Judge
Median wage · national
$153,990
Range: $86K – $195K
Employed
24K
Openings/yr
800
Typically: doctoral or professional degree
HUMANITIES
Arbitrators & Mediators
Arbitrators & Mediators earn $75,530 nationally at the median. The middle 50% of workers fall between $57,360 and $108,000. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and experience.
About Arbitrators & Mediators
This page sets out what the federal data says about working as a arbitrators & mediators: what the job pays, how fast it is growing, and what it takes to get in. Most people arrive through a degree in Law and what it leads to, though it is not the only route.
Facilitate negotiation and conflict resolution through dialogue. Resolve conflicts outside of the court system by mutual consent of parties involved.
- Median Wage
- $75,530
- Employed Nationally
- 9K
- Openings / Year
- 300
- Entry Education
- Bachelor's degree
- Job Zone
- Zone 5: Extensive Preparation
Also known as:
Adjudicator
Alternative Dispute Resolution Coordinator (ADR Coordinator)
Alternative Dispute Resolution Mediator (ADR Mediator)
Arbiter
Arbitration Manager
How Much Do Arbitrators & Mediators Make?
Most arbitrators & mediators take home around $75,530 a year, above what most college graduates make. Half earn somewhere between $57,360 and $108,000, so where you land depends a lot on employer, specialty and city. A solid living in most parts of the country. Source: BLS.
A wage on its own says nothing about whether the degree behind it pays for itself, which is a question of lifetime earnings set against the total cost of getting there.
$75,530
National Median (Annual)
Above the national median for college graduates.
$57K–$108K
Middle 50% Range
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
Earnings Range
$57,360
Entry-level
$75,530
Median
$108,000
Experienced
The mean wage for this occupation is $91,010, above the median. A concentration of very high earners pulls the average up. The median is the better gauge of typical pay.
What Do Arbitrators & Mediators Do?
This is what the job actually looks like on a Tuesday: 5 core activities and 5 skills the work depends on. Read it before the salary, because pay matters less than whether you would want to spend your days doing this. Source: O*NET.
What You'll Do
- 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.
Core Skills Employers Look For
Negotiation
Active Listening
Writing
Speaking
Reading Comprehension
Who Thrives Here
E
Enterprising
Leadership, influence, and business acumen are rewarded here, where managing teams, driving decisions, or persuading others shapes career outcomes.
C
Conventional
Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.
S
Social
Working closely with people, teaching, advising, or helping others navigate challenges is a defining feature of this career's daily work.
Where Do Arbitrators & Mediators Work?
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Work Setting
Mixed
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Physical Demands
Light
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Stress Level
Moderate
Moderate pressure. Regular deadlines exist but are generally manageable with experience.
What Is the Job Outlook for Arbitrators & Mediators?
Through 2035 the BLS expects this field to change by +4.7%, meaning it is growing at about the same pace as everything else, so expect steady demand. Around 300 roles open up each year, which is the number that matters most if you are starting out. Source: BLS.
Growth rates are only meaningful next to other occupations, and the full list of careers with their projected growth puts this one in context.
↗ +4.7%
10-Year Growth (2025–2035)
About as fast as average.
300
Annual Openings
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
9K
Currently Employed
Total US employment as of BLS May 2025.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025.
Where the Jobs Are
The five states below employ the most Arbitrators & Mediators professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $75,530 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | 1,050 | $70,800 | -6.3% |
| 2 | Pennsylvania | 310 | $67,890 | -10.1% |
| 3 | Wisconsin | 260 | — | — |
| 4 | Michigan | 190 | $76,270 | +1.0% |
| 5 | Arizona | 160 | $82,150 | +8.8% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
How to Get Here
To get hired here you will usually need a bachelor's degree. The 3 programs below are the most common routes in, ordered by how many people actually graduate from each one.
The next most common path is a Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution program and the colleges offering it, which suits a different kind of applicant.
Typical Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
Job Zone
Zone 5: Extensive Preparation
Extensive education (usually a master's or doctoral degree) plus years of field experience is required to qualify for most positions.
Degree Programs That Lead Here
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Law | 35,647 | $142,745 | 212 |
| 2 | Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution | 1,074 | $63,114 | 111 |
| 3 | Dispute Resolution | 652 | — | 41 |
Top Colleges for Aspiring Arbitrators & Mediators
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | 93 | $12,548 | $82,511 |
| 2 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA | 93 | $13,481 | $92,446 |
| 3 | University of Florida Gainesville, FL | 93 | $6,541 | $71,588 |
| 4 | University of California-Irvine Irvine, CA | 92 | $14,251 | $80,735 |
| 5 | Stanford University Stanford, CA | 92 | $13,807 | $124,080 |
| 6 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI | 91 | $13,138 | $83,648 |
Plan Your Path
Once you've sized up Arbitrators & Mediators, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
College ROI Calculator
See if the degree that leads to Arbitrators & Mediators pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
College Cost Calculator
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Compare Colleges
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
College Match Quiz
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Arbitrators & Mediators Pros & Cons
The data on Arbitrators & Mediators shows 3 measurable strengths and 2 real trade-offs. All points are drawn from BLS wage data, employment projections, and IPEDS program completions.
