Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers
Legal
Runs hearings on claims about government programs and related matters, then decides or recommends liability, payment, or denial. Preparation means reading claim files, certificates, and medical or employer records, plus researching the laws, rules, and prior decisions that apply. During a hearing the job is to keep the proceeding fair and protect each party's legal rights. Afterward comes a written opinion, an order to pay a valid claim, or a recommendation to accept, reject, or settle. The work tends to fit people who prefer applying written rules to a file of records and then issuing a decision others must follow.
Typical education: Doctoral Degree (Ph.D., Ed.D.)
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$117'860
Median Wage Market Position
$117'860
What you might do
- Conduct hearings on claims against government programs
- Decide liability from the law, evidence, and precedent
- Write opinions that explain your rulings
- Review claim files, records, and supporting documents
- Study regulations and past decisions before each hearing
- Authorize payment when a claim proves valid
Skills that matter
- Running government hearings on claims
- Deciding liability, sanctions, or penalties
- Written opinions on claim acceptance or rejection
- Review of applications and supporting records
- Authorizing payment of valid claims
- Research of regulations and precedent decisions
AI & the future of this role
Hearing conduct, credibility assessment, and binding decisions on claims rest on authority, due process, and liability that keep people in the role. Tools may speed record review and draft findings, yet final adjudication is likely to stay human-led.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details