Umpires, referees, and other sports officials salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $26,540 | Data unavailable |
| Median (50th percentile) | $40,710 | Data unavailable |
| Mean (average) | $53,010 | Data unavailable |
| 90th percentile | $82,960 | Data unavailable |
BLS publishes only annual wages for this occupation because workers are typically paid on an annual basis rather than hourly.
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Umpires, referees, and other sports officials pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 39 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | $46,440 | $31,730 | $69,460 | 210 | 0.62 |
| California | $44,530 | $35,110 | $80,750 | 1,950 | 1.06 |
| Colorado | $44,230 | $32,790 | $68,420 | 1,120 | 3.84 |
| Connecticut | $39,530 | $34,010 | $116,650 | 200 | 1.15 |
| Florida | $37,070 | $27,970 | $61,380 | 280 | 0.28 |
| Georgia | $28,360 | $19,780 | $70,550 | 280 | 0.57 |
| Idaho | $32,250 | $25,490 | $50,090 | 170 | 1.93 |
| Illinois | $49,070 | $31,200 | $86,860 | 690 | 1.11 |
| Indiana | $46,140 | $24,690 | $50,810 | 170 | 0.52 |
| Iowa | $43,040 | $27,860 | $104,000 | 190 | 1.23 |
| Kansas | $25,780 | $25,780 | $55,470 | ||
| Kentucky | Data unavailable | 290 | 1.45 | ||
| Louisiana | $50,080 | $31,500 | $141,650 | 310 | 1.56 |
| Maine | Data unavailable | 180 | 2.72 | ||
| Massachusetts | $48,400 | $32,600 | $126,090 | 250 | 0.68 |
| Michigan | $34,560 | $25,960 | $60,660 | 340 | 0.76 |
| Minnesota | Data unavailable | 320 | 1.08 | ||
| Mississippi | $27,060 | $27,060 | $36,250 | 60 | 0.55 |
| Missouri | $33,140 | $28,600 | $50,320 | 1,240 | 4.16 |
| Montana | $36,370 | $30,190 | $57,600 | 60 | 1.18 |
| Nebraska | $31,390 | $28,080 | $49,040 | 40 | 0.36 |
| New Jersey | $67,600 | $33,890 | $81,090 | 420 | 0.97 |
| New York | Data unavailable | 630 | 0.64 | ||
| North Carolina | $26,540 | $17,680 | $67,010 | 400 | 0.8 |
| North Dakota | $63,920 | $26,900 | $91,040 | 180 | 4.2 |
| Ohio | $55,040 | $23,560 | $62,150 | 580 | 1.03 |
| Oklahoma | $21,900 | $21,740 | $43,310 | 220 | 1.25 |
| Oregon | $38,730 | $30,280 | $54,920 | 170 | 0.84 |
| Pennsylvania | $44,200 | $20,800 | $107,360 | 320 | 0.51 |
| South Carolina | $61,290 | $27,180 | $61,290 | 50 | 0.23 |
| South Dakota | $35,260 | $29,840 | $63,060 | 80 | 1.8 |
| Tennessee | Data unavailable | 380 | 1.13 | ||
| Texas | $42,920 | $23,670 | $55,990 | 650 | 0.45 |
| Utah | $31,430 | $23,890 | $49,290 | 1,100 | 6.26 |
| Vermont | $46,080 | $35,650 | $61,580 | 80 | 2.44 |
| Virginia | $40,840 | $33,020 | $88,460 | 260 | 0.63 |
| Washington | $41,350 | $34,650 | $62,430 | 400 | 1.12 |
| West Virginia | $46,490 | $18,690 | $67,270 | 50 | 0.68 |
| Wisconsin | $57,000 | $30,820 | $91,200 | 300 | 1 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for umpires, referees, and other sports officials
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 4,300. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 9.7%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for umpires, referees, and other sports officials
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- NO MATCH CIP 99.9999
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Officiate at sporting events, games, or competitions, to maintain standards of play and to ensure that game rules are observed.
- Inspect game sites for compliance with regulations or safety requirements.
- Resolve claims of rule infractions or complaints by participants and assess any necessary penalties, according to regulations.
- Signal participants or other officials to make them aware of infractions or to otherwise regulate play or competition.
- Teach and explain the rules and regulations governing a specific sport.
- Inspect sporting equipment or examine participants to ensure compliance with event and safety regulations.
- Report to regulating organizations regarding sporting activities, complaints made, and actions taken or needed, such as fines or other disciplinary actions.
- Confer with other sporting officials, coaches, players, and facility managers to provide information, coordinate activities, and discuss problems.
Technology skills
- Adobe Acrobat (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Database software
- Email software
- Video editing software
- Web browser software
Transferable skills for career changers: Judgment and Decision Making, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Complex Problem Solving, Instructing, Time Management.
Common job titles: Basketball Referee, Diving Judge, Dressage Judge, Football Referee, Horse Show Judge, Major League Baseball Umpire (MLB Umpire), Referee, Soccer Referee, Softball Umpire, Sports Official.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do umpires, referees, and other sports officials make?
The national median annual wage for umpires, referees, and other sports officials was $40,710 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $26,540 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $82,960. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do umpires, referees, and other sports officials need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is umpires, referees, and other sports officials a growing career?
BLS projects employment of umpires, referees, and other sports officials to change +5.2% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 4,300 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay umpires, referees, and other sports officials the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were New Jersey ($67,600), North Dakota ($63,920), South Carolina ($61,290). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.