Also called: Due Process Hearing Officer, Administrative Hearing Officer (IDEA)
Acts as the judge when parents and a school district disagree about a child's special education, hearing evidence and issuing a legal decision.
In a conference room set up like a small court, you swear in a school psychologist and listen as a parent's lawyer questions her about her son's testing. After three days of hearings you read the records, apply federal disability law, and write a 40-page decision that the district must follow.
Many are contract hearing officers paid per case.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Professional degree (MD, JD, DVM…), about 7 years after high school. Usually a law degree (JD) plus training in special education law.
Ways in: 4-year college, Professional school. Training cost: Over $150k.
Majors to look at: Law, Special Education, Political Science.
Growing about average. Steady; every state must provide hearings under federal law.
Low risk for 10 years. AI can sort records and research law; hearing witnesses and making binding, fair decisions stay human.
Classes: AP Government, English composition, Speech & debate.
Official data: O*NET occupation 23-1021.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.