Abstract In this article we study two-dimensional Dirac Hamiltonians with non-commutativity both in coordinates and momenta from an algebraic perspective. In order to do so, we consider the graded Lie algebra s l ( 2 | 1 ) generated by Hermitian bilinear forms in the non-commutative dynamical variables and the Dirac matrices in 2 + 1 dimensions. By further defining a total angular momentum operator, we are able to express a class of Dirac Hamiltonians completely in terms of these operators. In this way, we analyze the energy spectrum of some simple models by constructing and studying the representation spaces of the unitary irreducible representations of the graded Lie algebra s l ( 2 | 1 ) ⊕ s o ( 2 ) . As application of our results, we consider the Landau model and a fermion in a finite cylindrical well.