California Median
$44,530
per year
Hourly Rate
$21.41
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+9% vs US median
US median $40,710
State Rank
#13 of 34
1,950 employed here
How much do Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials make in California?
Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials working in California earn a median salary of $44,530 per year, or about $21.41 per hour. That is 9% above the national median of $40,710 for this occupation.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $35,110 while the top 10% make $80,750 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $38,010 and $58,260 a year.
Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,110 | $16.88 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $38,010 | $18.27 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $44,530 | $21.41 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $58,260 | $28.01 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $80,750 | $38.82 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 13th out of 34 states and territories for Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials salary in other states
New Jersey $67,600North Dakota $63,920South Carolina $61,290Wisconsin $57,000Ohio $55,040Louisiana $50,080Illinois $49,070Massachusetts $48,400West Virginia $46,490Arizona $46,440Indiana $46,140Vermont $46,080Colorado $44,230Pennsylvania $44,200Iowa $43,040Texas $42,920Washington $41,350Virginia $40,840Connecticut $39,530Oregon $38,730Florida $37,070Montana $36,370South Dakota $35,260Michigan $34,560Missouri $33,140Idaho $32,250Utah $31,430Nebraska $31,390Georgia $28,360Mississippi $27,060North Carolina $26,540Kansas $25,780Oklahoma $21,900
Working as Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials in California
Nationally, about 16,000 people work as Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($44,530) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much do Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials make in California?
The median Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials salary in California is $44,530 per year, or about $21.41 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $35,110 at the entry level to $80,750 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials about 9% more than the national median of $40,710. California ranks 13th out of 34 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $44,530 a year. About 1,950 Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.