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Sports official salary
Average sports official salary
$36,685
Sports Official Salary Overview
The average salary for a sports official stands at $36,685 annually or about $18 per hour. Factors influencing these earnings include the official’s level of experience, the specific sport, and geographical location. For instance, officials in high-demand sports such as football and basketball tend to earn more.
Where to Find Higher Salaries
States like California, New York, and Texas offer some of the highest salaries for sports officials. Additionally, positions in professional leagues typically provide better compensation compared to amateur events.
Job Opportunities
Sports officials can work in various settings, including schools, colleges, and professional leagues. The demand for qualified officials remains strong, with opportunities for advancement and specialization in different sports.
- High School Sports: Generally entry-level positions with lower pay.
- Collegiate Sports: Offers higher pay and more frequent games.
- Professional Leagues: Highest earnings, but require significant experience.
Consider pursuing certification to enhance your qualifications and increase your earning potential in this competitive field.
Let Zippi find your next sports official job
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Where can a Sports Official earn more?
Sports official salary estimates from across the web
Average sports official salary by state
The average sports official salary in Washington, Wyoming, and Colorado are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average sports official salary states are New York, Nebraska, and Iowa.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for sports officials
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | $47,975 | $23.06 |
| 2 | Colorado | $47,634 | $22.90 |
| 3 | Arizona | $47,354 | $22.77 |
| 4 | West Virginia | $45,728 | $21.98 |
| 5 | Kentucky | $44,685 | $21.48 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $41,180 | $19.80 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $45,171 | $21.72 |
| 8 | Washington | $49,781 | $23.93 |
| 9 | North Carolina | $45,881 | $22.06 |
| 10 | Virginia | $47,354 | $22.77 |
| 11 | Oregon | $45,740 | $21.99 |
| 12 | Indiana | $39,349 | $18.92 |
| 13 | Vermont | $40,556 | $19.50 |
| 14 | Montana | $38,695 | $18.60 |
| 15 | Michigan | $43,651 | $20.99 |
| 16 | Nevada | $37,458 | $18.01 |
| 17 | Connecticut | $42,264 | $20.32 |
| 18 | Texas | $41,232 | $19.82 |
| 19 | Maine | $37,869 | $18.21 |
| 20 | New Mexico | $41,842 | $20.12 |
| 21 | Arkansas | $41,025 | $19.72 |
| 22 | South Dakota | $38,323 | $18.42 |
| 23 | California | $43,130 | $20.74 |
| 24 | Maryland | $37,830 | $18.19 |
| 25 | Idaho | $40,381 | $19.41 |
| 26 | Louisiana | $35,995 | $17.31 |
| 27 | Florida | $36,118 | $17.36 |
| 28 | Massachusetts | $37,058 | $17.82 |
| 29 | Minnesota | $33,744 | $16.22 |
| 30 | Wisconsin | $32,658 | $15.70 |
| 31 | Kansas | $37,124 | $17.85 |
| 32 | Rhode Island | $36,802 | $17.69 |
| 33 | District of Columbia | $37,066 | $17.82 |
| 34 | Ohio | $34,120 | $16.40 |
| 35 | Delaware | $37,383 | $17.97 |
| 36 | Georgia | $30,938 | $14.87 |
| 37 | Hawaii | $39,873 | $19.17 |
| 38 | Tennessee | $31,130 | $14.97 |
| 39 | New Hampshire | $36,037 | $17.33 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $35,603 | $17.12 |
| 41 | Alabama | $31,248 | $15.02 |
| 42 | Iowa | $27,422 | $13.18 |
| 43 | Illinois | $32,241 | $15.50 |
| 44 | Nebraska | $27,438 | $13.19 |
| 45 | Alaska | $30,487 | $14.66 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $32,218 | $15.49 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $26,358 | $12.67 |
| 48 | Missouri | $26,852 | $12.91 |
| 49 | New York | $27,769 | $13.35 |
| 50 | Utah | $27,286 | $13.12 |
| 51 | New Jersey | $27,815 | $13.37 |
Highest paying cities for sports officials
The highest-paying cities for sports officials are Seattle, WA, Greeley, CO, and Fredericksburg, VA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $49,879 | $23.98 |
| 2 | Greeley, CO | $47,928 | $23.04 |
| 3 | Fredericksburg, VA | $47,788 | $22.98 |
| 4 | Fayetteville, NC | $45,849 | $22.04 |
| 5 | Oakland, CA | $43,968 | $21.14 |
| 6 | Ann Arbor, MI | $43,541 | $20.93 |
| 7 | Austin, TX | $41,264 | $19.84 |
| 8 | Rockville, MD | $37,761 | $18.15 |
| 9 | Salina, KS | $37,303 | $17.93 |
| 10 | Daytona Beach, FL | $36,351 | $17.48 |
| 11 | Duluth, MN | $33,706 | $16.20 |
| 12 | Appleton, WI | $32,850 | $15.79 |
| 13 | Logan, UT | $27,451 | $13.20 |
| 14 | Bettendorf, IA | $27,322 | $13.14 |
| 15 | Springfield, MO | $26,600 | $12.79 |
Sports official salary details
A sports official's salary ranges from $25,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $52,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a sports official's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $52,000 | $4,333 | $25 |
| 75th Percentile | $44,000 | $3,667 | $21 |
| Average | $36,685 | $3,057 | $18 |
| 25th Percentile | $30,000 | $2,500 | $14 |
| 10th Percentile | $25,000 | $2,083 | $12 |
Highest paying sports official jobs
The highest paying types of sports officials are intramural official, softball umpire, and major league baseball umpire.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Referee | $56,571 | $4,714 | $27.20 | 6,164 |
| Sports Internship | $30,137 | $2,511 | $14.49 | 48,236 |
Which companies pay sports officials the most?
