Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials Salary
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations · 16K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$40,710
Median hourly
$20
Average annual
$53,010
Typical range
$26,540–$82,960
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials is $40,710 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $20 an hour at a full-time schedule.
Officiate at competitive athletic or sporting events. Detect infractions of rules and decide penalties according to established regulations.
Most earn between $26,540 and $82,960 a year. There are roughly 16K people employed as umpires, referees, and other sports officials in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials.
- Hourly
- $19.57
- Daily
- $157
- Weekly
- $783
- Bi-weekly
- $1,566
- Monthly
- $3,393
- Annual
- $40,710
$40,710 a year is around the 50th percentile for Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officialss. The median is $40,710.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1New Jersey$67,600
- 2North Dakota$63,920
- 3South Carolina$61,290
- 4Wisconsin$57,000
- 5Ohio$55,040
- 6Louisiana$50,080
- 7Illinois$49,070
- 8Massachusetts$48,400
- 9West Virginia$46,490
- 10Arizona$46,440
- 11Indiana$46,140
- 12Vermont$46,080
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1Green Bay, WI$77,670
- 2Baton Rouge, LA$65,230
- 3Bismarck, ND$63,920
- 4Fargo, ND-MN$63,190
- 5Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI$62,400
- 6Columbus, OH$58,240
- 7Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI$57,190
- 8Cleveland, OH$57,140
- 9San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$56,330
- 10Akron, OH$56,200
- 11Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$51,600
- 12Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$51,230
Related job titles
Employers advertise Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials roles under these titles.
Related occupations
- Coaches and Scouts$47,320
- Athletes and Sports Competitors$66,710
- Amusement and Recreation Attendants$32,150
- First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$106,040
- Animal Trainers$39,990
- Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors$47,160
- First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services$48,560
- Self-Enrichment Teachers$46,800
What a Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials does
- 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.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials make?
- The median annual wage for Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials is $40,710 ($20 per hour). Pay ranges from about $26,540 at the 10th percentile to $82,960 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $53,010, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officialss the most?
- New Jersey has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $67,600.
- Is Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 16K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials do?
- 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..