All About Umpires, Referees, and Sports Officials
Occupation Description 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.
Life As a Sports Official: What Do They Do?
- Report to regulating organizations regarding sporting activities, complaints made, and actions taken or needed such as fines or other disciplinary actions.
- Verify credentials of participants in sporting events, and make other qualifying determinations such as starting order or handicap number.
- Signal participants or other officials to make them aware of infractions or to otherwise regulate play or competition.
- Research and study players and teams in order to anticipate issues that might arise in future engagements.
- Teach and explain the rules and regulations governing a specific sport.
- Inspect sporting equipment and/or examine participants in order to ensure compliance with event and safety regulations.
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Skills Needed to be a Sports Official
Below is a list of the skills most Umpires, Referees, and Sports Officials say are important on the job.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Presiding Steward
- Scorer
- Volleyball Referee
- Supervisor of Officials
- Softball Umpire
Is There Job Demand for Umpires, Referees, and Sports Officials?
In the United States, there were 21,100 jobs for Umpire, Referee, or Sports Official in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 7.6% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 1,600 new jobs for Umpire, Referee, or Sports Official by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 3,000 job openings in this field each year.
The states with the most job growth for Sports Official are Nebraska, New Mexico, and Florida. Watch out if you plan on working in West Virginia, South Carolina, or Oklahoma. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Average Umpires, Referees, and Sports Officials Salary
The average yearly salary of a Sports Official ranges between $18,220 and $59,240.
Umpires, Referees, and Sports Officials who work in Kentucky, Washington, or West Virginia, make the highest salaries.
How much do Umpires, Referees, and Sports Officials make in each U.S. state?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $20,110 |
| Alaska | $36,900 |
| Arizona | $42,170 |
| California | $32,780 |
| Colorado | $32,890 |
| Delaware | $30,960 |
| Florida | $32,630 |
| Georgia | $24,120 |
| Idaho | $22,500 |
| Illinois | $34,860 |
| Iowa | $29,250 |
| Kansas | $34,160 |
| Kentucky | $46,930 |
| Louisiana | $30,400 |
| Maine | $26,170 |
| Maryland | $36,980 |
| Massachusetts | $47,300 |
| Michigan | $28,460 |
| Minnesota | $40,660 |
| Mississippi | $25,930 |
| Missouri | $33,560 |
| Montana | $22,160 |
| Nebraska | $27,730 |
| New Hampshire | $40,220 |
| New Jersey | $39,490 |
| New Mexico | $24,440 |
| North Carolina | $35,460 |
| North Dakota | $32,370 |
| Ohio | $28,670 |
| Oklahoma | $37,870 |
| Oregon | $28,300 |
| Pennsylvania | $29,750 |
| Rhode Island | $33,250 |
| South Dakota | $28,850 |
| Tennessee | $34,010 |
| Texas | $34,750 |
| Utah | $21,980 |
| Vermont | $34,400 |
| Virginia | $37,390 |
| Washington | $39,130 |
| West Virginia | $40,450 |
| Wisconsin | $30,860 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Umpires, Referees, and Sports Officials
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Umpires, Referees, and Sports Officials:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Web browser software
- Email software
- Word processing software
- Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
- Database software
- Video editing software
How to Become a Sports Official
What kind of Umpire, Referee, or Sports Official requirements are there?
How Long Does it Take to Become a Sports Official?
Umpires, Referees, and Sports Officials Sector
Below are examples of industries where Umpires, Referees, and Sports Officials work:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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