Sports official salaries at City and County of Denver Government and University of Michigan are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average sports official salary at companies like The College of St. Scholastica and Trustmark Insurance Co are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | City and County of Denver Government | $44,659 | $21.47 |
| 2 | University of Michigan | $44,097 | $21.20 |
| 3 | The College of St. Scholastica | $42,655 | $20.51 |
| 4 | Trustmark Insurance Co | $40,152 | $19.30 |
| 5 | Frederick County | $40,034 | $19.25 |
| 6 | HealthFitness | $38,816 | $18.66 |
| 7 | City of Spokane | $38,203 | $18.37 |
| 8 | Missouri State University | $38,105 | $18.32 |
| 9 | NASCAR | $37,090 | $17.83 |
| 10 | Welocalize | $36,734 | $17.66 |
| 11 | City of Rochester MN | $36,559 | $17.58 |
| 12 | City of Boulder | $36,456 | $17.53 |
| 13 | San Jose State University | $36,212 | $17.41 |
| 14 | Oakland Public Library | $35,174 | $16.91 |
| 15 | City of Boise | $34,938 | $16.80 |
| 16 | South Suburban Parks and Recreation | $34,704 | $16.68 |
| 17 | City of Salinas | $34,456 | $16.57 |
| 18 | City of Stephenville | $34,371 | $16.52 |
| 19 | MGM Resorts International | $33,910 | $16.30 |
| 20 | City of Greeley | $33,483 | $16.10 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Sports Official salary by industry
The average sports official salary varies across industries:
- The average sports official salary in the education industry is $41,006, the highest of any industry.
- The average sports official salary in the finance industry is $37,543.
- Sports officials in the non profits industry earn an average salary of $29,785, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for sports officials
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Education | $41,006 | $19.71 |
| 2 | Hospitality | $37,543 | $18.05 |
| 3 | Health Care | $36,815 | $17.70 |
| 4 | Government | $35,973 | $17.29 |
| 5 | Non Profits | $29,785 | $14.32 |
High paying sports official jobs
Sports official salary trends
The average sports official salary has risen by $7,289 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average sports official earned $29,396 annually, but today, they earn $36,685 a year. That works out to a 13% change in pay for sports officials over the last decade.
Compare sports official salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average sports official salary over time
Compare sports official salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Sports official salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $36,700 | $17.64 | +1.3% |
| 2024 | $36,200 | $17.40 | +5.4% |
| 2023 | $34,300 | $16.47 | +0.8% |
| 2022 | $34,000 | $16.33 | +4.3% |
| 2021 | $32,500 | $15.64 | +3.1% |
Recently added sports official salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida Atlantic University | Intramural Sports Official | Boca Raton, FL | 06/30/2025 | $27,131 |
| YMCA of Northwest North Carolina | Sports Official | Winston-Salem, NC | 06/27/2025 | $20,870 |
| University of North Dakota | Recsports Official | Grand Forks, ND | 06/26/2025 | $33,392 |
| I9 Sports | Sport Official Baseball | San Bruno, CA | 06/20/2025 | $41,740 |
| YMCA of The Iowa Mississippi Valley | Sports Official-Baseball and Soccer | Bettendorf, IA | 06/18/2025 | $25,044 |
| YMCA of Natrona County | Youth Sports Official | Casper, WY | 06/16/2025 | $20,348 |
| City of Greeley | Adult Sport Official | Greeley, CO | 06/14/2025 | $40,321 |
| Suny Cortland | Intramural Sports Official (Fall 2025) | Cortland, NY | 06/11/2025 | $32,349 |
| Scott County Family YMCA | MAQ-Youth Sports Official | Maquoketa, IA | 06/11/2025 | $25,044 |
| YMCA of Greater Dayton | Youth Sports Official | Springboro, OH | 06/10/2025 | $22,331 |
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