career path and how to earn more as Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers
Career-path guidance is being prepared. Pay by percentile is shown in the Pay section.