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Creative & Media

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.

Median salary (BLS)

$40,710

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$27k – $83k

Job outlook

+6% (faster than average)

AI exposure

Plan a path to Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials

Qualification costsStack incomeBest cities/statesSchool ROIJob-posting fitTailored resume

Education

Typical entry: No degree required

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How to qualify

Estimate

Cost to qualify

$0–$150

Time to qualify

6 mo

Renewal

—

  1. 1

    High school diploma or GED

    Course

    Expected by most employers; if you need the GED, test fees run $0–$150 depending on the state.

    $0–$150 · 3 months · varies by state source

  2. 2

    On-the-job training

    Experience

    Employer-provided and typically paid — days to a few months for most no-degree roles.

    Cost varies · 3 months source

Estimated typical U.S. route for "Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.

Typical progression

  1. Junior Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials

    Entry / Junior

    $26,540

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials

    Established

    $40,710

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials

    Senior

    $61,835

Key skills

A typical 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.
  • •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.

Fields of study

Any field

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