Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials
Also called: Umpires and Sports Officials
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.
Also called: Athletic Events Scorer, Baseball Coach, Baseball Umpire, Basketball Manager, Basketball Referee, Basketball Scorekeeper
Median pay
$40,710
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$26,540 – $82,960
People employed
15,780
Holland code
ECR
Enterprising · Conventional · Realistic
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Are you OK with hours that change?
- 2.Do you prefer a steady pace without constant deadlines?
- 3.Do you want to stay at 40 hours a week or less?
- 4.Do you prefer doing your own work rather than directing others?
- 5.Do you want variety, with new tasks often?
- 6.Do you want a lot of freedom to make your own decisions?
- 7.Are you happy working mostly on your own, with little contact with others?
- 8.Are you OK being on your feet and moving most of the day?
The hard parts
- Long hours on your feet
Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (34 states with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials salary in every state →
What umpires, referees, and other sports officials do
- 01Officiate at sporting events, games, or competitions, to maintain standards of play and to ensure that game rules are observed.
- 02Judge performances in sporting competitions to award points, impose scoring penalties, and determine results.
- 03Inspect game sites for compliance with regulations or safety requirements.
- 04Resolve claims of rule infractions or complaints by participants and assess any necessary penalties, according to regulations.
- 05Verify scoring calculations before competition winners are announced.
- 06Signal participants or other officials to make them aware of infractions or to otherwise regulate play or competition.
Skills that matter most
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Monitoring
- Active Learning
- Learning Strategies
Knowledge
- English Language
- Education and Training
- Administration and Management
- Customer and Personal Service
- Psychology
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Integrity
- Self-Control
- Stress Tolerance
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a high school diploma (O*NET Job Zone 2).
- Related work experience: none.
- On-the-job training: anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month.
- A certification can help.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from umpires, referees, and other sports officials
- First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services86% · +19%
- First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives79% · +160%
- Bailiffs76% · +39%
- First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers75% · +37%
- Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators75% · +7%
Change into umpires, referees, and other sports officials
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Gambling Dealers78% · $34,320
- Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners77% · $34,980
- Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators75% · $43,370
- Animal Trainers73% · $39,990
- First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services72% · $48,560