Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers
Judges and hearing officers oversee legal matters in court or administrative proceedings.
Is administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers a good career?
It scores 21/100 and ranks #291 of 825 occupations on pay, growth, employment and openings. Here's what the federal data says, with no editorializing.
Advantages
- Pays well above the U.S. median wage ($117,860 vs $61,390)
Possible tradeoffs
- Employment is projected to decline (-0.7% through 2034)
- Typically requires a doctoral or professional degree
- Often needs prior experience (5 years or more)
What administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers earn
Wages: BLS OEWS May 2025Pay is a range, not a number. Half of U.S. administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers earn between $81,140 and $159,680 a year.
Best-paying states
Best-paying metros
Live administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers jobs
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- Typical education
- Doctoral or professional degree
- Work experience
- 5 years or more
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Outlook
- Employment is projected to grow slower than average through 2034.
Education
A Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree is typically required for jobs as a local, state, or federal judge or hearing officer.
Earning a law degree usually takes 7 years of full-time study after high school: 4 years of undergraduate study in any field, followed by 3 years of law school. Law degree programs include courses such as constitutional law, contracts, property law, civil procedure, and legal writing.
Although a J.D. is typical, requirements for these positions may vary. Hearing officers, magistrates, and even judges in some jurisdictions are not required to have a law degree.
Training
Newly elected or appointed judges and hearing officers sometimes have training requirements. This training may include mock trial sessions, mentorship from experienced judges or hearing officers, and courses on topics such as judicial ethics or relations with news media.
Judges and hearing officers also may be required to take continuing legal education courses throughout their careers.
Licenses, certifications & registrations
Judges typically must maintain a law license and good standing with their state bar association.
Advancement
Advancement for some judicial workers means moving to courts with broader jurisdiction, such as from lower court to appellate court. Advancement for various hearing officers includes taking on more complex cases, practicing law, and becoming district court judges.
Important qualities
Analytical skills. Judges and hearing officers must be able to analyze large amounts of information, determine relevant facts, and make decisions or issue rulings.
Attention to detail. Judges and hearing officers must pay close attention to what is presented and distinguish important facts from complex information.
Communication skills. Judges and hearing officers need to convey information both orally and in writing. They must be able to explain their rulings and write decisions in ways that are both clear and comprehensive.
Critical-thinking skills. Judges and hearing officers must objectively evaluate the facts of a case when applying the rules of law.
Decision-making skills. Judges and hearing officers must be able to conclusively make decisions and issue rulings.
Related occupations
How much do administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers make?
The national median wage is $117,860 a year, with the middle half earning between $81,140 and $159,680 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Is administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers a good career?
On the Jobs.best index it scores 21 of 100 and ranks #291 of 825 occupations, weighing pay, growth, employment and openings. Employment is projected to change -0.7% through 2034.
What education do you need to become a administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officer?
The typical entry-level education is doctoral or professional degree, usually with 5 years or more.
Where do administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers earn the most?
Among states, District of Columbia pays the highest median ($181,060). Local pay for every state and metro is below.