Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials

Median salary, education path, job outlook, and related careers — based on U.S. labor data.

What a Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials does

Sports officials enforce rules and make judgment calls during games and competitions across various sports at all levels. They must be knowledgeable, fair, and decisive to ensure games run smoothly and athletes compete in safe, regulated environments.

Education & path

The typical entry point is a high school diploma. No degree required — short-term training or on-the-job learning.

Estimated cost of that path: No degree cost. Estimates only — actual cost varies widely by school and financial aid; payback assumes ~20% of income applied.

Related careers

• Coaches and Scouts — $47,320/yr
• Media Technical Directors/Managers — $90,360/yr
• Talent Directors — $90,360/yr
• Producers and Directors — $90,360/yr
• Media Programming Directors — $90,360/yr