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Administrative law judge salary
Average administrative law judge salary
$68,512
Average Administrative Law Judge Salary
The salary for an Administrative Law Judge varies based on location, experience, and specialization. Currently, the average annual salary is $68,512, or $33 per hour. This compensation reflects the significant responsibilities these judges hold, including presiding over administrative hearings and making determinations on disputes involving government regulations.
Factors Influencing Salary
- Experience: Entry-level judges typically earn less than their more seasoned counterparts.
- Location: States like California and New York often offer higher salaries due to the cost of living and demand for legal expertise.
- Field Specialization: Judges specializing in complex regulatory areas may command higher salaries.
Administrative Law Judges can expect to see salary growth with experience and additional qualifications. For those considering this career path, understanding the salary dynamics is vital for making informed decisions.
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Where can an Administrative Law Judge earn more?
Administrative law judge salary estimates from across the web
Average administrative law judge salary by state
The highest-paying states for administrative law judges are Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. The lowest average administrative law judge salary states are Wisconsin, Utah, and Indiana.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for administrative law judges
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $94,034 | $45.21 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $94,610 | $45.49 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $94,936 | $45.64 |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $91,239 | $43.86 |
| 5 | Maryland | $91,646 | $44.06 |
| 6 | Delaware | $92,714 | $44.57 |
| 7 | Montana | $84,494 | $40.62 |
| 8 | New York | $86,312 | $41.50 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $92,678 | $44.56 |
| 10 | Nevada | $90,316 | $43.42 |
| 11 | Ohio | $88,101 | $42.36 |
| 12 | Vermont | $90,550 | $43.53 |
| 13 | South Carolina | $79,683 | $38.31 |
| 14 | Colorado | $82,006 | $39.43 |
| 15 | West Virginia | $87,291 | $41.97 |
| 16 | Kentucky | $83,243 | $40.02 |
| 17 | Virginia | $78,981 | $37.97 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $76,703 | $36.88 |
| 19 | Arizona | $75,123 | $36.12 |
| 20 | Iowa | $70,812 | $34.04 |
| 21 | Idaho | $71,993 | $34.61 |
| 22 | Wyoming | $69,028 | $33.19 |
| 23 | South Dakota | $83,083 | $39.94 |
| 24 | Oregon | $74,913 | $36.02 |
| 25 | Hawaii | $74,534 | $35.83 |
| 26 | Maine | $73,249 | $35.22 |
| 27 | Louisiana | $79,793 | $38.36 |
| 28 | Washington | $71,082 | $34.17 |
| 29 | New Jersey | $79,258 | $38.10 |
| 30 | Illinois | $72,978 | $35.09 |
| 31 | Minnesota | $71,414 | $34.33 |
| 32 | Florida | $63,588 | $30.57 |
| 33 | North Carolina | $68,527 | $32.95 |
| 34 | Nebraska | $63,482 | $30.52 |
| 35 | Kansas | $68,201 | $32.79 |
| 36 | Alaska | $44,213 | $21.26 |
| 37 | Texas | $54,784 | $26.34 |
| 38 | Tennessee | $54,215 | $26.06 |
| 39 | Alabama | $64,552 | $31.03 |
| 40 | Wisconsin | $52,200 | $25.10 |
| 41 | Michigan | $61,021 | $29.34 |
| 42 | New Mexico | $57,390 | $27.59 |
| 43 | California | $52,591 | $25.28 |
| 44 | Missouri | $60,538 | $29.10 |
| 45 | Georgia | $53,065 | $25.51 |
| 46 | Utah | $51,385 | $24.70 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $53,715 | $25.82 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $53,494 | $25.72 |
| 49 | North Dakota | $49,395 | $23.75 |
| 50 | Indiana | $50,597 | $24.33 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $46,583 | $22.40 |
Highest paying cities for administrative law judges
The highest-paying cities for administrative law judges are Baltimore, MD, Phoenix, AZ, and Seattle, WA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baltimore, MD | $91,917 | $44.19 |
