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.

Umpires, referees, and other sports officials work indoors and outdoors. Officials working outdoors are exposed to all types of weather conditions. They often work irregular hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Educational requirements vary accordingly by state and local sports association. Although some states have no formal education requirements, other states require umpires, referees, and other sports officials to have a high school diploma.

The median annual wage for umpires, referees, and other sports officials was $24,870 in May 2015.

Employment of umpires, referees, and other sports officials is projected to grow 5 percent from 2014 to 2024, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Job prospects are expected to be good at the youth and high school levels.

Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for umpires, referees, and other sports officials.

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of umpires, referees, and other sports officials with similar occupations.

Learn more about umpires, referees, and other sports officials by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.