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Referee: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$40,710median pay per year, May 2025[1]
  1. $26,540lowest 10% earn less
  2. $32,26025th percentile
  3. $40,710median
  4. $57,16075th percentile
  5. $82,960top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[5]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[2]

The median pay for umpires, referees and other sports officials was $40,710 a year in May 2025, below the median for all occupations[1][2]. Jobs are projected to grow 5.2% by 2035, faster than the rate for all occupations[3][4].

Job growth, 2025–35
+5.2%[3]
Openings per year
4,300[6]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[7]

How much do referees make?

BLS counts referee work in the category Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials. In May 2025 the median wage was $40,710 a year[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was $53,010 a year[8]. The median for all occupations was $50,980[2].

BLS publishes only annual wages for this group, not hourly wages. Many officials work fewer hours than a full year but are paid yearly[9]. So no hourly figure is shown here.

Pay spread widely:

Point Annual
Lowest-paid 10% earned less than[5] $26,540
Lowest-paid 25% earned less than[5] $32,260
Median[1] $40,710
Highest-paid 25% earned more than[5] $57,160
Highest-paid 10% earned more than[5] $82,960

A percentile is a cut-off point, and BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[10]. These figures cover wage and salary jobs only. They leave out self-employed people, and they do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance[11]. About 9.7% of officials were self-employed in 2025[12].

Pay by state and city

New Jersey had the top state median at $67,600 a year, based on 420 jobs[13]. North Dakota was next at $63,920 with 180 jobs, then South Carolina at $61,290 with 50 jobs[13]. Oklahoma had the lowest listed median at $21,900[13].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Baton Rouge, LA came first at $65,230[14]. Columbus, OH followed at $58,240[14], then Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI at $57,190[14].

California had the most jobs at 1,950[15]. Missouri had 1,240 and Colorado had 1,120[15]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ area had the most jobs of any metro area, at 860[16].

Show median pay in 34 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
New Jersey[13]$67,600420
North Dakota$63,920180
South Carolina$61,29050
Wisconsin$57,000300
Ohio$55,040580
Louisiana$50,080310
Illinois$49,070690
Massachusetts$48,400250
West Virginia$46,49050
Arizona$46,440210
Indiana$46,140170
Vermont$46,08080
California$44,5301,950
Colorado$44,2301,120
Pennsylvania$44,200320
Iowa$43,040190
Texas$42,920650
Washington$41,350400
Virginia$40,840260
Connecticut$39,530200
Oregon$38,730170
Florida$37,070280
Montana$36,37060
South Dakota$35,26080
Michigan$34,560340
Missouri$33,1401,240
Idaho$32,250170
Utah$31,4301,100
Nebraska$31,39040
Georgia$28,360280
Mississippi$27,06060
North Carolina$26,540400
Kansas$25,780n/a
Oklahoma$21,900220

How to become a referee

Requirements differ by state and by sports association[17]. Here is the path the facts describe:

No related work experience is typical[7]. Playing the sport is not required, though deep knowledge of the rules is[21][22]. Some officials must attend camps, classes and seminars around the season[23]. Some sports, such as baseball, have their own professional training schools[24].

In an O*NET survey of 21 workers, 43% said a high school diploma was required and 24% said less than that[25].

Most new officials start with youth sports. After a few years they may move to high school games. Reaching the college level typically takes many years at the high school level[26]. Baseball umpires typically spend 7 to 10 years in the minor leagues before the majors[27]. Standards rise with each level[28].

What referees do

O*NET describes the job as officiating at competitive sporting events, spotting rule violations and deciding penalties[29]. Tasks include:

Workers report titles such as Referee, Soccer Referee, Basketball Referee and MLB Umpire[31].

Where they work

Officials work indoors and outdoors, and outdoor work means all kinds of weather. Some travel by bus, and officials in pro sports may fly[32]. Some sports require standing, squatting, walking or running for long stretches[33]. The job is stressful because rulings come in a split second and can draw strong objections from coaches, players and spectators[34].

Seasonal work is common. Schedules vary and often include evenings, weekends and holidays[35]. Many officials have a main job in another occupation and officiate part time for extra income[36]. The largest employer group in 2025 was local government, excluding education and hospitals, at 32%[37].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of umpires, referees and other sports officials to grow 5.2% from 2025 to 2035, from about 18,200 to 19,200 jobs[3]. Growth for all occupations is projected at 3.5%[4]. These counts include self-employed workers[3]. The OEWS count of 15,780 jobs covers wage and salary jobs only[38].

BLS expects about 4,300 openings a year on average[6]. Openings come from new jobs and from people who leave. Each year, 13.1% of officials leave the labor force and 9.1% move to a different occupation[39].

Is it a good fit?

The facts describe a job that is easy to start. The typical education is a high school diploma, and no related experience is needed[7]. Median pay is below the all-occupation median, with a wide range from $26,540 at the 10th percentile to $82,960 at the 90th[1][2][5]. Seasonal work, irregular hours and stressful calls are part of the job[34][35]. Many officials hold another main job[36]. Growth is projected a little above the all-occupation rate[3][4].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[40].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a referee make a year?
The median annual wage for umpires, referees and other sports officials was $40,710 in May 2025[1]. The average was $53,010[1][8].
How much does a referee make an hour?
BLS publishes only annual wages for this group, not hourly wages[9].
What education do you need to be a referee?
BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry education, though some positions have no formal requirement[7][18].
How long does it take to become a referee?
BLS lists moderate-term on-the-job training, and competency typically takes up to 1 year[7][19].
What is the highest paying state for referees?
New Jersey had the top median at $67,600 a year, then North Dakota at $63,920[13].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials in the US was $40,710 per year. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials is projected to grow 5.2% from 2025 to 2035, from about 18,200 to 19,200 jobs (a change of +900). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials: 10th percentile $26,540, 25th percentile $32,260, 75th percentile $57,160, 90th percentile $82,960. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 4,300 openings for Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials was $53,010 per year. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS publishes only annual wages for Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials, not hourly wages, because many work fewer than 2,080 hours a year but are paid yearly. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS Employment Projections: 9.7% of Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  13. Median annual wage for Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials (areas with at least 100 jobs): Baton Rouge, LA $65,230; Columbus, OH $58,240; Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $57,190; Cleveland, OH $57,140; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $56,330; Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $51,600; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $51,230; Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $50,250. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials jobs: California 1,950; Missouri 1,240; Colorado 1,120; Utah 1,100; Illinois 690. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 860; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 550 (median $51,230); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 540 (median $51,600); St. Louis, MO-IL 520 (median $34,360); Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO 490 (median $42,350); Kansas City, MO-KS 490 (median $37,650). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Other Experience. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Other Experience. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. O*NET 27-2023.00 survey of workers (21 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 43%, Less than a High School Diploma 24%, Bachelor's Degree 14%, Post-Secondary Certificate 10% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. O*NET description of Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials. O*NET OnLine
  30. O*NET task list for Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials. O*NET OnLine
  31. O*NET 27-2023.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Basketball Referee, Diving Judge, Dressage Judge, Football Referee, Horse Show Judge, Major League Baseball Umpire (MLB Umpire), Referee, Soccer Referee. O*NET OnLine
  32. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  35. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  36. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  37. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of umpires, referees, and other sports officials in 2025: Local government, excluding education and hospitals 32%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  38. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 15,780 people were employed as Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  39. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials: 13.1% of workers leave the labor force each year and 9.1% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  40. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.