Top Skills for This Career
BLS identifies these as the three highest-rated skills for this detailed occupation. TrustInEd adds the plain-language explanations so visitors understand what each skill means.
Understanding written information and communicating ideas clearly in writing.
Adjusting effectively when priorities, conditions, tools, or expectations change.
Identifying problems, considering possible solutions, and choosing appropriate actions.
How Do You Prepare for This Career?
BLS describes the typical preparation for this occupation. Requirements can vary by employer, state, licensing rules and individual circumstances.
How to Become One
How to Become an Arbitrator, Mediator, or Conciliator Arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators are usually lawyers or business professionals with expertise in a particular field. Arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators typically need at least a bachelor's degree and related experience to enter the occupation. They learn their skills through a combination of
Education
,
Training
, and work experience. Education Arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators typically need at least a bachelor's degree at the entry level. Few candidates for these jobs receive a degree specific to the field of arbitration, mediation, or conflict resolution. Rather, many positions require education appropriate to the applicant’s field of expertise. Some positions require candidates to have a law degree, a master’s in business administration, or another type of advanced degree. Work Experience in a Related Occupation Arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators typically have experience and expertise in a particular field, such as construction, finance, or insurance. They may be lawyers or retired judges, have experience in advocacy, or have a background in business or the industry in which they plan to work. Training Arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators typically shadow or assist an experienced supervisor. They may support a certain number of cases before working independently. Training for arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators is available from a variety of organizations, such as postsecondary schools, government agencies, and community mediation centers. Opportunities may include formal internships or volunteer positions.
Licenses, Certifications & Registrations
There is no national license for arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators. However, some states require arbitrators and mediators to become certified to work on certain types of cases. Qualifications, standards, and the number of training hours required vary by state or by court. Some states require licenses appropriate to the applicant’s field of expertise. For example, some courts may require applicants to be licensed attorneys or certified public accountants. For more information, contact your state licensing agency.
Your Next Step
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Pay
the median annual wage for all workers was $50,980.
Job Outlook
Job Outlook Employment of arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators is projected to grow 5 percent from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average for all occupations. About 300 openings for arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. Employment The alternative methods of resolving disputes that these workers provide often are quicker and less expensive than trials and litigation. In addition, many contracts, such as those for employment and real estate, include clauses requiring mediation or arbitration to resolve complaints and disputes. These factors should help to support demand for arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators. However, because alternative dispute resolution in government is contingent on available funds, state and local government budgets may affect public sector employment of arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators. Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators Percent change in employment, projected 2025–35 Arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators 5% Lawyers, judges, and related workers 5% Total, all occupations 3% Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.
What They Do
What Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators Do
Arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators facilitate negotiation and conflict resolution through dialogue. They resolve conflicts outside of the court system by mutual consent of the parties involved.
Duties
Arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators typically do the following:
- Facilitate communication between disputants to guide parties toward mutual agreement
- Clarify issues, concerns, needs, and interests of all parties involved
- Conduct initial meetings with disputants to outline the arbitration process
- Settle procedural matters or details such as fees, numbers of witnesses, and schedules
- Set up appointments for parties to meet for mediation or arbitration
- Interview claimants, agents, or witnesses to obtain information about disputed issues
- Prepare settlement agreements for disputants’ signatures
- Apply relevant laws, regulations, policies, or precedents to reach conclusions
- Evaluate information from documents such as claim applications, birth or death certificates, and physician or employer records
Arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators help opposing parties settle disputes outside of court. They hold private, confidential hearings, which are less formal than those held in court.
Arbitrators are usually lawyers, business professionals, or retired judges with expertise in a particular field. As impartial third parties, they hear and decide disputes between opposing parties. Arbitrators may work alone or on a panel with other arbitrators. In some cases, arbitrators may decide procedural issues, such as what evidence may be submitted and when hearings will be held.
Arbitration may be required by law for some claims and disputes. When it is not required, the parties in dispute sometimes voluntarily agree to arbitration rather than proceed with litigation or a trial. In some cases, parties may appeal the arbitrator’s decision.
Mediators are neutral parties who help people resolve their disputes. However, unlike arbitrators, they do not render binding decisions. Rather, mediators help facilitate discussion and guide the parties toward a mutually acceptable agreement. If the opposing sides cannot reach a settlement with the mediator’s help, they are free to pursue other options.
Conciliators are similar to mediators. Although their role is to help guide opposing sides to a settlement, they typically meet with the parties separately. The opposing sides must decide in advance if they will be bound by the conciliator’s recommendations.
Work Environment
Work Environment
Arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators held about 10,500 jobs in 2025. The largest employers of arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators were as follows:
| Legal services | 33% |
| Local government, excluding education and hospitals | 15 |
| State government, excluding education and hospitals | 13 |
| Self-employed workers | 9 |
| Other professional, scientific, and technical services | 9 |
Arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators typically work in private offices or meeting rooms. They may travel to a mutually agreed-upon site chosen for negotiations.
The work may be stressful because arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators sometimes work with difficult or confrontational individuals or with highly charged and emotional situations, such as injury settlements or family disputes.
Work Schedules
Most arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators work full time.
Important Qualities
The following are examples of qualities that are important for these workers to perform their duties. For more information, visit the Employment Projections (EP) skills data page. Analytical skills. Arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators evaluate facts from large amounts of complex information and apply relevant rules of law. Communication skills. Arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators must be able to clearly present and explain information, both orally and in writing, to opposing parties to settle disputes. Critical-thinking skills. Arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators must remain neutral and not let their personal assumptions interfere with proceedings. Decision-making skills. Arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators must be able to weigh facts, apply the law or rules, and make a decision relatively quickly. Detail oriented. Arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators must pay close attention to what is being said and must be precise in explaining their recommendations or decisions. Interpersonal skills. Arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators deal with disputing parties and must be able to facilitate discussion in a calm and respectful way.
More Information
More Information, Including Links to O*NET
Learn more about arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
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Start with ED →Career data and occupational profile text are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook and Employment Projections program. Education requirements are typical entry-level requirements and may vary by employer, state, occupation or individual circumstance. View the official BLS profile.