Lawyers, Judges, and Related Workers

How to become an Administrative Law Judge, Adjudicator or Hearing Officer

Official title: Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers

Also called: Adjudications Specialist, Adjudicator, Administrative Hearings Officer, Administrative Judge, Administrative Law Judge, Appeals Examiner, Appeals Referee, Claims Adjudicator, Hearings Officer, Workers' Compensation Hearings Officer

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.

Main tasks

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.
Conduct hearings to review and decide claims regarding issues, such as social program eligibility, environmental protection, or enforcement of health and safety regulations.
Rule on exceptions, motions, and admissibility of evidence.
Research and analyze laws, regulations, policies, and precedent decisions to prepare for hearings and to determine conclusions.
Determine existence and amount of liability according to current laws, administrative and judicial precedents, and available evidence.
Issue subpoenas and administer oaths in preparation for formal hearings.
Explain to claimants how they can appeal rulings that go against them.

How to become one

Judges and hearing officers typically need a law degree and work experience as a lawyer .

Typical education to start: Doctoral or professional degree

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

Apprenticeship: Medicaid Disability Claims Adjudicator.
College: Law & Justice degrees, Offered by 29 universities in the US

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $117,860 a year The middle half earn $81,140 to $159,680.
About 17,400 people work in this job now, and about 17,400 are projected by 2035. (+0%)
People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Questions people ask

How do I become an Administrative Law Judge, Adjudicator or Hearing Officer?

Judges and hearing officers typically need a law degree and work experience as a lawyer .

How much does an Administrative Law Judge, Adjudicator or Hearing Officer earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $117,860 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $81,140 to $159,680.

Is an Administrative Law Judge, Adjudicator or Hearing Officer a growing career in the US?

Employment is projected to stay about the same by 2035: about 17,400 people now and 17,400 later (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become an Administrative Law Judge, Adjudicator or Hearing Officer?

Usually. 98% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of an Administrative Law Judge, Adjudicator or Hearing Officer?

People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

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.