Umpires and Referees
Overview
Introduction
Umpires and referees ensure that competitors in athletic events follow the rules. They make binding decisions and have the power to impose penalties upon individuals or teams that break the rules. Umpires, referees, and other sports officials hold about 22,800 jobs in the United States.
Quick Facts
Median Salary
Employment Prospects
Minimum Education Level
Experience
Skills
Personality Traits
Earnings
Umpire and referee salaries vary greatly, depending on the sport and the level at which it is played. Typically, the closer an official gets to the top of a professional sports league, the higher the wages, but this is not always the case. For example, some college basketball referees might earn more money than a non-lead official in a less popular professional sport.
The U.S. Department...
Work Environment
Professional officials work in front of huge crowds. Their judgments and decisions are scrutinized by the fans in the stadium and by millions of fans watching at home.
Professional football officials work one game a week, while baseball umpires may work up to six games a week. Some football stadiums are outdoors, and football officials may have to work through inclement weather. Baseball...
Outlook
Employment for umpires, referees, and other sports officials is expected to grow by 8 percent, faster than the average for all careers, through 2029, according to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). The coronavirus pandemic, however, has impacted all sports, with many team sports cancelled earlier in 2020. Baseball, basketball, hockey, and other sports have since resumed but with new, strict pr...
