How much does an arbitrator make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $36.31 an hour or $6,294 a month.
- Hourly
- $36.31
- Average (mean)
- $91,010
- Jobs
- 9,210
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $47,220 | $22.70 | |
| 25th | $57,360 | $27.58 | |
| Median | $75,530 | $36.31 | |
| 75th | $108,000 | $51.92 | |
| 90th | $155,400 | $74.73 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| Illinois | $162,400 |
| District of Columbia | $110,300 |
| New Mexico | $110,200 |
| California | $97,680 |
| Colorado | $82,590 |
| Arizona | $82,150 |
| Virginia | $79,530 |
| Alabama | $76,810 |
| Michigan | $76,270 |
| North Carolina | $75,320 |
| New York | $70,800 |
| Ohio | $68,790 |
| Pennsylvania | $67,890 |
| Montana | $64,980 |
| Kansas | $64,970 |
| Rhode Island | $63,770 |
| Tennessee | $62,140 |
| South Carolina | $58,990 |
| Maryland | $58,890 |
| Indiana | $57,390 |
| Texas | $50,940 |
| Louisiana | $46,100 |
| Oklahoma | $36,780 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| San Jose, CA | $129,200 |
| Albany, NY | $112,600 |
| Washington, DC | $109,900 |
| Olympia, WA | $108,600 |
| San Francisco, CA | $108,200 |
| Riverside, CA | $106,900 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $105,400 |
| Hartford, CT | $105,200 |
| Tampa, FL | $102,000 |
| Orlando, FL | $100,800 |
| Chicago, IL | $98,760 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $92,000 |
| Detroit, MI | $87,370 |
| San Diego, CA | $84,460 |
| Fresno, CA | $82,780 |
In other countries
Arbitrator belongs to the international group "Legal professionals not elsewhere classified".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Lawyer$159,700
- Judicial Law Clerk$64,920
- Administrative Law Judge$117,900
- Judge$154,000
Frequently asked questions
How much does an arbitrator make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $36.31 ($75,530 a year).
How much does an arbitrator make a month?
About $6,294 a month before tax, based on a median of $75,530 a year.
How much does an arbitrator make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $47,220 or less a year ($22.70 an hour); the top 10% make $155,400 or more.
Which state pays arbitrators the most?
Illinois, with a median of $162,400 a year, followed by District of Columbia ($110,300) and New Mexico ($110,200).
Which city pays arbitrators the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, with a median of $129,200 a year.
How many arbitrators are there in the United States?
About 9,210 people work as arbitrators.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.