Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers

These professionals spend their days evaluating information to determine compliance with standards, making decisions, and solving complex problems. They gather and analyze data, update their knowledge of regulations, and work with computers to document their findings. Day-to-day duties require organizing, planning, and prioritizing tasks while communicating effectively with supervisors and peers.

Success in this field requires strong skills in active listening, critical thinking, reading comprehension, writing, and speaking. Individuals must possess deep knowledge of law and government, administrative procedures, the English language, and customer service. This career strongly appeals to people with conventional interests who value structure and detail. Key work styles include integrity, dependability, self-control, and cautiousness, which help these officers remain objective when determining liabilities, penalties, or claim settlements.

Entering this career requires extensive preparation. Most individuals in this field need a graduate degree, and the typical education required to enter is a doctoral or professional degree. Studying law in college is the primary academic major that leads to this profession.

In addition to completing advanced legal degrees, candidates can pursue relevant certifications to build their credentials. An example of a related certification is the Law and Public Safety Introductory Level credential, which is offered by the Law and Public Safety Education Network.

The median annual pay for these professionals is $117,860. The lowest 10 percent of earners make less than $61,110, while the highest 10 percent earn more than $207,480.

There are 16,370 people employed in this occupation. Between 2025 and 2035, employment is projected to experience 0% change, meaning there will be little or no change in the total number of jobs. Despite this flat growth, about 500 job openings are projected to become available each year.