Education:
43%
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
24%
Less than a High School Diploma
Umpire, Referee, or Other Sports Official
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Job Outlook:
Much faster than average
Education:
High school diploma or equivalent
Salary
High:
$69,010.00
Average:
$49,030.00
What they do:
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.
On the job, you would:
- 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.
Important Qualities
Communication skills. Umpires, referees, and other sports officials must have good communication skills because they inform athletes on a sport's rules, discuss infractions, and settle disputes.
Decision-making skills. Umpires, referees, and other sports officials must observe play, assess situations, and make split-second rulings.
Good vision. Umpires, referees, and other sports officials must have good vision to identify violations during play. In some sports, such as diving or gymnastics, sports officials also must be able to observe an athlete’s form for imperfections.
Physical stamina. Many umpires, referees, and other sports officials are required to run, squat, stand, or walk for long periods during competitions.
Teamwork. Because umpires, referees, and other sports officials may work in groups to officiate a game, they must be able to cooperate and come to a mutual decision.
Personality
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Characteristics of this Career |
|---|---|---|---|
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100% | Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations. | |
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94% | Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical. | |
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94% | Self-Control - Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations. | |
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87% | Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks. | |
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87% | Stress Tolerance - Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations. | |
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82% | Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude. | |
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81% | Adaptability/Flexibility - Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace. | |
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80% | Persistence - Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles. | |
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76% | Social Orientation - Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job. | |
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74% | Initiative - Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges. | |
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74% | Achievement/Effort - Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks. | |
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73% | Leadership - Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction. |
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Strengths |
|---|---|---|---|
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83% | Realistic - Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services. | |
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83% | Enterprising - Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertising, finance, management/administration, professional advising, public speaking, politics, or law. |
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Values of the Work Environment |
|---|---|---|---|
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78% | Achievement - Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement. |
Aptitude
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Abilities | Cognitive, Physical, Personality |
|---|---|---|---|
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72% | Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand. | |
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72% | Far Vision - The ability to see details at a distance. | |
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69% | Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences. | |
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69% | Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer). | |
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66% | Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem. | |
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66% | Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you. |
Job Details
Responsibilities
Inspect work sites to identify potential environmental or safety hazards.
Inspect facilities, equipment or supplies to ensure conformance to standards.
Coordinate athletic or sporting events or activities.
Evaluate skills of athletes or performers.
Coordinate athletic or sporting events or activities.
Coordinate athletic or sporting events or activities.
Coordinate athletic or sporting events or activities.
Coordinate athletic or sporting events or activities.
Verify accuracy of data.
Coordinate athletic or sporting events or activities.
Coordinate athletic or sporting events or activities.
Coach others.
Verify accuracy of data.
Compile technical information or documentation.
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Attributes & Percentage of Time Spent |
|---|---|---|---|
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88% | Freedom to Make Decisions - How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer? | |
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75% | Work With Work Group or Team - How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job? | |
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75% | Spend Time Standing - How much does this job require standing? | |
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74% | Importance of Being Exact or Accurate - How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job? | |
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74% | Face-to-Face Discussions - How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job? | |
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73% | Contact With Others - How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it? | |
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71% | Physical Proximity - To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks in close physical proximity to other people? | |
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69% | Electronic Mail - How often do you use electronic mail in this job? | |
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73% | Work Schedules - How regular are the work schedules for this job? |
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Tasks & Values |
|---|---|---|---|
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76% | Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources. | |
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75% | Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems. | |
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72% | Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job. | |
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71% | Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events. | |
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71% | Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person. | |
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66% | Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time. | |
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66% | Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards - Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards. |
What Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials Do
Umpires, referees, and other sports officials regulate play by signaling participants and other officials.
Umpires, referees, and other sports officials preside over competitive athletic or sporting events to help maintain standards of play. They detect infractions and decide penalties according to the rules of the game.
Duties
Umpires, referees, and other sports officials typically do the following:
- Officiate sporting competitions
- Judge performances in sporting competitions to determine a winner
- Inspect sports equipment and observe all participants to ensure safety
- Keep track of event times, starting or stopping play when necessary
- Signal participants and other officials when infractions occur or to regulate play or competition
- Settle claims of infractions or complaints by participants
- Enforce the rules of the game and assess penalties when necessary
While officiating at sporting competitions, umpires, referees, and other sports officials must anticipate play and position themselves where they can best see the action, assess the situation, and identify any violations of the rules.
Sports officials typically rely on their judgment to make split-second rulings on infractions and penalties. Officials in some sports may use video replay to help make the correct call.
