How much do Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers make?
The median pay for Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers in the United States is $117,860 per year — about $56.66 per hour. Entry-level positions start near $61,110, while the most experienced professionals in the top 10% earn $207,480.
That is $56,470 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers salary range by percentile
Half of all Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers earn between $81,140 and $159,680 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,110 | $29.38 | |
| 25th percentile (early career) | $81,140 | $39.01 | |
| 50th percentile (median) | $117,860 | $56.66 | |
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $159,680 | $76.77 | |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $207,480 | $99.75 |
Highest-paying states for Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. District of Columbia leads the country for Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers pay at $181,060 a year, followed by Indiana ($145,290) and Alabama ($134,810). At the other end, Delaware posts the lowest median at $56,830 — a gap of $124,230 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
| # | State | Median salary | Hourly | vs national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $181,060 | $87.05 | +54% |
| 2 | Indiana | $145,290 | $69.85 | +23% |
| 3 | Alabama | $134,810 | $64.81 | +14% |
| 4 | Maryland | $133,460 | $64.16 | +13% |
| 5 | Wisconsin | $132,250 | $63.58 | +12% |
Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 41 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Workforce and education
About 16,000 people work as Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $125,990 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a doctoral or professional degree (8 or more years of higher education) is required, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
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