Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators: Career Profile
Facilitate negotiation and conflict resolution through dialogue. Resolve conflicts outside of the court system by mutual consent of parties involved.
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What Do Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators Do?
Typical responsibilities of arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators cover:
- 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.
What Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators Need to Know
Top arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The abilities that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Other Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators Job Titles
Common job titles for this role include:
- Adjudicator
- Alternative Dispute Resolution Coordinator (ADR Coordinator)
- Alternative Dispute Resolution Mediator (ADR Mediator)
- Arbiter
- Arbitration Manager
- Arbitration Specialist
- Arbitrator
- Community Relations Representative (Community Relations Rep)
Employment and Demand
The U.S. employs around 213,771 arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +0.6% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $93,794 |
| Hourly median | $45.09 |
| 10th percentile | $58,165 |
| 25th percentile | $75,980 |
| 75th percentile | $111,608 |
| 90th percentile | $129,423 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $106,720 |
| Illinois | $93,590 |
| New York | $91,060 |
| Alabama | $82,160 |
| Connecticut | $81,630 |
| Arizona | $80,600 |
| North Carolina | $74,050 |
| Michigan | $72,630 |
| Indiana | $71,820 |
| Virginia | $70,080 |
| Kansas | $66,000 |
| Colorado | $65,270 |
| Wisconsin | $65,140 |
| New Mexico | $64,560 |
| Pennsylvania | $63,870 |
| Tennessee | $60,380 |
| Utah | $55,890 |
| South Carolina | $55,300 |
| Iowa | $51,140 |
| Puerto Rico | $48,330 |
| Maryland | $48,230 |
| Louisiana | $47,940 |
| Texas | $47,910 |
| North Dakota | $43,900 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Earnings for arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators differ across the country. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Atlantic | $79,573 | 29.7% | 1.00 |
| Great Lakes | $71,181 | 18.2% | 1.11 |
| Southeast | $70,043 | 7.8% | 0.36 |
| Rocky Mountains | $61,518 | 3.4% | 0.44 |
| Southwest | $54,462 | 28.7% | 0.92 |
| Other U.S. Territories | $48,330 | 2.0% | 1.29 |
| Plains States | $29,972 | 3.7% | 0.67 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $126,750 | 90 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | NY | $124,590 | 30 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | CA | $116,700 | 90 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $108,350 | 200 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | IL | $107,010 | 30 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | CA | $105,780 | 110 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | CA | $100,560 | 100 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | DC | $97,420 |
Top Industries Employing Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators
The bulk of arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 3,260 | n/a |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 570 | $53,810 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 490 | $53,600 |
| Educational Services | 440 | $118,350 |
| Finance and Insurance | 150 | $78,110 |
| Wholesale Trade | 110 | $50,130 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 80 | $60,760 |
Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators work in the following industries:
Tools and Technology
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Document management software: Microsoft SharePoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software: Oracle PeopleSoft (hot technology)
- Customer relationship management CRM software: Salesforce software (hot technology)
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software: SAP software (hot technology)
Work Environment
The work environment for arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Spend Time Sitting
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
How to Become Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators
This occupation sits in Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Compliance Managers (Supplemental)
- Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators (Primary-Long)
- Compliance Officers (Supplemental)
- Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers (Primary-Long)
- Government Property Inspectors and Investigators (Supplemental)
- Labor Relations Specialists (Primary-Short)
- Management Analysts (Supplemental)
- Financial Examiners (Primary-Long)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Students preparing for arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators typically earn programs in:
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
2 programs across 2 majors
Legal Professions and Studies
1 programs across 1 majors
Sources
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 23-1022.00 (Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators).