Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

Median pay, hourly rates, salary ranges, and best-paying states for Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators — from official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$75,530
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$36.31
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$155,440
entry level starts ~$47,220
Pay Grade
B
solid pay · 9,000 employed

How much do Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators make?

Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators earn a median annual salary of $75,530 in the United States, which works out to roughly $36.31 per hour for full-time work. Most earn between $47,220 at the entry level and $155,440 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $57,360 and $108,000 a year.

That is $14,140 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators salary range by percentile

Half of all Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators earn between $57,360 and $108,000 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$47,220$22.70
25th percentile (early career)$57,360$27.58
50th percentile (median)$75,530$36.31
75th percentile (experienced)$108,000$51.92
90th percentile (top earners)$155,440$74.73

Highest-paying states for Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Illinois leads the country for Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators pay at $162,410 a year, followed by District of Columbia ($110,300) and New Mexico ($110,180). At the other end, Oklahoma posts the lowest median at $36,780 — a gap of $125,630 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1Illinois$162,410$78.08+115%
2District of Columbia$110,300$53.03+46%
3New Mexico$110,180$52.97+46%
4California$97,680$46.96+29%
5Colorado$82,590$39.71+9%

Workforce and education

About 9,000 people work as Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $91,010 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a doctoral or professional degree (8 or more years of higher education) is required, per O*NET occupation data.

Frequently asked questions

How much do Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators make in the United States?
The median Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators salary in the United States is $75,530 per year, or about $36.31 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $47,220, while the top 10% of earners make $155,440 or more.
How does Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of B (solid pay), the Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators median of $75,530 is above the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators the most?
Illinois is the highest-paying state for Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators, with a median salary of $162,410 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
What education do Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators need?
For most positions, a doctoral or professional degree (8 or more years of higher education) is required, according to O*NET occupation data from the U.S. Department of Labor.
How many Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators work in the United States?
About 9,000 people were employed as Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.