| 2 | Phoenix, AZ | $75,441 | $36.27 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $71,041 | $34.15 |
| 4 | Des Moines, IA | $70,349 | $33.82 |
| 5 | Oklahoma City, OK | $53,634 | $25.79 |
| 6 | Little Rock, AR | $53,224 | $25.59 |
| 7 | Atlanta, GA | $53,203 | $25.58 |
| 8 | Indianapolis, IN | $50,410 | $24.24 |
| 9 | Anchorage, AK | $43,814 | $21.06 |
Administrative law judge salary details
An administrative law judge's salary ranges from $40,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $117,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is an administrative law judge's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $117,000 | $9,750 | $56 |
| 75th Percentile | $90,000 | $7,500 | $43 |
| Average | $68,512 | $5,709 | $33 |
| 25th Percentile | $51,000 | $4,250 | $25 |
| 10th Percentile | $40,000 | $3,333 | $19 |
Highest paying administrative law judge jobs
The highest paying types of administrative law judges are hearing examiner, hearing officer, and administrative hearing officer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hearing Officer | $63,003 | $5,250 | $30.29 | 56,514 |
| Law Internship | $39,394 | $3,283 | $18.94 | 51,663 |
Top companies hiring administrative law judges now:
Which companies pay administrative law judges the most?
Administrative law judge salaries at United States Courts and Washington State University are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average administrative law judge salary at companies like Alaska State Library and Iowa Department of Transportation are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States Courts | $74,502 | $35.82 |
| 2 | Washington State University | $71,049 | $34.16 |
| 3 | Alaska State Library | $59,579 | $28.64 |
| 4 | Iowa Department of Transportation | $54,808 | $26.35 |
| 5 | Indiana State Police | $52,104 | $25.05 |
| 6 | State of Georgia: Teachers Retirement System of Georgia | $51,474 | $24.75 |
| 7 | Randstad North America, Inc. | $47,848 | $23.00 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Administrative law judge salary trends
The average administrative law judge salary has risen by $8,662 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average administrative law judge earned $59,850 annually, but today, they earn $68,512 a year. That works out to a 6% change in pay for administrative law judges over the last decade.
Compare administrative law judge salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average administrative law judge salary over time
Compare administrative law judge salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Administrative law judge salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $68,500 | $32.94 | -0.4% |
| 2024 | $68,800 | $33.06 | -2.0% |
| 2023 | $70,100 | $33.73 | +5.1% |
| 2022 | $66,600 | $32.02 | +2.8% |
| 2021 | $64,700 | $31.11 | +1.6% |
Recently added administrative law judge salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Axius Technologies Inc. | Hearing Officer/Administrative Law Judge | Phoenix, AZ | 06/29/2025 | $62,610 |
| State of Kansas | Administrative Law Judge | Shawnee, KS | 06/27/2025 | $129,740 |
| State of New York | Administrative Law Judge/Assistant Administrative Law Judge (NY Helps)-New York County | New York, NY | 06/26/2025 | $82,326 |
| The Agency | Administrative Law Judge | Chicago, IL | 06/25/2025 | $95,592 |
| Axius Technologies Inc. | Hearing Officer/Administrative Law Judge | Phoenix, AZ | 05/26/2025 | $62,610 |
| State of Arkansas | Department Administrative Law Judge | Little Rock, AR | 05/17/2025 | $69,776 |
| Arizona Department of Administration | Administrative Law Judge | Phoenix, AZ | 04/22/2025 | $95,000 |
| State of Arizona | Administrative Law Judge | Phoenix, AZ | 04/18/2025 | $95,000 |
| State of Minnesota | Supervising Unemployment Law Judge-Attorney 4 | Saint Paul, MN | 04/12/2025 | $94,022 |
| State of New York | Administrative Law Judge/Assistant Administrative Law Judge (NY Helps)-Kings County | New York, NY | 04/11/2025 | $82,326 |
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