Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers Salary
The median pay for a administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers in District of Columbia is $181,060/year ($87.05/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $107K at the entry level to $207K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.88), so that salary is closer to $166,293 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,146/month, or 20.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across District of Columbia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $181K get you in District of Columbia?
About administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers
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What this looks like in District of Columbia
District of Columbia sits well above the national pay line for administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers, local pay runs about 54% higher than the U.S. median of $118K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $2,146/month, 21.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost-of-living overall is 9% above the national average (BEA RPP 108.88), so groceries and services cost more too. Combined with manageable housing costs, District of Columbia offers a genuinely strong financial position for administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officerss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, District of Columbia
Entry-level administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers (10th percentile) start around $107K. Mid-career wages sit at $181K. Top earners bring in $207K or more, a $100K spread from bottom to top.
Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers salary by metro in District of Columbia
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria | $152K | -16% | 660 |
Compare to other states
Track administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when District of Columbia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officer afford a 2BR apartment alone in District of Columbia?
Yes — at the median salary of $181K, rent takes 21.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,146/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers in District of Columbia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers typically earn — is $107K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $6,423/month. At HUD’s $2,146/month FMR, rent would take 33% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officer a high-paying job in District of Columbia?
Local pay is 54% above the national median — $181K here vs. $118K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 9% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does District of Columbia compare to the national average for administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers?
District of Columbia pays $181K median vs. the U.S. average of $118K — that’s +54%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 108.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $166K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers make in District of Columbia?
The median is $181,060 a year, that works out to about $87 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $107,050, and experienced administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers can clear $207,480. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $181K enough to live in District of Columbia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $10,189/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,146/month, which eats 21.1% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers salary go in District of Columbia?
District of Columbia has a Regional Price Parity of 108.88 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers salary is worth about $166,293 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.