How To Become A Mediator: What It Is and Career Path

What is a mediator and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

2 min read

Quoted expert

William Logue

There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a mediator. For example, did you know that they make an average of $23.5 an hour? That's $48,890 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 6% and produce 600 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a mediator?

William Logue

Director of Dispute Resolution Training Interim Director of Summer Programs, Quinnipiac University

New graduates in dispute resolution will face a different world than just a few months ago.

If graduates want to start as an independent third-party neutral, it will be challenging to establish a reputation, and bring in business. There are many other opportunities to use and apply the skills - as specialized conflict managers, and dispute resolvers, or using those skills that will make them more useful and valued as part of another job.

Graduates should look at where their skills can be used within organizations - that may be as a mediator, in an ombuds office, in HR, or as a project facilitator. They should think of how their dispute resolution skills can supplement other substantive knowledge to help the organization move forward - especially with more remote work and the tensions that can bring. They can also think about how they can skillfully facilitate work between workgroups and divisions, and act as conflict coaches to individuals.

ScoreMediatorUS Average

Salary

3.8

Avg. Salary $48,890

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.5

Growth rate 6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

2.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.31%

Asian 6.35%

Black or African American 5.52%

Hispanic or Latino 7.74%

Unknown 4.37%

White 75.71%

Gender

female 59.92%

male 40.08%

Age - 45

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 45

Stress level

7.5

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

6.4

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance

7.1

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a mediator

Explore mediator education requirements

Most common mediator degrees

Bachelor's

58.3 %

Doctorate

17.7 %

Master's

13.6 %

Start to develop specific mediator skills

Skills	Percentages
Mediation	39.02%
Settlement Agreements	6.59%
Mediation Services	6.23%
Conflict Resolution	6.17%
Conflict Management	4.50%

Complete relevant mediator training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New mediators learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a mediator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real mediator resumes.

Research mediator duties and responsibilities

Utilize strategic negotiation tactics and creative problem-solving skills to achieve amicable settlements.
Observe arbitration, participate in negotiations contests, and conduct numerous presentations on specific areas of mediation.
Mediate EEO disputes between the U.S.
Serve as external mediator mediating EEO and non-EEO cases.

Prepare your mediator resume

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