Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials
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.
How to read this profile
BLS projects U.S. employment for Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials to increase by 5.2% between 2024 and 2034, from 18,200 to 19,200 jobs. Its estimate of 4,300 annual openings includes replacement needs, so it does not represent current vacancies, contract postings, or freelance demand. The wage ($40,710), education (High school diploma or equivalent), and related experience (None) figures on this profile describe typical U.S. employees. O*NET skills describe the occupation; they do not assess an individual worker's proficiency.
Base employment (2024)
18,200
Projected employment (2034)
19,200
Projected change (2024–2034)
5%
Annual openings (projected average)
4,300
Pay & Preparation
$40,710
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Essential Skills
Speaking (3.62/5) • Critical Thinking (3.38/5) • Active Listening (3.25/5) • Judgment and Decision Making (3.25/5) • Monitoring (3.12/5) • Reading Comprehension (3/5)
O*NET describes occupational requirements; these ratings do not measure current job-posting frequency or an individual worker’s proficiency.
BLS projections are long-term estimates; annual openings include growth and replacement needs and are not current vacancies.
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