Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators

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.

Arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators held about 9,100 jobs in 2024. The largest employers of arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators were as follows:

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.

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.

The median annual wage for arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators was $67,710 in May 2024.

Employment of arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators is projected to grow 4 percent from 2024 to 2034, about as fast as 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.