An Administrative Judge presides over hearings within an executive-branch agency — issuing decisions on benefits, licenses, enforcement actions, or regulatory disputes. The role blends judicial authority with the procedural fabric of administrative law, anchored by the Administrative Procedure Act.
Administrative Judge pay typically runs $77K–$161K at this level, and jobs in this field are projected to hold roughly steady through 2034.
Most days tend to involve a mix of pre-hearing motions, conducted hearings, and decision-writing. You're often reviewing case files in advance of hearings, presiding over proceedings (sometimes by phone or video, often in agency offices rather than courthouses), and drafting reasoned opinions that close out matters. Caseloads can be heavy.
The hardest parts often involve the procedural patchwork of administrative law — each agency runs its own rules with the APA framing in the background — and the volume of cases. Some agencies handle high-volume claims work (SSA disability, for example); others handle complex regulatory enforcement. Pension-and-stability tradeoffs against private-sector compensation are real and shape the career calculus.
People who tend to thrive here are comfortable with sustained focus, value institutional service over courtroom theatrics, and find satisfaction in careful written analysis. If you want jury trials or partner-track money, the role tends to feel narrower. If you're drawn to steady judicial work with regulatory texture and more predictable hours, the path can be deeply sustainable.
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Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.
An Administrative Judge presides over hearings within an executive-branch agency — issuing decisions on benefits, licenses, enforcement actions, or regulatory disputes. The role blends judicial authority with the procedural fabric of administrative law, anchored by the Administrative Procedure Act.
Median pay for an Administrative Judge is about $115K nationally, with the field ranging roughly from $57K to $204K depending on experience, employer, and metro (BLS).
Core skills for this role include Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Judgment and Decision Making, and Writing.
Most people in this role hold a professional degree.
Employment in this field is projected to decline about 0.7% through 2034, with roughly 16,230 people working in it today (BLS).
Closely related roles include Junior Administrative Judge, Junior Field Hearing Officer, and Hearings Officer.
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