Arbitration & Mediation

How Rich are We? A Modest Response to Geoff Sharp's Mediator Salary Post

By Victoria Pynchon

Before a wave of emotional despondency descends upon rank-and-file mediators from Geoff Sharp's revelation that median mediator income hovers around $67,000, let's get a little perspective.

First, if you are making $67,000 per year, you are the 52,428,447 richest person in the world and are in the top .87% of the wealthiest people worldwide.  See Global Rich List to end your week on a note of gratitude with a donation to the charity of your choice. 

 Chart from PayScale.

OK.  You don't compare yourself to the people living on less than one or two dollars a day, even though that's the first item on the list of your myriad blessings.  Half of the world's population -- nearly three billion people live on less than two dollars a day.

Check to charity or for a microloan written yet?

But you don't compare yourself to half the world's population.  You compare yourself to attorneys -- a profession you chose not to pursue or that you left to be happier.

The median salary for attorneys who have been in practice between one and four years is -- oh my goodness!!  -- just a couple grand less than the median income for mediators!

And remember, an attorney who has practiced between one and four years has been devoting him/herself to the law for between four and seven years -- the first three of which s/he was spending tens of thousands of dollars for a law degree and earning either precisely -- or next to -- nothing.

So.  If you've been mediating for between four and seven years and are making something between $50,000 and $100,000 per year, you are doing every bit as well as the median attorney.

Does your weekend look any brighter now?

Full post as published by Settle It Now Negotiation Blog on January 18, 2008 (boomark / email).