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Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials In Demand

General Information

Description

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.

Business Breakdown

People in this career work in these sectors.

  1. Private, for profit39.64%
  2. Private, not for profit24.75%
  3. State and local government17.92%
  4. Self-employed17.69%

Workplace at a Glance

What you can expect to experience while on the job

  • Responsibility
  • Exposure to job hazards
  • Physical activity
  • Decision making
  • Repetitiveness
  • Level of competition
  • Time pressure

Industry areas

  • Hospitality & Tourism

Job Outlook

Projected Job Growth (2022 - 2032)
+10%
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Job Outlook

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Employment of umpires, referees, and other sports officials is projected to grow 10 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations. About 5,000 openings for umpires, referees, and other sports officials are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Similar Careers

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Salary

Salary Information

Median Salary This is the median, or the midpoint, of the salary range for this career.

$36,010

State-by-state Salary

Gray states indicate no data available

Salary Range Salary varies based on years of experience, degree level and location.

$17,270
$52,000
No Information for this section

Education & Interests

Most Common Education Levels

People in this career achieve this level of education.

  • High school 42%
  • Less than high school 23%
  • Bachelor's degree 14%
  • Post-secondary certificate 9%
  • Doctoral degree 4%
  • Associate's degree 4%
  • Some college 0%
  • Master's degree 0%
  • Post baccalaureate 0%
  • Post-doctoral training 0%
  • Post-master's certificate 0%
  • First professional degree 0%

PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS

You may find this career fulfilling if you consider yourself to be:

  • Realistic — You have an interest in physically working with equipment, materials or structures.
  • Enterprising — You have an interest in managing, negotiating and marketing, or leading and advising others.
  • Conventional — You have an interest in following procedures and regulations to organize information or data.

Not sure what characteristics best describe you? Take the RIASEC Test.

Skills at a Glance

Skills helpful in this career

  • Verbal skills
  • Critical thinking & problem solving
  • Equipment operation & maintenance
  • Math & science skills
  • Technology design & control
  • Leadership

Knowledge

  • English Language
  • Education and Training
  • Administration and Management
  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Psychology

Gain insights into your knowledge by using the ASVAB Career Exploration Program

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Data supplied by Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Center of Education Statistics, Defense Manpower Data Center (View our update schedule). Contact any business, college or military service branch to answer additional questions.