How much do Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials make?
The median pay for Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials in the United States is $40,710 per year — about $19.57 per hour. Entry-level positions start near $26,540, while the most experienced professionals in the top 10% earn $82,960.
That is $20,680 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials salary range by percentile
Half of all Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials earn between $32,260 and $57,160 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,540 | $12.76 | |
| 25th percentile (early career) | $32,260 | $15.51 | |
| 50th percentile (median) | $40,710 | $19.57 | |
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $57,160 | $27.48 | |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $82,960 | $39.88 |
Highest-paying states for Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. New Jersey leads the country for Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials pay at $67,600 a year, followed by North Dakota ($63,920) and South Carolina ($61,290). At the other end, Oklahoma posts the lowest median at $21,900 — a gap of $45,700 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
| # | State | Median salary | Hourly | vs national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $67,600 | $32.50 | +66% |
| 2 | North Dakota | $63,920 | $30.73 | +57% |
| 3 | South Carolina | $61,290 | $29.47 | +51% |
| 4 | Wisconsin | $57,000 | $27.40 | +40% |
| 5 | Ohio | $55,040 | $26.46 | +35% |
Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 34 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Workforce and education
About 16,000 people work as Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $53,010 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
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