Administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers
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.
Administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers 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. The role reports a median annual salary of $115,230 in the US. Entry typically requires a Doctoral or professional degree, and shows moderate AI exposure (0.43 on a 0-1 scale) — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. The most in-demand skills for the role include Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Judgment and Decision Making, Writing.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £50,915 a year for Barristers and judges (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 2411). ONS rates this estimate acceptable: it rests on a small sample, so treat it as a rough guide. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Professionals” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only Administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 2. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Law and Government
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
- Administrative
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Administration and Management
- Computers and Electronics
- Mathematics
A day in the life
You start the morning reading the files for the day's hearings: claim forms, medical records, employer letters and the relevant rules and past decisions. At the first hearing, about a person refused a government benefit, you explain the process to a nervous claimant, hear from both sides and rule on whether a late document can be admitted. You ask careful questions to test what each witness says, making sure the person without a lawyer is treated fairly. Two more hearings follow before lunch, one on a health and safety penalty and one on an unpaid claim. In the afternoon you research a tricky point of law, weigh the evidence and write clear decisions explaining why a claim is accepted or rejected and what will be paid. The caseload is heavy and the reading never ends. But knowing each decision is fair, reasoned and on the record gives the work real weight.
In India: In India similar work is done by members of tribunals and quasi-judicial authorities, such as consumer commissions, labour courts and tax tribunals, and by government officers who hear appeals under particular laws.
Illustrative: one typical day, written from the O*NET task statements for this occupation. Real days vary by employer and seniority.
What you'd actually do
- Determine existence and amount of liability according to current laws, administrative and judicial precedents, and available evidence.
- 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.
- Authorize payment of valid claims and determine method of payment.
- Conduct hearings to review and decide claims regarding issues, such as social program eligibility, environmental protection, or enforcement of health and safety regulations.
- Research and analyze laws, regulations, policies, and precedent decisions to prepare for hearings and to determine conclusions.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does Administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers do?
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.
What does a typical day look like in Administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers?
You start the morning reading the files for the day's hearings: claim forms, medical records, employer letters and the relevant rules and past decisions. At the first hearing, about a person refused a government benefit, you explain the process to a nervous claimant, hear from both sides and rule on whether a late document can be admitted. You ask careful questions to test what each witness says, making sure the person without a lawyer is treated fairly.
How much does Administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers earn?
The median annual salary for Administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers in the US is $115,230.
How do I become administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers?
The typical entry education is a Doctoral or professional degree. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Judgment and Decision Making, Writing, Speaking. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers?
Our AI-durability model gives Administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers a score of 0.43 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at moderate AI exposure — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. Learning to work with AI tools rather than against them is the path forward.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers has very high barrier to entry — very highly gated — extended graduate education, licensure, or years of specialised training are required.