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.
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. The role reports a median annual salary of $38,820 in the US and is projected to grow 6% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Entry typically requires a High school diploma or equivalent, and shows moderate AI exposure (0.48 on a 0-1 scale) — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. The most in-demand skills for the role include Speaking, Critical Thinking, Active Listening, Judgment and Decision Making, Monitoring.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £30,108 a year for Sports coaches, instructors and officials (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 3432). ONS rates this estimate reasonably precise. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Technicians and associate professionals” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only Umpires, referees, and other sports officials, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 3. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- English Language
- Education and Training
- Administration and Management
- Customer and Personal Service
- Psychology
- Communications and Media
- Mathematics
- Computers and Electronics
A day in the life
You start your match day by reviewing the rules for the competition and any notes on the teams. You arrive at the ground early and inspect the field, goals and markings to make sure everything is safe and meets the regulations. You check the players' equipment before kick-off and meet your fellow officials to agree on signals and positioning. During the game you move constantly, watching play closely, blowing the whistle and signalling fouls. When players protest a decision you stay calm, explain it clearly and hand out any penalties required. After the final whistle you debrief with your team and write a report on the match, noting any incidents for the governing body. Some days you coach new officials or explain rules to young players. The abuse from players and fans can be hard to take. But when the game flows smoothly and fairly because of your decisions, you feel proud to have made it possible.
Illustrative: one typical day, written from the O*NET task statements for this occupation. Real days vary by employer and seniority.
What you'd actually do
- 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.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does Umpires, referees, and other sports officials 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.
What does a typical day look like in Umpires, referees, and other sports officials?
You start your match day by reviewing the rules for the competition and any notes on the teams. You arrive at the ground early and inspect the field, goals and markings to make sure everything is safe and meets the regulations. You check the players' equipment before kick-off and meet your fellow officials to agree on signals and positioning. During the game you move constantly, watching play closely, blowing the whistle and signalling fouls.
How much does Umpires, referees, and other sports officials earn?
The median annual salary for Umpires, referees, and other sports officials in the US is $38,820.
What is the job outlook for Umpires, referees, and other sports officials?
The role is projected to grow 6% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Current US employment is approximately 19,300 workers.
How do I become umpires, referees, and other sports officials?
The typical entry education is a High school diploma or equivalent. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Umpires, referees, and other sports officials need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include Speaking, Critical Thinking, Active Listening, Judgment and Decision Making, Monitoring, Reading Comprehension. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Umpires, referees, and other sports officials?
Our AI-durability model gives Umpires, referees, and other sports officials a score of 0.48 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at moderate AI exposure — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. Learning to work with AI tools rather than against them is the path forward.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Umpires, referees, and other sports officials has low barrier to entry — generally accessible — you can enter with basic credentials and on-the-job learning.