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Administrative law judge: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 29, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$117,860median pay per year, or $56.67 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $61,110lowest 10% earn less
  2. $81,14025th percentile
  3. $117,860median
  4. $159,68075th percentile
  5. $207,480top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

Administrative law judges, adjudicators and hearing officers had a median pay of $117,860 a year in May 2025[1]. Employment is projected to stay about the same from 2025 to 2035[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
+0%[2]
Openings per year
500[5]
Typical entry education
Doctoral or professional degree[6]

How much do administrative law judges make?

The BLS category is Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers. In May 2025, the median wage was $117,860 a year, or $56.67 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The mean (average) wage was $125,990 a year, or $60.57 an hour[7].

The median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980[4]. So the median for this job was well above that figure.

Percentile Annual wage Hourly wage
10th[3][8] $61,110 $29.38
25th[3][8] $81,140 $39.01
Median[1] $117,860 $56.67
75th[3][8] $159,680 $76.77
90th[3][8] $207,480 $99.75

A percentile is a boundary. For example, the lowest-paid 10% of workers earned less than $61,110[3]. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[9].

These figures cover wage and salary workers, full time and part time. They leave out the self-employed, bonuses that are not tied to production, and the cost of benefits[10].

Pay by state and city

The District of Columbia had the highest median annual wage at $181,060, followed by Indiana at $145,290 and Alabama at $134,810[11]. Indiana and Alabama each had only 70 jobs, so those figures rest on small numbers of workers[11]. Delaware had the lowest listed median at $56,830[11].

New York had the most jobs, at 1,400[12]. Texas (1,300), Pennsylvania (800), Ohio (690) and Florida (570) came next[12].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV had the highest median at $151,990[13]. Lansing-East Lansing, MI ($144,660) and Raleigh-Cary, NC ($131,660) followed[13]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City area had the most jobs, at 1,230, with a median of $130,960[14].

Show median pay in 40 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
District of Columbia[11]$181,060300
Indiana$145,29070
Alabama$134,81070
Maryland$133,460430
Wisconsin$132,25060
North Carolina$129,960260
Missouri$129,670160
New Jersey$128,320330
Michigan$127,420390
Kansas$126,57040
Louisiana$126,440140
Minnesota$126,360120
Iowa$123,50080
Arizona$123,240300
New York$123,1701,400
Oklahoma$122,93090
Washington$122,390330
Colorado$121,410220
Nebraska$117,06030
Florida$115,920570
Massachusetts$113,750270
Tennessee$107,740380
Hawaii$106,48050
Illinois$104,990550
Utah$103,380190
Texas$100,4001,300
Pennsylvania$98,010800
Connecticut$95,310300
South Carolina$94,880130
Oregon$89,220480
Nevada$87,240170
Montana$83,91090
New Mexico$80,800140
Ohio$79,000690
West Virginia$78,87090
Maine$75,960120
Georgia$67,990490
Mississippi$66,310110
Idaho$65,050110
Arkansas$63,660340
Delaware$56,83070

How to become an administrative law judge

BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry education. It also lists 5 years or more of related work experience and short-term on-the-job training[6].

The training details below come from a BLS profile that covers judges and hearing officers together, so they describe a wider group[15].

Judges usually need to hold a law license and stay in good standing with their state bar[21]. New appointees sometimes face training requirements, and continuing legal education may be required throughout a career[22][23].

Requirements vary. Hearing officers, magistrates and even judges in some places are not required to have a law degree[24]. Some states allow non-lawyers to hold limited-jurisdiction posts, but opportunities are better for those with legal practice experience[18].

In an O*NET survey of 25 workers, 37% said a doctoral degree was required and 20% said a bachelor's degree[25].

What administrative law judges do

O*NET describes the work as holding hearings to recommend or make decisions on claims about government programs and related matters[26]. Typical tasks include:

Workers reported job titles such as Claims Adjudicator, Appeals Examiner and Administrative Hearings Officer[28].

