Average Salary for Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials
SOC 27-2023 · Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations · 2024 data
The median annual wage for Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials in the United States is $38,820, based on 2024 BLS OEWS data. Wages range from $25,070 at the 10th percentile to $93,180 at the 90th percentile nationally. An estimated 15,080 people work in this occupation across the country. The national median wage has grown 61.1% since 2014.
Median Annual
$38,820
Mean Annual
$52,800
10th Pct
$25,070
75th Pct
$53,560
Employment
15,080
Salary Distribution
$25k
10th
$31k
25th
$39k
Median
$54k
75th
$93k
90th
Highest Paying Metro Areas
| Metro Area | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $83,580 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $83,570 |
| Bismarck, ND | $68,550 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $62,090 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $54,170 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $53,560 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $51,730 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $51,210 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | $50,770 |
| Madison, WI | $49,920 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $49,360 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $48,930 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $48,660 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $48,470 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $48,320 |
Salary by State
| State | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $83,570 |
| Kentucky | $57,450 |
| South Carolina | $57,390 |
| Minnesota | $52,630 |
| New Hampshire | $52,580 |
| Louisiana | $52,320 |
| Maryland | $50,720 |
| Maine | $48,400 |
| New Jersey | $47,620 |
| Illinois | $47,010 |
| Arizona | $45,240 |
| Wisconsin | $44,810 |
| California | $44,590 |
| Virginia | $43,940 |
| Vermont | $43,860 |
| West Virginia | $43,600 |
| Colorado | $42,120 |
| Oregon | $41,540 |
| Washington | $40,040 |
| Connecticut | $37,790 |
| Texas | $37,610 |
| Missouri | $37,300 |
| Indiana | $37,060 |
| South Dakota | $36,380 |
| Nebraska | $34,370 |
| Iowa | $34,010 |
| Kansas | $32,970 |
| Michigan | $32,900 |
| Montana | $31,050 |
| Florida | $30,190 |
| Utah | $29,920 |
| Georgia | $28,360 |
| New Mexico | $28,210 |
| Ohio | $26,250 |
| Idaho | $25,230 |
| North Carolina | $25,070 |
| Nevada | $23,820 |
| Oklahoma | $23,150 |
| Mississippi | $23,080 |
| Tennessee | $23,080 |
Salary by Industry
National median wage for Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials broken down by industry sector, 2024 data.
| Industry | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events | $108,100 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools | $52,240 |
| Traveler Accommodation | $48,610 |
| Accommodation | $48,610 |
| Accommodation and Food Services | $48,610 |
| Educational Services | $48,130 |
| Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries | $46,880 |
| Other Schools and Instruction | $45,240 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | $42,350 |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $40,910 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers | $40,840 |
| Other Amusement and Recreation Industries | $40,040 |
| Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries | $38,820 |
| Gambling Industries | $38,520 |
| Educational Services | $38,320 |
| Spectator Sports | $36,930 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $36,780 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $36,780 |
| Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $36,620 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $36,620 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $36,620 |
| Individual and Family Services | $35,760 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | $35,240 |
| Social Assistance | $35,240 |
| Junior Colleges | $35,090 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | $34,440 |
| Temporary Help Services | $34,440 |
| Administrative and Support Services | $34,440 |
| Employment Services | $34,440 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $34,230 |
| Civic and Social Organizations | $33,990 |
| State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $33,590 |
| Amusement Parks and Arcades | $26,210 |
National Wage Trend
View data table
| Year | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $38,820 |
| 2023 | $35,820 |
| 2022 | $36,010 |
| 2021 | $35,860 |
| 2020 | $28,940 |
| 2019 | $28,550 |
| 2018 | $27,020 |
| 2017 | $26,800 |
| 2016 | $25,660 |
| 2015 | $24,870 |
| 2014 | $24,090 |