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Arbitrator / Mediator

$75,530
median / year
$47,220 – $155,440
what most earn per year (10th–90th percentile)

What the job actually is

Guide parties through disputes or hear evidence and issue decisions outside the traditional court process.

You may also see this posted as: Alternative Dispute Resolution Coordinator (ADR Coordinator), Arbitrator, Labor Arbitrator, Mediator, Arbiter, Divorce Mediator.

Where you work

Law offices, government, courts, conference rooms, and remote sessions.

The hours

Full-time, part-time, or contract; schedules follow cases.

The day to day

What you'd actually spend time doing

  • 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.

Good fit if you like…

Enterprising

leading, persuading, selling, or turning an idea into action

Conventional

organizing information, following systems, and getting details right

Social

helping, teaching, caring for, or supporting other people

O*NET job zone 5 of 5

Extensive preparation—often graduate education and significant experience—is common.

Work styles that matter most

IntegrityCooperationSelf-ControlDependability

Software that shows up in the work

Examples employers report—not a checklist you must already know.

Microsoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft WordMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft PowerPoint

By the numbers

May 2025 BLS wage & employment data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.

Median pay
$75,530
per year
Hourly median
$36.31
per hour
What most earn
$47,220–$155,440
yearly, 10th to 90th percentile
Openings a year
~300
projected, 2024–34
Outlook to 2034
+4.3%
About average
Working in the U.S.
9,210
people, nationwide

Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.

“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.

BLS estimates 9.1% of workers in this occupation are self-employed.

What it pays in your state

Statewide medians are a better starting point than the national number. Your city and experience still matter.

BLS state wage tables

How you get in

Typical starting education

Bachelor's degree

Training path: Bachelor's degree plus specialized training and relevant experience.

Related work experience: Less than 5 years.

On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training.

License or certification

Requirements vary by state and practice area; courts often maintain approved rosters.

Check the path where you live

Licensing rules and available programs change by state. These federal tools take you to the current official listings.

What it takes

Conflict resolutionListeningNegotiationLegal reasoning

The honest take

Helps people and organizations resolve disputes outside court through structured negotiation or a binding decision.

Standard Occupational Classification 23-1022. Pay and employment from the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey; outlook and openings from the 2024–34 employment projections; job context from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; tasks, interests, work styles, software examples, and job zone from O*NET 30.3. See something off? Tell us.