Career Overview
Conduct hearings to recommend or make decisions on claims concerning government programs or other government-related matters. Determine liability, sanctions, or penalties, or recommend the acceptance or rejection of claims or settlements.
Also Known As
- Administrative Hearings Officer
- Administrative Judge
- Administrative Law Judge
- Hearings Officer
Alternate Job Titles
- Adjudications Specialist
- Adjudicator
- Administrative Hearing Officer
- Administrative Hearings Officer
- Administrative Judge
- Administrative Law Judge
- Appeals Examiner
- Appeals Officer
- Appeals Referee
- Appellate Conferee
- Child Support Hearing Officer
- Claims Adjudicator
- Clinical Appeals Reviewer
- County Ordinary
- Disability Hearing Officer
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Determine existence and amount of liability according to current laws, administrative and judicial precedents, and available evidence.
- Monitor and direct the activities of trials and hearings to ensure that they are conducted fairly and that courts administer justice while safeguarding the legal rights of all involved parties.
- Prepare written opinions and decisions.
- Authorize payment of valid claims and determine method of payment.
- Conduct hearings to review and decide claims regarding issues, such as social program eligibility, environmental protection, or enforcement of health and safety regulations.
- Research and analyze laws, regulations, policies, and precedent decisions to prepare for hearings and to determine conclusions.
- Review and evaluate data on documents, such as claim applications, birth or death certificates, or physician or employer records.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Law and Government
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Writing
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Speaking
- Social Perceptiveness
- Complex Problem Solving
- Active Learning
- Monitoring
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Comprehension
- Written Comprehension
- Inductive Reasoning
- Deductive Reasoning
- Written Expression
- Oral Expression
- Problem Sensitivity
- Speech Clarity
- Speech Recognition
- Information Ordering
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Integrity
- Attention to Detail
- Dependability
- Self-Control
- Cautiousness
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Achievement
- Recognition
- Working Conditions
- Independence
- Relationships
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Doctoral Degree
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
On-the-Job Training: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year
Education Details: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Experience Required: Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Adobe Acrobat
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft Word
- SAP software
Tools & Equipment
- Computer laser printers
- Courtroom microphones
- Desktop computers
- Digital audio recorders
- Digital video players
- Gavels
- Laptop computers
- Laser facsimile machines
- Multiline telephone systems
- Personal computers
- Tablet computers
- Teleconferencing equipment
- Videoconferencing equipment
Work Environment
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Spend Time Sitting
- Frequency of Decision Making
- Deal With External Customers or the Public in General
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $56,970 |
| Median | $115,230 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $203,990 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 16,230
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates
Education: Doctoral Degree
Median Salary: $156,210
Judicial Law Clerks
Education: Doctoral Degree
Median Salary: $60,400
Lawyers
Education: Doctoral Degree
Median Salary: $151,160
Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators
Education: First Professional Degree - awarded for completion of a program that: requires at least 2 years of college work before entrance into the program, includes a total of at least 6 academic years of work to complete, and provides all remaining academic requirements to begin practice in a profession.
Median Salary: $67,710
Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $76,790
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.