Summary
| Quick Facts: Judges and Hearing Officers | |
|---|---|
| 2020 Median Pay | $124,200 per year $59.71 per hour |
| Typical Entry-Level Education | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Work Experience in a Related Occupation | 5 years or more |
| On-the-job Training | Short-term on-the-job training |
| Number of Jobs, 2020 | 44,900 |
| Job Outlook, 2020-30 | 3% (Slower than average) |
| Employment Change, 2020-30 | 1,100 |
What Judges and Hearing Officers Do
Judges and hearing officers apply the law by overseeing the legal process in courts.
Work Environment
All judges and hearing officers are employed by the federal government or by local and state governments. Most work in courts.
How to Become a Judge or Hearing Officer
Judges usually have law degrees and work experience as lawyers. However, some administrative law judge, hearing officer, and magistrate positions require only a bachelor’s degree.
Pay
The median annual wage for administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers was $97,520 in May 2020.
The median annual wage for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates was $141,080 in May 2020.
Job Outlook
Overall employment of judges and hearing officers is projected to grow 3 percent from 2020 to 2030, slower than the average for all occupations.
Despite limited employment growth, about 2,200 openings for judges and hearing officers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
State & Area Data
Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for judges and hearing officers.
Similar Occupations
Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of judges and hearing officers with similar occupations.
More Information, Including Links to O*NET
Learn more about judges and hearing officers by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
