Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)

Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials fall under the Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media category in the U.S. occupational classification. Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials earn a median salary of $38,820 per year, ranking in the top 87% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +5.7% job growth through 2034, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Entry into this field typically requires a bachelor's degree, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.

What do umpires, referees, and other sports officials earn?

The median annual wage for umpires, referees, and other sports officials is $38,820. That puts umpires, referees, and other sports officials at #705 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is around or below the U.S. median for individual workers, so career growth often depends on advancement into supervisory roles, specialization, or additional credentials. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.

Is umpires, referees, and other sports officials a growing career?

The 10-year outlook for umpires, referees, and other sports officials is +5.7%, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 19K positions in 2024 to 20K in 2034, a net change of 1K. Average growth signals a healthy, resilient occupation that mirrors broader U.S. employment trends. Job availability tends to track regional economic conditions.

What do umpires, referees, and other sports officials do every day?

According to O*NET task surveys of working umpires, referees, and other sports officials, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.

1. 1.Inspect game sites for compliance with regulations or safety requirements.
2. 2.Resolve claims of rule infractions or complaints by participants and assess any necessary penalties, according to regulations.
3. 3.Signal participants or other officials to make them aware of infractions or to otherwise regulate play or competition.
4. 4.Teach and explain the rules and regulations governing a specific sport.
5. 5.Inspect sporting equipment or examine participants to ensure compliance with event and safety regulations.
6. 6.Report to regulating organizations regarding sporting activities, complaints made, and actions taken or needed, such as fines or other disciplinary actions.
7. 7.Officiate at sporting events, games, or competitions, to maintain standards of play and to ensure that game rules are observed.
8. 8.Confer with other sporting officials, coaches, players, and facility managers to provide information, coordinate activities, and discuss problems.

Top skills for umpires, referees, and other sports officials

O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.

What education does my child need to become umpires, referees, and other sports official?

The standard path into umpires, referees, and other sports officials begins with a bachelor's degree in a related field, followed by entry-level experience or internships during college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.

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Common questions parents ask about umpires, referees, and other sports officials