Some sports officials, such as boxing referees, may work independently. Others, such as baseball or softball umpires, work in groups. Each official working in a group may have different responsibilities. For example, in baseball, one umpire is responsible for signaling balls and strikes while others are responsible for signaling fair and foul balls out in the field.
Work Environment
Umpires, referees, and other sports officials held about 20,400 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of umpires, referees, and other sports officials were as follows:
| Self-employed workers | 34% |
| Amusement, gambling, and recreation industries | 17 |
| Performing arts, spectator sports, and related industries | 16 |
| Educational services; state, local, and private | 7 |
| Civic and social organizations | 3 |
Umpires, referees, and other sports officials work indoors and outdoors. Those working outdoors will be exposed to all types of weather conditions. Some officials travel by bus to sporting events. Others, especially officials in professional sports, may travel by air.
Some sports require officials to stand, squat, walk, or run for extended periods.
Regardless of the sport, the job is stressful because officials often must make split-second rulings. These rulings may result in strong disagreement from coaches, players, and spectators.
Work Schedules
Seasonal work is common for umpires, referees, and other sports officials. Schedules may vary, and they often work irregular hours that include evenings, weekends, and holidays.
Many umpires, referees, and other sports officials are employed primarily in other occupations and supplement their income by officiating part time.
Getting Started
How to Become an Umpire, Referee, or Other Sports Official
Education and training requirements for umpires, referees, and other sports officials vary by the level and type of sport.
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. Officiating sports requires extensive knowledge of the rules of the game.
Education
Umpires, referees, and other sports officials typically need a high school diploma, although requirements may vary. Each state and sport association has its own education requirements for umpires, referees, and other sports officials. Some do not require formal education, while others may require umpires, referees, and sports officials to have a high school diploma.
Some sports, such as baseball, have their own professional training schools that prepare aspiring umpires and officials for a career at the minor and major league levels.
For more information on educational requirements, refer to the specific state athletic or activity association.
Training
To attain competency in the occupation, umpires, referees, and other sports officials typically need up to 1 year of on-the-job training. This training may include informational sessions covering topics such as positioning, signaling, and other responsibilities or shadowing an experienced official to help manage competitions.
Umpires, referees, and other sports officials may be required to attend training camps, classes, and seminars before, during, and after the season. These sessions allow officials to learn about rule updates, review and evaluate their own performances, and improve their officiating.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Credentialing requirements vary by competition level. For example, to officiate high school athletic events, umpires, referees, and other officials must typically register with the state or local agency that oversees high school athletics. They also typically need to pass an exam on the rules of the particular sport. Some states and associations require applicants to attend umpiring or refereeing classes before taking the exam or joining the association. Other associations require officials to attend annual training workshops before renewing their officiating credential.
For more information, visit your state’s athletic association website or the National Association of Sports Officials.
Advancement
Most new umpires, referees, and other sports officials begin by officiating youth sports. After a few years, they may advance to the high school level. Those who wish to advance to the collegiate level must typically officiate at the high school level for many years.
Some umpires, referees, and other officials may advance through the high school and collegiate levels to reach the professional level. Advancement may continue within the professional ranks. For example, baseball umpires begin their professional careers officiating in the minor leagues and typically need 7 to 10 years of experience there before advancing on to the major leagues.
Standards for umpires and other officials become more stringent as the level of competition increases.
Other Experience
Umpires, referees, and other sports officials must have an extensive knowledge of the rules of the sport they are officiating.
Some officials may have gained much of their knowledge through years of playing the sport at some level. However, playing experience is not a requirement for becoming an umpire, referee, or other sports official.
Job Outlook
Employment of umpires, referees, and other sports officials is projected to grow 10 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.
About 5,000 openings for umpires, referees, and other sports officials are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Employment
The demand for umpires, referees, and other sports officials may increase with a growing interest in college sports, professional sports, and sports recreation and with more athletes participating in sports. While funding for school athletic programs may be cut when budgets become tight, the popularity of interscholastic sports sometimes enables shortfalls to be offset with assistance from fundraisers, booster clubs, and parents.
Contacts for More Information
For more information about umpires, referees, and other sports officials, visit
National Association of Sports Officials (NASO)
National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS)
For more information on umpires, referees, and other sports officials, refer to the organization that represents the sport and the locality.
Similar Occupations
This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of umpires, referees, and other sports officials.
| Occupation | Job Duties | Entry-Level Education | Median Annual Pay, May 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Athletes and Sports Competitors |
Athletes and sports competitors participate in organized, officiated sporting events to entertain spectators. |
No formal educational credential | $94,270 |
|
Coaches and Scouts |
Coaches teach amateur or professional athletes the skills they need to succeed at their sport. Scouts evaluate athletes as possible recruits. |
Bachelor's degree | $44,890 |