Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers
SOC Code: 23-1021 Job Zone 5: Extensive Preparation Needed
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.
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Prevailing Wage Levels (National)
DOL/OFLC prevailing wage thresholds for Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers. Hourly rates x 2,080 = annual.
FY2027 Weighted Lottery Impact
| Level | Lottery Entries | Est. Selection Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Level I (Entry) | 1 entry | ~16% |
| Level II (Qualified) | 2 entries | ~31% |
| Level III (Experienced) | 3 entries | ~45% |
| Level IV (Expert) | 4 entries | ~61% |
Prevailing Wages by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Level I | Level II | Level III | Level IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chico, CA | $204,776 | $214,011 | $223,267 | $232,502 |
| Redding, CA | $144,934 | $173,243 | $201,552 | $229,861 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $183,373 | $198,619 | $213,845 | $229,091 |
| Visalia, CA | $126,381 | $159,994 | $193,586 | $227,198 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $128,710 | $161,283 | $193,856 | $226,429 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $143,250 | $170,872 | $198,515 | $226,138 |
| Merced, CA | $124,446 | $156,728 | $189,010 | $221,291 |
| Salinas, CA | $124,862 | $156,582 | $188,302 | $220,022 |
| El Centro, CA | $135,346 | $162,947 | $190,549 | $218,150 |
| Modesto, CA | $125,299 | $154,918 | $184,558 | $214,178 |
Key Skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Active Listening | 4.2 | |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.2 | |
| Critical Thinking | 4.2 | |
| Writing | 4.1 | |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 4.1 | |
| Speaking | 4.0 | |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.9 | |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.9 | |
| Active Learning | 3.8 | |
| Monitoring | 3.6 |
Knowledge Areas
| Knowledge | Importance |
|---|---|
| Law and Government | 4.8 |
| English Language | 4.1 |
| Customer and Personal Service | 3.9 |
| Administrative | 3.4 |
| Medicine and Dentistry | 3.3 |
| Administration and Management | 3.3 |
| Computers and Electronics | 2.8 |
| Mathematics | 2.7 |
Education Requirements
| Education Level | % of Workers |
|---|---|
| Post-first professional | 37.3% |
| Bachelor's degree | 19.9% |
| First professional degree (MD, JD) | 13.8% |
| Associate's degree | 11.2% |
| Post-secondary certificate | 11.2% |
| Other | 5.1% |
| Doctoral degree | 1.4% |
Typical Tasks
- Prepare written opinions and decisions.
- Review and evaluate data on documents, such as claim applications, birth or death certificates, or physician or employer records.
- Research and analyze laws, regulations, policies, and precedent decisions to prepare for hearings and to determine conclusions.
- Confer with individuals or organizations involved in cases to obtain relevant information.
- Recommend the acceptance or rejection of claims or compromise settlements according to laws, regulations, policies, and precedent decisions.
- Explain to claimants how they can appeal rulings that go against them.
- 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.
- Authorize payment of valid claims and determine method of payment.
Technology Skills
Green = Hot Technology in demand
Adobe Acrobat Microsoft Access Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Windows Microsoft Word SAP software Courtroom scheduling software Email software Instant messaging software LexisNexis Online databases Thomson Reuters Westlaw
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