What You Need to Know About Umpire, Referee, or Sports Official
Job Description: 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.
A Day in the Life of a Sports Official
- Compile scores and other athletic records.
- Start races and competitions.
- Research and study players and teams in order to anticipate issues that might arise in future engagements.
- Judge performances in sporting competitions in order to award points, impose scoring penalties, and determine results.
- Signal participants or other officials to make them aware of infractions or to otherwise regulate play or competition.
- Verify scoring calculations before competition winners are announced.
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Qualities of a Sports Official
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.
Types of Umpire, Referee, or Sports Official
- Athletic Events Scorer
- Director of Officiating
- Horse Identifier
- Handicapper
- Sports Statistician
Sports Official Employment Estimates
There were about 21,100 jobs for Umpire, Referee, or Sports Official in 2016 (in the United States). 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. The BLS estimates 3,000 yearly job openings in this field.
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.
What is the Average Salary of a Sports Official
The typical yearly salary for Umpires, Referees, and Sports Officials is somewhere between $18,220 and $59,240.
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 do Umpires, Referees, and Sports Officials Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Umpires, Referees, and Sports Officials may use on a daily basis:
- 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
How to Become a Sports Official
Are there Umpires, Referees, and Sports Officials education requirements?
What work experience do I need to become a Sports Official?
Where do Umpires, Referees, and Sports Officials Work?
The table below shows the approximate number of Umpires, Referees, and Sports Officials employed by various industries.
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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