Also called: Official
Officiates games from youth leagues and high school up to college and the pros, enforcing the rules and making split-second calls.
Referees enforce rules, make split-second calls, and handle angry coaches. Many start officiating youth games in high school; MLB umpires and NBA refs earn six figures.
Most officials work part-time; pro officials earn far more.
Certificate, about 1 year after high school. Officials' certification; years of experience to reach the pros.
Ways in: Certification, On-the-job training. Training cost: Under $15k.
Majors to look at: Kinesiology, Physical Education.
Growing about average (about 3% over 10 years).
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. Robot strike zones and electronic line calling are replacing some pro officials; youth and amateur refs remain in short supply.
Age 14+. One way to start: Sign up for your town's youth baseball umpire or soccer referee clinic First: A league umpire or referee clinic (a few hours to a weekend), sometimes an online test
Classes: PE/fitness, Psychology, Public speaking, Math.
Official data: O*NET occupation 27-2023.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.