Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials: Career Profile
Officiate at competitive athletic or sporting events. Detect infractions of rules and decide penalties according to established regulations. Includes all sporting officials, referees, and competition judges.
Featured schools near , edit
What Do Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials Perform?
Typical responsibilities of umpires, referees, and other sports officials cover:
- 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.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Effective umpires, referees, and other sports officials draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The competencies that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Types of Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials Jobs
Common job titles for this role include:
- Athletic Events Scorer
- Baseball Coach
- Baseball Umpire
- Basketball Manager
- Basketball Referee
- Basketball Scorekeeper
- Clerk of Scales
- Clocker
Job Outlook
There are about 283,978 umpires, referees, and other sports officials working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +2.6% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $42,670 |
| Hourly median | $20.51 |
| 10th percentile | $26,918 |
| 25th percentile | $34,794 |
| 75th percentile | $50,546 |
| 90th percentile | $58,422 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $83,570 |
| Kentucky | $57,450 |
| South Carolina | $57,390 |
| Minnesota | $52,630 |
| New Hampshire | $52,580 |
| Louisiana | $52,320 |
| Maryland | $50,720 |
| Maine | $48,400 |
| New Jersey | $47,620 |
| Illinois | $47,010 |
| Arizona | $45,240 |
| Wisconsin | $44,810 |
| California | $44,590 |
| Virginia | $43,940 |
| Vermont | $43,860 |
| West Virginia | $43,600 |
| Colorado | $42,120 |
| Oregon | $41,540 |
| Washington | $40,040 |
| Connecticut | $37,790 |
| Texas | $37,610 |
| Missouri | $37,300 |
| Indiana | $37,060 |
| South Dakota | $36,380 |
| Nebraska | $34,370 |
| Iowa | $34,010 |
| Kansas | $32,970 |
| Michigan | $32,900 |
| Montana | $31,050 |
| Florida | $30,190 |
| Utah | $29,920 |
| Georgia | $28,360 |
| New Mexico | $28,210 |
| Ohio | $26,250 |
| Idaho | $25,230 |
| North Carolina | $25,070 |
| Nevada | $23,820 |
| Oklahoma | $23,150 |
| Mississippi | $23,080 |
| Tennessee | $23,080 |
Where Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials Earn the Most
Pay for umpires, referees, and other sports officials shift depending on where you work. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| New England | $58,598 | 3.6% | 1.20 |
| Far Western US | $43,637 | 23.4% | 1.50 |
| Great Lakes | $38,790 | 14.2% | 1.05 |
| Southwest | $36,593 | 6.8% | 0.55 |
| Southeast | $35,873 | 12.9% | 0.84 |
| Rocky Mountains | $34,346 | 15.2% | 4.26 |
| Plains States | $33,582 | 13.6% | 2.90 |
| Middle Atlantic | $14,826 | 10.3% | 0.77 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | VA | $83,580 | 40 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | MA | $83,570 | 120 |
| Bismarck, ND | ND | $68,550 | 80 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | LA | $62,090 | 150 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | MN | $54,170 | 120 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $53,560 | 480 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | WI | $51,730 | 60 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | IL | $51,210 | 580 |
Which Industries Hire Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials
The bulk of umpires, referees, and other sports officials work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 6,440 | n/a |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 1,550 | n/a |
| Educational Services | 1,320 | n/a |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 130 | n/a |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 80 | n/a |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Software Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials Use
- Document management software: Adobe Acrobat (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
Work Environment
Daily working conditions for umpires, referees, and other sports officials is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Spend Time Standing
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
Education and Training
Most umpires, referees, and other sports officials positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary (Supplemental)
- Education Administrators, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
- Compliance Officers (Primary-Long)
- Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners (Supplemental)
- Training and Development Specialists (Supplemental)
- Self-Enrichment Teachers (Primary-Long)
- Athletes and Sports Competitors (Primary-Short)
- Coaches and Scouts (Primary-Short)
About the Data
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 27-2023.00 (Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials).
Course Advisor provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© Course Advisor – All Rights Reserved.