Umpire and referee salaries vary greatly, depending on the sport and the level at which it is played. Typically, the closer an official gets to the top of a professional sports league, the higher the wages, but this is not always the case. For example, some college basketball referees might earn more money than a non-lead official in a less popular professional sport.

The U.S. Department...

Professional officials work in front of huge crowds. Their judgments and decisions are scrutinized by the fans in the stadium and by millions of fans watching at home.

Professional football officials work one game a week, while baseball umpires may work up to six games a week. Some football stadiums are outdoors, and football officials may have to work through inclement weather. Baseball...

Employment for umpires, referees, and other sports officials is expected to grow by 8 percent, faster than the average for all careers, through 2029, according to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). The coronavirus pandemic, however, has impacted all sports, with many team sports cancelled earlier in 2020. Baseball, basketball, hockey, and other sports have since resumed but with new, strict pr...