SOC 23-1021 · May 2025 · United States
Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers
National figures, with pay broken out by state and metro area
The median wage for Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers across the United States is $117,860 per year, measured over 16,370 jobs. The highest state median is in District of Columbia, at $181,060.
National wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
The next ten years
Projected to decline
- Change in jobs, 2024 to 2034
- -0.7%
- Openings per year
- 500
- Typical entry-level education
- Doctoral or professional degree
- Related work experience
- 5 years or more
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
Includes jobs opened by workers leaving the occupation, not only new positions.
Projections are based on 2024 employment and run to 2034. The wages above are from the May 2025 survey, a separate BLS programme on a different release cycle, so the two are not two views of one dataset.
Where the pay is highest for Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers
Pay for this occupation varies by 218.6% between the highest and lowest paying states with published data. District of Columbia pays $181,060 and Delaware pays $56,830.
| # | State | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $181,060 | 300 | |
| 2 | Indiana | $145,290 | 70 | |
| 3 | Alabama | $134,810 | 70 | |
| 4 | Maryland | $133,460 | 430 | |
| 5 | Wisconsin | $132,250 | 60 | |
| 6 | North Carolina | $129,960 | 260 | |
| 7 | Missouri | $129,670 | 160 | |
| 8 | New Jersey | $128,320 | 330 | |
| 9 | Michigan | $127,420 | 390 | |
| 10 | Kansas | $126,570 | 40 |
States with the most Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers jobs
Top-paying metro areas
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tallahassee | $177,150 | 60 |
| 2 | Kansas City | $164,530 | 60 |
| 3 | Washington | $151,990 | 660 |
| 4 | Lansing | $144,660 | 120 |
| 5 | Charlotte | $140,050 | 40 |
| 6 | Providence | $139,240 | 50 |
| 7 | Indianapolis | $138,260 | 40 |
| 8 | Toledo | $134,930 | 30 |
| 9 | Milwaukee | $132,250 | 40 |
| 10 | Raleigh | $131,660 | 130 |
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.