GS-0935 Administrative Law Judge — Federal Salary & Workforce Data (2026)
Federal Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) — GS-0935. The verified average salary for GS-0935 Administrative Law Judges is $208,631/year (OPM FedScope, 2026). Data from 1,186 non-redacted OPM records (April 2026).
Salary Source: OPM Federal Workforce Data (EHRI Snapshot, April 2026) • Records included: 1,186 • Redaction rate: 0.0%
GS-0935 Administrative Law Judge — Pay at a Glance
Salary and workforce snapshot from OPM EHRI Employment Snapshot, April 2026.
The GS-0935 Administrative Law Judge series showed 1,186 non-redacted federal employees in the April 2026 OPM snapshot. The verified average salary is $208,631/year (OPM FedScope, 2026). Use our GS Pay Calculator for your exact salary by grade, step, and location.
Salary = base pay + locality pay; excludes benefits. REDACTED records (OPM data release policy) are excluded from averages. Pay plan: Administrative Law Judge Pay System (AL). View occupation salary detail on OPM FedScope →
GS-0935 Employment Overview
| Metric | Value | Source & Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Series Salary | $208,631 | OPM EHRI Snapshot (April 2026). 1,186 non-redacted records. Base + locality pay; excludes benefits. |
| Non-redacted records (sample size) | 1,186 | OPM EHRI Employment Snapshot, April 2026. REDACTED records excluded per OPM data release policy. |
| Redaction rate | 0.0% | OPM redacts salary records for privacy-sensitive positions (DoD, law enforcement, intelligence). FedTools suppresses series averages when redaction exceeds 20%. |
| Pay plan(s) | Administrative Law Judge Pay System (AL) | Primary pay plan(s) used for this occupational series in the federal government. |
| Typical grades | AL-1 to AL-3 (not on GS schedule) | Most common grade range for this series. Actual assignment depends on the position description and agency. |
| Locality pay | 17.06% – 46.34% | Varies by duty station across 58 OPM pay areas. Rate x base pay = locality supplement. Included in the average salary above. |
| Pay cap (2026) | $197,200 | Executive Schedule Level IV. Applies to GS employees whose locality-adjusted salary would exceed this amount. Title 38 and special pay plans may exceed this cap. |
Top Agencies Employing GS-0935 Administrative Law Judges
Based on OPM EHRI Employment Snapshot (April 2026). Actual grade, step, and locality assignment varies by position and location.
- →Social Security Administration (SSA)
- →Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals (OMHA / HHS)
- →National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)
- →Department of Labor (DOL)
Key Duties — GS-0935 Administrative Law Judge
Representative duties for the 0935 occupational series based on OPM classification standards. Specific responsibilities vary by position and agency.
- →Presiding over formal adjudicatory hearings under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA)
- →Social Security disability and SSI appeals hearings (SSA — by far the largest ALJ employer)
- →Medicare coverage and payment dispute hearings (OMHA)
- →Labor relations dispute adjudication (NLRB, DOL)
- →Issuing legally binding initial decisions subject to agency review
About the GS-0935 Administrative Law Judge Series
Administrative Law Judges are appointed under the Administrative Procedure Act of 1946 and are protected from agency pressure by stringent independence requirements and fixed pay under the AL pay system (not the GS schedule). SSA employs the largest contingent of ALJs — over 1,700 — at Hearing Offices nationwide, hearing disability appeals. The zero redaction rate makes this the most precisely measured series. The $208,631 average reflects the AL-1 to AL-3 pay bands, which range from approximately $140,000 to $225,000, with most experienced ALJs at AL-2 or AL-3. ALJ appointment requires bar admission, 7 years' professional legal experience, and passing an OPM-administered examination.
Calculate Your Exact GS-0935 Salary
Your actual pay depends on your GS grade, step, and duty station locality. Use our free calculator for an instant, accurate result.
GS-0935 Administrative Law Judge — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary for a GS-0935 Administrative Law Judge?
The verified average salary for the GS-0935 Administrative Law Judge series is $208,631 as of 2026, based on OPM EHRI Employment Snapshot data (1,186 non-redacted records; 0.0% redaction rate). Use our GS Pay Calculator to find your exact pay by grade, step, and duty station.
What GS grades apply to the 0935 series?
The GS-0935 Administrative Law Judge series typically spans AL-1 to AL-3 (not on GS schedule). Actual grade assignment depends on the position description, agency, and your qualifications. Use our GS Pay Calculator to look up the exact salary for any grade, step, and locality.
Which agencies employ GS-0935 Administrative Law Judges?
The largest federal employers of GS-0935 Administrative Law Judges include: Social Security Administration (SSA), Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals (OMHA / HHS), National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), Department of Labor (DOL). These figures are based on the OPM EHRI Employment Snapshot (April 2026).
How is federal pay determined for GS-0935 positions?
Federal civilian pay for GS positions = Base Pay (by grade and step) × (1 + Locality Rate). The GS table has 15 grades (GS-1 through GS-15) and 10 steps per grade. Locality adjustments range from 17.06% (Rest of U.S.) to 46.34% in San Jose–San Francisco. Use our GS Pay Calculator for an instant result.
Do GS-0935 federal employees receive FERS retirement benefits?
Yes, most GS-0935 positions qualify for the full federal benefits package: FERS pension (1–1.1% × High-3 Salary × Years of Service), TSP with up to 5% agency match, FEHB health insurance (government pays ~70% of premium), FEGLI life insurance, and FEDVIP dental/vision. Use our FERS Retirement Calculator to estimate your retirement income.
Other Federal Job Series Pay Pages
Salary data and workforce details for every GS occupational series in our database.
Data Accuracy Notice (YMYL): Salary figures are from the OPM Federal Workforce Data portal (EHRI Employment Snapshot, April 2026). The annualized_adjusted_basic_pay field captures base pay + locality pay under all pay plans (GS, Title 38, special rates). REDACTED records are excluded per OPM data release policy. FedTools publishes series-specific averages only when the non-redacted sample is representative (redaction ≤ 20%, n ≥ 50). This page does not constitute financial or career advice. Always verify current pay rates with your agency HR office and OPM.gov.