Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers salary by state
What Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officerss do
Typical education: Doctoral Degree
Determine existence and amount of liability according to current laws, administrative and judicial precedents, and available evidence.
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.
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.
Top skills:Reading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingActive ListeningWritingJudgment and Decision MakingSpeaking
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers pay by experience level
Entry level$63,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$84,000
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$122,000
Mid-career median pay
Senior$165,500
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$214,500
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
-0.7%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
500
projected openings per year
Declining
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers salary by industry
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS
16,250 workers
$130,500
State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
8,630 workers
$126,500
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation)
5,080 workers
$150,500
Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
2,540 workers
$105,000
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers pays 4% below the average across 1,680 roles in the Legal job family (family average $135,500).
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers make?
The average base salary for a Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers in the United States is $130,500 per year, or about $62.74 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $84,000 and $165,500 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Legal roles?
The Legal job family averages $135,500 across 1,680 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role? WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
