Entertainers and Performers, Sports and Related Workers

How to become an Umpire, Referee or Other Sports Official

Official title: Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials

Also called: Basketball Referee, Diving Judge, Dressage Judge, Football Referee, Horse Show Judge, Major League Baseball Umpire (MLB Umpire), Referee, Soccer Referee, Softball Umpire, Sports Official

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.

Main tasks

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.
Inspect sporting equipment or examine participants to ensure compliance with event and safety regulations.
Report to regulating organizations regarding sporting activities, complaints made, and actions taken or needed, such as fines or other disciplinary actions.
Confer with other sporting officials, coaches, players, and facility managers to provide information, coordinate activities, and discuss problems.

How to become one

Requirements for umpires, referees, and other sports officials typically vary by state and local sports association. Although some positions have no formal education requirements, others may require a high school diploma.

Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

Licence: A licence is required in 32 states.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $40,710 a year The middle half earn $32,260 to $57,160.
About 18,200 people work in this job now, and about 19,200 are projected by 2035. (+5.2%)
People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Questions people ask

How do I become an Umpire, Referee or Other Sports Official?

How much does an Umpire, Referee or Other Sports Official earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $40,710 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $32,260 to $57,160.

Is an Umpire, Referee or Other Sports Official a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 5% by 2035, from about 18,200 to about 19,200 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become an Umpire, Referee or Other Sports Official?

Not always. 53% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of an Umpire, Referee or Other Sports Official?

People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

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.