Umpires, Referees, and Other 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.
What it pays
Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials earn a median of $18.66/hr — about $39,000 a year. (Annual figure is approximate: hourly × 2,080.)
Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials earn a median of $18.66/hr — about $39,000 a year. (Annual figure is approximate: hourly × 2,080.)
What you'd actually do
- Officiate at sporting events, games, or competitions, to maintain standards of play and to ensure that game rules are observed.
- Inspect game sites for compliance with regulations or safety requirements.
- Resolve claims of rule infractions or complaints by participants and assess any necessary penalties, according to regulations.
- Signal participants or other officials to make them aware of infractions or to otherwise regulate play or competition.
- Teach and explain the rules and regulations governing a specific sport.
- Inspect sporting equipment or examine participants to ensure compliance with event and safety regulations.
How you get there
Typical entry-level education: High school diploma. Overall preparation: some preparation (Job Zone 2 of 5).
The feel of the work
Much of the work happens outdoors; much of the day is spent working solo; it rewards working independently. (Compared against the other 818 careers in the guide.)
Working for yourself
About 18.2% of umpires, referees, and other sports officials are self-employed.
Who it tends to fit
This work tends to fit people who are take-charge, organized and detail-focused and hands-on.
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Quick questions
- How much does a umpires, referees, and other sports official make?
- The median pay is $18.66 per hour — roughly $39,000 a year. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Do you need a degree to be a umpires, referees, and other sports official?
- The typical entry-level education is: High school diploma. Overall preparation level: some preparation (Job Zone 2 of 5).
- What does a umpires, referees, and other sports official actually do all day?
- Officiate at sporting events, games, or competitions, to maintain standards of play and to ensure that game rules are observed. Inspect game sites for compliance with regulations or safety requirements. Resolve claims of rule infractions or complaints by participants and assess any necessary penalties, according to regulations.
Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS. Tasks & interests: O*NET. Career pathways shown in the app are draft archetypes — verify before relying on them. Trailhead is a free career guide for students — honest numbers, no hype.
Trailhead is operated by FLEXVermont LLC. It is intended for high-school students age 13 and older, and the educators and families who support them, and is not directed to children under 13. Trailhead is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not offer professional, financial, or career advice, and its wage figures and pathways are estimates that may not fit your situation — they should not be relied on as the sole basis for any decision.
Trailhead is operated by FLEXVermont LLC. It is intended for high-school students age 13 and older, and the educators and families who support them, and is not directed to children under 13. Trailhead is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not offer professional, financial, or career advice, and its wage figures and pathways are estimates that may not fit your situation — they should not be relied on as the sole basis for any decision.