Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials salary in the U.S.
Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials in the U.S. earn a median of $40,710 a year, based on BLS data for 15,780 workers.
Pay ranges from $26,540 for the lowest-paid 10% to $82,960 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $53,010, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for umpires, referees, and other sports officials in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,540 |
| 25th percentile | $32,260 |
| Median | $40,710 |
| 75th percentile | $57,160 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $82,960 |
| Average (mean) | $53,010 |
Half of umpires, referees, and other sports officials earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,392.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,696.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,565.77 |
| Weekly | $782.88 |
BLS publishes only yearly pay for this job, because umpires, referees, and other sports officials are usually paid a salary and may not work a full 2,080-hour year. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $40,710 salary, see how much house you can afford at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $67,600 | 420 |
| North Dakota | $63,920 | 180 |
| South Carolina | $61,290 | 50 |
| Wisconsin | $57,000 | 300 |
| Ohio | $55,040 | 580 |
| Louisiana | $50,080 | 310 |
| Illinois | $49,070 | 690 |
| Massachusetts | $48,400 | 250 |
| West Virginia | $46,490 | 50 |
| Arizona | $46,440 | 210 |
| Indiana | $46,140 | 170 |
| Vermont | $46,080 | 80 |
| California | $44,530 | 1,950 |
| Colorado | $44,230 | 1,120 |
| Pennsylvania | $44,200 | 320 |
| Iowa | $43,040 | 190 |
| Texas | $42,920 | 650 |
| Washington | $41,350 | 400 |
| Virginia | $40,840 | 260 |
| Connecticut | $39,530 | 200 |
| Oregon | $38,730 | 170 |
| Florida | $37,070 | 280 |
| Montana | $36,370 | 60 |
| South Dakota | $35,260 | 80 |
| Michigan | $34,560 | 340 |
| Missouri | $33,140 | 1,240 |
| Idaho | $32,250 | 170 |
| Utah | $31,430 | 1,100 |
| Nebraska | $31,390 | 40 |
| Georgia | $28,360 | 280 |
| Mississippi | $27,060 | 60 |
| North Carolina | $26,540 | 400 |
| Kansas | $25,780 | n/a |
| Oklahoma | $21,900 | 220 |
Best-paying metro areas for umpires, referees, and other sports officials
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Green Bay, WI | $77,670 | 40 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $65,230 | 120 |
| Bismarck, ND | $63,920 | 70 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | $63,190 | 40 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $62,400 | 80 |
| Columbus, OH | $58,240 | 100 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $57,190 | 230 |
| Cleveland, OH | $57,140 | 160 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $56,330 | 310 |
| Akron, OH | $56,200 | 40 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $51,600 | 540 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $51,230 | 550 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $50,250 | 160 |
| Boulder, CO | $49,460 | 80 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $49,410 | 140 |
Metro areas with the most umpires, referees, and other sports officials
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 550 | $51,230 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 540 | $51,600 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 520 | $34,360 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 490 | $42,350 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 490 | $37,650 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | 450 | $31,430 |
| Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | 420 | $29,790 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 310 | $46,850 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 310 | $56,330 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 260 | $43,570 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 230 | $57,190 |
| Cleveland, OH | 160 | $57,140 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 160 | $50,250 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 160 | $40,300 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 150 | $21,760 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Coaches and Scouts | $47,320 | — |
| Producers and Directors | $90,360 | $43.44 |
| Actor | — | $29.05 |
| Musicians and Singers | — | $47.80 |
| Entertainers and Performers, Sports and Related Workers, All Other | — | $18.82 |
| Athletes and Sports Competitors | $66,710 | — |
| Music Directors and Composers | $73,710 | $35.44 |
| Dancer | — | $24.80 |
| Disc Jockeys, Except Radio | — | $21.61 |
| Choreographer | $55,310 | $26.59 |
| Public Relations Specialist | $74,750 | $35.94 |
| Graphic Designer | $62,960 | $30.27 |
| Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | $39,390 | $18.94 |
| Editor | $77,920 | $37.46 |
More: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 27-2023. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a umpires, referees, and other sports officials make in the U.S.?
The median salary for umpires, referees, and other sports officials in the U.S. is $40,710 a year. Pay ranges from $26,540 for the lowest-paid 10% to $82,960 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid umpires, referees, and other sports officials make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of umpires, referees, and other sports officials in the U.S. earn at least $82,960 a year. The top 25% earn $57,160 or more.
What is the starting pay for umpires, referees, and other sports officials in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $26,540 a year, and a quarter of umpires, referees, and other sports officials earn $32,260 or less.
How many umpires, referees, and other sports officials work in the U.S.?
About 15,780 umpires, referees, and other sports officials are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.