PROS
- Above-average pay At $75,530 median annually, this career pays meaningfully more than most college-graduate roles. Financial return on education is typically strong.
- Steady job outlook The BLS projects +4.7% growth through 2035, keeping pace with the national average. Demand is stable and annual openings remain consistent.
- High earning ceiling Top earners (75th percentile) reach $108,000 annually. Strong performers, specialists, and those in high-cost markets have significant upside beyond the median.
CONS
- Extensive preparation before reaching full earning potential This is a Job Zone 5 occupation, extensive education (usually a master's or doctoral degree) plus years of field experience is required to qualify for most positions. Most workers in this field spend their first several years at entry-level pay well below the $75,530 median while building the experience employers require.
- Entry-level pay well below the national median The 25th percentile wage of $57,360 is considerably below the $75,530 median. Early-career workers typically spend 5 or more years building toward typical pay. Factor this into any program ROI calculation.
Arbitrators & Mediators Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Arbitrators & Mediators professionals earn?
Around $75,530 a year for the typical worker, above the national median for full-time workers. The middle 50% of earners fall between $57,360 and $108,000. Treat the national figure as a starting point rather than a promise: employer size, industry and city all move it.
Is Arbitrators & Mediators a good career?
Yes, for the right person, but the commitment is significant. The $75,530 median wage reflects years of training most workers invest, and the path to a first career-level role typically spans 8 to 12 or more years. Job growth of +4.7% through 2035 means demand is real. The harder question is whether the education investment at your specific program will pay off. School selection matters enormously at this preparation level.
How long does it take to work as Arbitrators & Mediators?
Plan on 8 to 12 or more years of combined education and supervised training before qualifying for career-level roles. A bachelor's degree is the typical minimum credential. Degree programs like Law are typical entry paths. Early-career pay during this ramp-up period will be meaningfully below the $75,530 national median. Factor that gap into any program ROI calculation.
What is the job outlook for Arbitrators & Mediators?
Employment is projected to change by +4.7% through 2035, about as fast as average compared with other occupations. Around 300 roles open each year once you count people retiring and moving on, which matters more to someone starting out than the growth rate does. 9K people do this job nationwide today, so it is an established field rather than a niche one. Source: BLS May 2025.
Why do Arbitrators & Mediators salaries vary so widely?
The $50,640 gap between the 25th ($57,360) and 75th ($108,000) percentile reflects how much employer type, industry, specialization, and geography affect pay. Entry-level roles and lower-demand markets cluster near the bottom; senior, specialized, or high-cost-metro positions push the top. In fields with this much spread, where you work and what you specialize in often matters more than years of experience.
What skills do Arbitrators & Mediators professionals need?
Mainly Negotiation, Active Listening, Writing, Speaking, and Reading Comprehension. Notice how many of those are habits rather than facts: they come from doing the work, not from a lecture. That is why programs with an internship or co-op requirement put you ahead of people who only studied the theory. Source: O*NET.
Related Findings
-
10 Six-Figure Careers That Do Not Need a Bachelor's Degree
Air traffic controllers earn more than the typical bachelor's-degree career, with an associate degree. The occupations that pay six figures without four years of college.
- No bachelor degree
- High paying careers
- Associate degree
- Trades
- Median wage
-
Does a Master's Degree Pay Off? Barely, on Average
Group every career by the degree it requires and master's-level jobs pay a median of about $91,000, statistically tied with bachelor's-level work. The premium hides in a few fields.
- Master's degree
- Bachelor's degree
- Median wage
- Graduate school
- Career outcomes
-
Growing and Paying $80K Plus: The Careers That Do Both
Only 106 of 393 federal careers both pay a median above $80,000 and grow faster than the typical job. Here is the rare set that clears both bars.
- Career growth
- Median wage
- High-paying careers
- Job outlook
- Career change
Continue Exploring
Browse our full directory: every college, major, program, and career we track, all built from verified government data.
Colleges
Discover 3,811 verified US colleges and universities. Compare admissions, costs, outcomes, and earnings across every accredited institution nationwide.
Majors
Explore 38 fields of study spanning STEM, health, business, and the humanities. See earnings, top programs, and demand.
Programs
Browse 375 specific degree programs. See completion counts, earnings outcomes, and the colleges awarding the most graduates each year.
Careers
Look up 395 BLS occupations. Get median wages, growth projections, education requirements, and the majors leading to each career.