Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators
SOC code 23-1022 · O*NET-SOC 23-1022.00 · Extensive preparation needed · Legal and protective services
Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$75,530
a year
Hourly
$36.31
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$91,010
$43.76 per hour
Middle 50%
$57,360 – $108,000
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$47,220 – $155,440
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
9,210
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $47,220
- $22.70/hr
- 25th percentile
- $57,360
- $27.58/hr
- Median percentile
- $75,530
- $36.31/hr
- 75th percentile
- $108,000
- $51.92/hr
- 90th percentile
- $155,440
- $74.73/hr
Job outlook · federal projection 2024–34
+4%
Growing faster than average
9,100
jobs in 2024
9,500
projected for 2034
About 400 more jobs
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projections, 2024–34. Projections describe the broader occupation group and are estimates, not guarantees.
What do arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators do?
Facilitate negotiation and conflict resolution through dialogue. Resolve conflicts outside of the court system by mutual consent of parties involved.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- 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.
How to qualify for this work
Most people in this role hold first professional degree - awarded for completion of a program that: requires at least 2 years of college work before entrance into the program, includes a total of at least 6 academic years of work to complete, and provides all remaining academic requirements to begin practice in a profession. — 37% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 5 — Extensive preparation needed
- Education
- 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).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Education reported by people doing this job
- First Professional Degree - awarded for completion of a program that: requires at least 2 years of college work before entrance into the program, includes a total of at least 6 academic years of work to complete, and provides all remaining academic requirements to begin practice in a profession.37%
- Bachelor's Degree16%
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate11%
- Master's Degree11%
Common questions
How much does an arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators earn?
The national median is $75,530 a year. The full range runs from $47,220 at the 10th percentile to $155,440 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become an arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators without a degree?
Not usually — this occupation sits in preparation zone 5, where the typical entry route is 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). The education breakdown above shows what people in the role actually reported.
Is arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators in demand?
Federal projections expect employment to grow by about 4% between 2024 and 2034 — growing faster than average. Openings also come from people retiring or changing jobs, which the growth figure does not count.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Active Listening4.4/5
- Writing4.3/5
- Reading Comprehension4.1/5
- Speaking4.1/5
- Critical Thinking4.0/5
- Active Learning3.9/5
Knowledge areas
- English Language4.2/5
- Law and Government4.2/5
- Personnel and Human Resources4.0/5
- Administration and Management3.0/5
- Education and Training2.7/5
- Economics and Accounting2.6/5
- Computers and Electronics2.6/5
- Psychology2.5/5
Transferable strengths: Negotiation, Social Perceptiveness, Persuasion, Complex Problem Solving.