Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers Salary
Legal Occupations · 16K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$117,860
Median hourly
$57
Average annual
$125,990
Typical range
$61,110–$207,480
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers is $117,860 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $57 an hour at a full-time schedule.
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..
Most earn between $61,110 and $207,480 a year. There are roughly 16K people employed as administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers.
- Hourly
- $56.66
- Daily
- $453
- Weekly
- $2,267
- Bi-weekly
- $4,533
- Monthly
- $9,822
- Annual
- $117,860
$117,860 a year is around the 50th percentile for Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officerss. The median is $117,860.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1District of Columbia$181,060
- 2Indiana$145,290
- 3Alabama$134,810
- 4Maryland$133,460
- 5Wisconsin$132,250
- 6North Carolina$129,960
- 7Missouri$129,670
- 8New Jersey$128,320
- 9Michigan$127,420
- 10Kansas$126,570
- 11Louisiana$126,440
- 12Minnesota$126,360
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1Tallahassee, FL$177,150
- 2Kansas City, MO-KS$164,530
- 3Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$151,990
- 4Lansing-East Lansing, MI$144,660
- 5Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC$140,050
- 6Providence-Warwick, RI-MA$139,240
- 7Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN$138,260
- 8Toledo, OH$134,930
- 9Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI$132,250
- 10Raleigh-Cary, NC$131,660
- 11Cleveland, OH$131,440
- 12St. Louis, MO-IL$131,160
Related job titles
Employers advertise Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers roles under these titles.
- Adjudications Specialist
- Adjudicator
- Administrative Hearings Officer
- Administrative Judge
- Administrative Law Judge
- Appeals Examiner
- Appeals Officer
- Appeals Referee
- Appellate Conferee
- Child Support Hearing Officer
- Clinical Appeals Reviewer
- County Ordinary
- Disability Hearing Officer
- Disciplinary Hearing Officer
- Field Hearing Officer
- Hearing Examiner
Related occupations
- Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates$153,990
- Judicial Law Clerks$64,920
- Lawyers$159,670
- Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators$75,530
- Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$78,000
- Compliance Officers$80,730
- Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists$66,270
- Labor Relations Specialists$95,420
What a Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers does
- Determine existence and amount of liability according to current laws, administrative and judicial precedents, and available evidence.
- Authorize payment of valid claims and determine method of payment.
- Conduct hearings to review and decide claims regarding issues, such as social program eligibility, environmental protection, or enforcement of health and safety regulations.
- Research and analyze laws, regulations, policies, and precedent decisions to prepare for hearings and to determine conclusions.
- 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.
- Review and evaluate data on documents, such as claim applications, birth or death certificates, or physician or employer records.
- Recommend the acceptance or rejection of claims or compromise settlements according to laws, regulations, policies, and precedent decisions.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers make?
- The median annual wage for Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers is $117,860 ($57 per hour). Pay ranges from about $61,110 at the 10th percentile to $207,480 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $125,990, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officerss the most?
- District of Columbia has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $181,060.
- Is Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 16K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers do?
- Determine existence and amount of liability according to current laws, administrative and judicial precedents, and available evidence.; Authorize payment of valid claims and determine method of payment.; Conduct hearings to review and decide claims regarding issues, such as social program eligibility, environmental protection, or enforcement of health and safety regulations..