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Career

Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials

Typical education: High school diplomaLower pressure Bright Outlook

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.

Kinds of work

  • Enterprising: Leading, persuading, selling and starting new projects or businesses.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.
  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.

Lower pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $40,710 Median per year Most earn $26,540–$82,960

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Verify scoring calculations before competition winners are announced.
  • Report to regulating organizations regarding sporting activities, complaints made, and actions taken or needed, such as fines or other disciplinary actions.
  • Direct participants to assigned areas, such as starting blocks or penalty areas.
  • Keep track of event times, including race times and elapsed time during game segments, starting or stopping play when necessary.
  • Inspect sporting equipment or examine participants to ensure compliance with event and safety regulations.
  • Teach and explain the rules and regulations governing a specific sport.

Job outlook

Bright Outlook Rapid Growth

United States
5% more jobs by 2035, faster than average · about 4,300 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Local government, excluding education and hospitals31.9%
  • Spectator sports10.6%
  • Fitness and recreational sports centers9.7%
  • Self-employed (their own business)9.7%
  • Civic and social organizations6.2%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 3 to 6 months

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: High school diplomaExperience before this job: 3 to 6 monthsEntry-level

This is an entry-level career. Many people start officiating after high school, often with a few months of training and local experience, and it can grow into more advanced roles over time.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Finish high school while learning the rules of the sports you enjoy and getting comfortable being around games and players. This gives you the basic education most officiating jobs ask for.

  2. Youth league or recreation league helper

    3-6 months

    Start by helping at local youth games as a scorekeeper, timer, or assistant, then take a basic officiating course. Gaining real game experience builds your rule knowledge and confidence.

  3. Umpire, Referee, or Sports Official

    Ongoing

    Work as a paid or volunteer official at youth, school, or community games, making calls, enforcing rules, and handling players and coaches. Your experience and reputation lead to more and higher-level games.

Where it can lead

  1. Chief Referee

    3-5 years of experience first

    You lead a group of officials, assign games, settle disputes on the field, and help train newer officials. To move up, you need strong game experience, a solid rules record, and good communication skills.

  2. First-Line Supervisor of Recreation Workers

    2-4 years of experience first

    You oversee staff at a sports or recreation program, including scheduling and training workers. To move up, you need experience running programs and leading people, often combined with the knowledge you gained as an official.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take health or physical education classesThese classes help you understand the rules and fitness that officials need, and they show you how to stay active and alert during long games.
  • Volunteer as a scorekeeper or timerWorking at youth or school games lets you see how officials make calls and how the game flows, without the pressure of making decisions yet.
  • Take an officiating course or clinicMany local sports associations offer beginner courses that teach rules, signals, and game management, which is a good first step toward certification.
  • Get a part-time job at a rec center or sports facilityWorking with people in a sports setting builds customer service skills and shows you how recreation programs are run.
  • Practice clear communicationOfficials must explain calls calmly and firmly, so joining a debate or public speaking club can help you build that skill.

In college

  • Major in kinesiology, sports management, or physical educationThese majors cover sports rules, athlete safety, and event operations, which give you a strong base for an officiating career.
  • Officiate intramural or club sportsCalling college intramural games gives you steady game experience and a chance to build a record that you can show to local leagues.
  • Earn an officiating certificationA certification from a local or state association shows that you know the rules and can apply them, which helps you get assigned to more games.
  • Take a conflict management or communication courseOfficials often need to calm angry players and coaches, so these skills help you stay in control of games.
  • Work as an official for youth leagues or summer campsSummer jobs officiating youth sports give you paid or volunteer experience, along with a network of coaches and league organizers.

Tips for getting started

  • Start officiating or helping at youth games as early as you can, since real experience counts for a lot in this field.
  • Learn the official rulebook for the sport you want to call, and study it until you can explain the reasons behind the rules.
  • Get certified through a local or state officiating association, and keep your skills sharp by attending clinics and training sessions.

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

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