Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators salary in the U.S.
Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators in the U.S. earn a median of $75,530 a year ($36.31 an hour), based on BLS data for 9,210 workers.
Pay ranges from $47,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $155,440 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $91,010, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,220 | $22.70 |
| 25th percentile | $57,360 | $27.58 |
| Median | $75,530 | $36.31 |
| 75th percentile | $108,000 | $51.92 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $155,440 | $74.73 |
| Average (mean) | $91,010 | $43.76 |
Half of arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,294.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,147.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,905 |
| Weekly | $1,452.50 |
| Hourly | $36.31 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois | $162,410 | 80 |
| District of Columbia | $110,300 | 150 |
| New Mexico | $110,180 | 40 |
| California | $97,680 | n/a |
| Colorado | $82,590 | 30 |
| Arizona | $82,150 | 160 |
| Virginia | $79,530 | 120 |
| Alabama | $76,810 | 40 |
| Michigan | $76,270 | 190 |
| North Carolina | $75,320 | 100 |
| New York | $70,800 | 1,050 |
| Ohio | $68,790 | 130 |
| Pennsylvania | $67,890 | 310 |
| Montana | $64,980 | 40 |
| Kansas | $64,970 | 40 |
| Rhode Island | $63,770 | n/a |
| Tennessee | $62,140 | 50 |
| South Carolina | $58,990 | 70 |
| Maryland | $58,890 | 80 |
| Indiana | $57,390 | 60 |
| Puerto Rico | $50,960 | 70 |
| Texas | $50,940 | n/a |
| Louisiana | $46,100 | 80 |
| Oklahoma | $36,780 | n/a |
Best-paying metro areas for arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $129,180 | 130 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $112,620 | 60 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $109,920 | 190 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $108,570 | 30 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $108,150 | 200 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $106,910 | 100 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $105,430 | 50 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $105,190 | 30 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $101,990 | n/a |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $100,770 | n/a |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $98,760 | 40 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $92,000 | n/a |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $87,370 | 70 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $84,460 | 110 |
| Fresno, CA | $82,780 | 50 |
Metro areas with the most arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 600 | $77,430 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 210 | $56,340 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 200 | $108,150 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 190 | $109,920 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 170 | $57,160 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 140 | $74,520 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 130 | $82,150 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 130 | $129,180 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 110 | $84,460 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 100 | $106,910 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 90 | $79,730 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | 80 | $75,200 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 70 | $87,370 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 70 | $65,590 |
| San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | 70 | $50,960 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Lawyer | $159,670 | $76.76 |
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates | $153,990 | $74.03 |
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | $117,860 | $56.67 |
| Judicial Law Clerk | $64,920 | $31.21 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $62,890 | $30.24 |
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | $58,650 | $28.20 |
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | $72,110 | $34.67 |
More: Legal Occupations
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 23-1022. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators make in the U.S.?
The median salary for arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators in the U.S. is $75,530 a year, or $36.31 an hour. Pay ranges from $47,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $155,440 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators in the U.S. earn at least $155,440 a year. The top 25% earn $108,000 or more.
What is the starting pay for arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $47,220 a year, and a quarter of arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators earn $57,360 or less.
How many arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators work in the U.S.?
About 9,210 arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.