Arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $47,220 | $22.70 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $75,530 | $36.31 |
| Mean (average) | $91,010 | $43.76 |
| 90th percentile | $155,440 | $74.73 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 26 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $76,810 | $44,770 | $112,790 | 40 | 0.32 |
| Arizona | $82,150 | $53,650 | $131,150 | 160 | 0.85 |
| California | $97,680 | $56,220 | $317,680 | ||
| Colorado | $82,590 | $38,580 | $123,910 | 30 | 0.18 |
| District of Columbia | $110,300 | $70,100 | $170,990 | 150 | 3.61 |
| Illinois | $162,410 | $76,190 | $163,190 | 80 | 0.22 |
| Indiana | $57,390 | $48,730 | $98,760 | 60 | 0.33 |
| Kansas | $64,970 | $44,410 | $76,960 | 40 | 0.42 |
| Louisiana | $46,100 | $30,700 | $58,760 | 80 | 0.67 |
| Maryland | $58,890 | $45,520 | $124,230 | 80 | 0.49 |
| Michigan | $76,270 | $51,300 | $131,520 | 190 | 0.74 |
| Missouri | Data unavailable | 70 | 0.39 | ||
| Montana | $64,980 | $36,490 | $82,460 | 40 | 1.41 |
| New Mexico | $110,180 | $60,570 | $190,010 | 40 | 0.8 |
| New York | $70,800 | $47,830 | $129,520 | 1,050 | 1.84 |
| North Carolina | $75,320 | $49,040 | $94,480 | 100 | 0.34 |
| Ohio | $68,790 | $45,460 | $133,070 | 130 | 0.38 |
| Oklahoma | $36,780 | $33,420 | $47,490 | ||
| Pennsylvania | $67,890 | $40,680 | $98,070 | 310 | 0.87 |
| Puerto Rico | $50,960 | $37,870 | $60,070 | 70 | 1.22 |
| Rhode Island | $63,770 | $63,410 | $76,740 | ||
| South Carolina | $58,990 | $47,720 | $74,350 | 70 | 0.55 |
| Tennessee | $62,140 | $51,250 | $93,270 | 50 | 0.26 |
| Texas | $50,940 | $18,080 | $78,930 | ||
| Virginia | $79,530 | $51,570 | $139,850 | 120 | 0.47 |
| Wisconsin | Data unavailable | 260 | 1.52 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 300. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 9.5%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- Related work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Law CIP 22.0101
- Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution CIP 30.0501
- Dispute Resolution CIP 30.2801
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Prepare written opinions or decisions regarding cases.
- Apply relevant laws, regulations, policies, or precedents to reach conclusions.
- Conduct hearings to obtain information or evidence relative to disposition of claims.
- Determine extent of liability according to evidence, laws, or administrative or judicial precedents.
- Rule on exceptions, motions, or admissibility of evidence.
- Confer with disputants to clarify issues, identify underlying concerns, and develop an understanding of their respective needs and interests.
- Use mediation techniques to facilitate communication between disputants, to further parties' understanding of different perspectives, and to guide parties toward mutual agreement.
- Conduct initial meetings with disputants to outline the arbitration process, settle procedural matters, such as fees, or determine details, such as witness numbers or time requirements.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft Outlook (in demand)
- Microsoft Word (in demand)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft SharePoint (hot technology)
- Oracle PeopleSoft (hot technology)
- SAP software (hot technology)
- Salesforce software (hot technology)
- Scheduling software
- Web browser software
Transferable skills for career changers: Negotiation, Social Perceptiveness, Persuasion, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Coordination.
Common job titles: Alternative Dispute Resolution Coordinator (ADR Coordinator), Arbiter, Arbitrator, Divorce Mediator, Family Mediator, Federal Mediator, Labor Arbitrator, Labor Mediator, Mediator, Public Employment Mediator.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators make?
The national median annual wage for arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators was $75,530 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $47,220 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $155,440. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators need?
BLS lists bachelor's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with less than 5 years of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators a growing career?
BLS projects employment of arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators to change +4.7% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 300 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Illinois ($162,410), District of Columbia ($110,300), New Mexico ($110,180). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.