Where they work

Judges and hearing officers spend most of their time in offices and courtrooms[29]. The work can be demanding, because it means sitting in one position for long periods while giving full attention to the proceeding[29]. Some travel to different counties and courthouses in their state[30]. The work may be stressful when they deal with difficult or confrontational people[31].

In 2025, state government, excluding education and hospitals, was the largest employer of judges and hearing officers, at 53%[32].

Most work full time[33]. Some work more than 40 hours a week, and some courthouses have evening and weekend hours[33]. Judges may be on call at night or on weekends to issue emergency orders[33].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to stay about the same from 2025 to 2035, at 0% growth and about 17,400 jobs[2]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% over the same period[34].

BLS expects about 500 openings a year, on average[5]. Openings include jobs that come open when people retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[5]. Each year, 1.6% of workers leave the labor force and 1.2% move to a different occupation[35].

OEWS counted about 16,370 wage and salary jobs in May 2025[36]. The projection counts include the self-employed, and the OEWS count does not[36][2].

Is it a good fit?

The facts point to a job with high pay and a high entry bar. The median of $117,860 is well above the $50,980 all-occupations median[1][4]. BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree and 5 years or more of related experience as typical[6]. Employment is projected to stay flat while all occupations grow 3.5%[2][34]. With about 500 openings a year, the number of jobs is small[5].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[37].

Frequently asked questions

How much does an administrative law judge make a year?
The median wage was $117,860 a year in May 2025, and the mean was $125,990[1][7].
What degree do you need to be an administrative law judge?
BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as typical[6]. A J.D. is typically required for judge and hearing officer jobs, though requirements vary[16][24].
How long does it take to become an administrative law judge?
After high school, a law degree usually means 7 years of full-time study, and federal administrative law judges usually need 7 years as a licensed attorney[17][20]. These details come from a profile covering a wider group[15].
Are administrative law judge jobs in demand?
BLS projects no change in employment from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% growth for all occupations, with about 500 openings a year[2][34][5].
Which state pays administrative law judges the most?
The District of Columbia had the highest median annual wage at $181,060[11].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers in the US was $117,860 per year and $56.67 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers is projected to stay about the same 0% from 2025 to 2035, from about 17,400 to 17,400 jobs (a change of +0). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers: 10th percentile $61,110, 25th percentile $81,140, 75th percentile $159,680, 90th percentile $207,480. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 500 openings for Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers: education needed for entry: Doctoral or professional degree; work experience in a related occupation: 5 years or more; typical on-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers was $125,990 per year and $60.57 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers: 10th percentile $29.38, 25th percentile $39.01, 75th percentile $76.77, 90th percentile $99.75. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Median annual wage for Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers jobs: New York 1,400; Texas 1,300; Pennsylvania 800; Ohio 690; Florida 570. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers (areas with at least 100 jobs): Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $151,990; Lansing-East Lansing, MI $144,660; Raleigh-Cary, NC $131,660; Cleveland, OH $131,440; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $130,960; Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $130,940; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $130,270; Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI $127,860. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 1,230 (median $130,960); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 660 (median $151,990); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 420 (median $124,400); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 390 (median $72,440); Columbus, OH 390 (median $77,330); Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 390 (median $95,350). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Judges and Hearing Officers" covers Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  16. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Work Experience in a Related Occupation. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Work Experience in a Related Occupation. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Work Experience in a Related Occupation. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. O*NET 23-1021.00 survey of workers (25 respondents), education level they say is required: Doctoral Degree 37%, Bachelor's Degree 20%, First Professional Degree 14%, Some College Courses 11%, Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 11%, Post-Doctoral Training 5% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  26. O*NET description of Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers. O*NET OnLine
  27. O*NET task list for Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers. O*NET OnLine
  28. O*NET 23-1021.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Adjudications Specialist, Adjudicator, Administrative Hearings Officer, Administrative Judge, Administrative Law Judge, Appeals Examiner, Appeals Referee, Claims Adjudicator. O*NET OnLine
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of judges and hearing officers in 2025: State government, excluding education and hospitals 53%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  35. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers: 1.6% of workers leave the labor force each year and 1.2% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  36. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 16,370 people were employed as Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  37. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.