Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for umpires, referees, and other sports officials is $40,710, or — per hour. About 15,780 people work in this occupation nationwide. Wages vary substantially by state — from $67,600 in New Jersey to $21,900 in Oklahoma.
Wage distribution nationwide
Earnings spread across all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Salary by state
All 34 states with published data, ranked by median annual wage.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $67,600 | — | 420 | 0.97 |
| 2 | North Dakota | $63,920 | — | 180 | 4.20 |
| 3 | South Carolina | $61,290 | — | 50 | 0.23 |
| 4 | Wisconsin | $57,000 | — | 300 | 1.00 |
| 5 | Ohio | $55,040 | — | 580 | 1.03 |
| 6 | Louisiana | $50,080 | — | 310 | 1.56 |
| 7 | Illinois | $49,070 | — | 690 | 1.11 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $48,400 | — | 250 | 0.68 |
| 9 | West Virginia | $46,490 | — | 50 | 0.68 |
| 10 | Arizona | $46,440 | — | 210 | 0.62 |
| 11 | Indiana | $46,140 | — | 170 | 0.52 |
| 12 | Vermont | $46,080 | — | 80 | 2.44 |
| 13 | California | $44,530 | — | 1,950 | 1.06 |
| 14 | Colorado | $44,230 | — | 1,120 | 3.84 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $44,200 | — | 320 | 0.51 |
| 16 | Iowa | $43,040 | — | 190 | 1.23 |
| 17 | Texas | $42,920 | — | 650 | 0.45 |
| 18 | Washington | $41,350 | — | 400 | 1.12 |
| 19 | Virginia | $40,840 | — | 260 | 0.63 |
| 20 | Connecticut | $39,530 | — | 200 | 1.15 |
| 21 | Oregon | $38,730 | — | 170 | 0.84 |
| 22 | Florida | $37,070 | — | 280 | 0.28 |
| 23 | Montana | $36,370 | — | 60 | 1.18 |
| 24 | South Dakota | $35,260 | — | 80 | 1.80 |
| 25 | Michigan | $34,560 | — | 340 | 0.76 |
| 26 | Missouri | $33,140 | — | 1,240 | 4.16 |
| 27 | Idaho | $32,250 | — | 170 | 1.93 |
| 28 | Utah | $31,430 | — | 1,100 | 6.26 |
| 29 | Nebraska | $31,390 | — | 40 | 0.36 |
| 30 | Georgia | $28,360 | — | 280 | 0.57 |
| 31 | Mississippi | $27,060 | — | 60 | 0.55 |
| 32 | North Carolina | $26,540 | — | 400 | 0.80 |
| 33 | Kansas | $25,780 | — | — | — |
| 34 | Oklahoma | $21,900 | — | 220 | 1.25 |
Related occupations
Same job family, ranked by national employment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do umpires, referees, and other sports officials make?
The median annual wage for umpires, referees, and other sports officials in the United States is $40,710, or — per hour. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) earn $26,540, and the top 10% earn $82,960.
How many umpires, referees, and other sports officials are employed in the U.S.?
About 15,780 people work as umpires, referees, and other sports officials nationwide.
Which state pays umpires, referees, and other sports officials the most?
New Jersey pays the most at a median of $67,600, followed by North Dakota ($63,920) and South Carolina ($61,290).
Which state pays umpires, referees, and other sports officials the least?
Oklahoma has the lowest median at $21,900.
Where are umpires, referees, and other sports officials jobs most concentrated?
The location quotient measures employment concentration relative to the national average. The highest is Utah at 6.26×.