Law & Government
Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators
Facilitate negotiation and conflict resolution through dialogue. Resolve conflicts outside of the court system by mutual consent of parties involved.
Median salary (BLS)
$75,530
10th–90th percentile (BLS)
$47k – $155k
Job outlook
+4% (faster than average)
AI exposure
Early-career check: graduates of the matching programs below typically earn $105,000 ten years after starting college — an early-career figure, vs. the all-experience BLS median above. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard.
Plan a path to Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators
Education
Typical entry: Master's degree
Plan my path to this →How to qualify
EstimateLicense requiredCost to qualify
$64,200–$235,000
Time to qualify
6.5 yr
Renewal
—
- 1
Bachelor's degree
DegreeFour years at public in-state rates — average published tuition & fees ≈ $11,610/yr, plus books. Private and out-of-state run higher; grant aid lowers most students' actual net price.
$40,000–$150,000 · 4 years source
- 2
Master's degree
DegreeTypically two years; average graduate tuition ≈ $20,000/yr at public universities (NCES).
$24,000–$80,000 · 2 years source
- 3
Bar exam / state licensure / academy
LicenseLawyers: the state bar exam. Public-safety roles: a training academy plus state certification.
$200–$5,000 · 6 months · varies by state source
Estimated typical U.S. route for "Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.
Typical progression
Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators Intern
Internship
$36,000
~4 mos to advance
Junior Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators
Entry / Junior
$47,220
~2 yrs to advance
Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators
Established
$75,530
~3 yrs to advance
Senior Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators
Senior
$115,485
Internships are a common on-ramp here — they speed up landing that first role and improve your odds, which is why the Safe and High-ceiling plans build one in.
Key skills
A typical day
- •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.
Fields of study
Any field
Top colleges for Law & Government
Explore all- Yale University5% admit · $105,000 grad pay
- Harvard University4% admit · $119,000 grad pay
- Stanford University4% admit · $122,000 grad pay
- Columbia University4% admit · $103,000 grad pay
- University of Chicago5% admit · $91,000 grad pay
Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.