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What You Need to Know About Umpire, Referee, or Sports Official

Sports Official Definition 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.

List of Sports Official Job Duties

  • Judge performances in sporting competitions in order to award points, impose scoring penalties, and determine results.
  • Compile scores and other athletic records.
  • Verify scoring calculations before competition winners are announced.
  • Resolve claims of rule infractions or complaints by participants and assess any necessary penalties, according to regulations.
  • Direct participants to assigned areas such as starting blocks or penalty areas.
  • Confer with other sporting officials, coaches, players, and facility managers in order to provide information, coordinate activities, and discuss problems.

What a Sports Official Should Know

When polled, Umpires, Referees, and Sports Officials say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

  • Softball Umpire
  • Major League Baseball Umpire
  • Scorekeeper
  • Umpire
  • Athletic Events Scorer

What Kind of Sports Official Job Opportunities Are There?

In the United States, there were 21,100 jobs for Umpire, Referee, or Sports Official in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 7.6% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 1,600 new jobs for Umpire, Referee, or Sports Official by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 3,000 job openings in this field each year.

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The states with the most job growth for Sports Official are Nebraska, New Mexico, and Florida. Watch out if you plan on working in West Virginia, South Carolina, or Oklahoma. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

How Much Does a Sports Official Make?

Umpires, Referees, and Sports Officials make between $18,220 and $59,240 a year.

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Umpires, Referees, and Sports Officials who work in Kentucky, Washington, or West Virginia, make the highest salaries.

How much do Umpires, Referees, and Sports Officials make in different U.S. states?

State Annual Mean Salary
Alabama $20,110
Alaska $36,900
Arizona $42,170
California $32,780
Colorado $32,890
Delaware $30,960
Florida $32,630
Georgia $24,120
Idaho $22,500
Illinois $34,860
Iowa $29,250
Kansas $34,160
Kentucky $46,930
Louisiana $30,400
Maine $26,170
Maryland $36,980
Massachusetts $47,300
Michigan $28,460
Minnesota $40,660
Mississippi $25,930
Missouri $33,560
Montana $22,160
Nebraska $27,730
New Hampshire $40,220
New Jersey $39,490
New Mexico $24,440
North Carolina $35,460
North Dakota $32,370
Ohio $28,670
Oklahoma $37,870
Oregon $28,300
Pennsylvania $29,750
Rhode Island $33,250
South Dakota $28,850
Tennessee $34,010
Texas $34,750
Utah $21,980
Vermont $34,400
Virginia $37,390
Washington $39,130
West Virginia $40,450
Wisconsin $30,860

What Tools & Technology do Umpires, Referees, and Sports Officials Use?

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Umpires, Referees, and Sports Officials:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Office
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Web browser software
  • Email software
  • Word processing software
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
  • Database software
  • Video editing software

Becoming a Sports Official

Education needed to be an Umpire, Referee, or Sports Official:

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How many years of work experience do I need?

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Where do Umpires, Referees, and Sports Officials Work?

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Umpires, Referees, and Sports Officials work in the following industries:

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References:

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More about our data sources and methodologies.

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