Administrative Law Judge
SSA, NLRB, agency ALJ
About the profession
Administrative Law Judges preside over agency hearings at SSA, NLRB, SEC, FERC, and others. Competitive exam (ALJE) required for SSA positions. Federal career with pay near GS-15/SES. It's judicial work without Article III tenure.
How to Get Started
Take a personality test to see if Administrative Law Judge fits your profile
Career Match Test →Explore the Career Path section to see progression from junior to senior
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Jump to Learning Path →Career Path
Your career progression roadmap with salary growth at each level
Career Ladder
ALJ → Senior ALJ → Chief ALJ → Commissioner
Where are you on this career path?
Click a level below to set your current position
Salary Growth
4
Levels
215K
Top Salary
8+
Years
Learning Path
Skills you need to develop and courses to get there
🚀
Set your current level first
Go to the Career Path tab and select your current level to see your personalized learning plan.
Go to Career PathCareer levels
Timeline: 0-2 | Entry Level Base: $125,000 - $148,000/year With equity/bonuses: $137,500 - $177,600 Top markets (SF/NYC): $144,000 - $178,000 Execute core tasks using…
Day in Life
Junior vs Senior — daily schedule breakdown
9am — Review priorities and respond to urgent items 10am — Team standup and progress check 11am — Deep work using Administrative procedure 1pm — Cross-functional meeting with…
Income Dynamics
Conservative and aggressive scenarios for 10–15 years
Year 1: Entry level $87,500 - $112,500 Year 2-3: Junior level $125,000 - $163,500 Year 4-6: Mid level $163,500 - $174,500 Year 7-10: Senior level $174,500 - $201,500 Year 10+:…
Is this for me?
15 questions — answer honestly
You find the craft of a Administrative Law Judge genuinely interesting, not just a paycheck You enjoy working with Administrative procedure and Evidence You communicate clearly…
💰 Salary Range
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