Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials Salary
Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials in Akron, OH make a median of $56,200 a year. The range runs from $28K at the entry level to $57K for experienced workers.
So what does $56K get you in Akron?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Akron’s Regional Price Parity (93.4). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About umpires, referees, and other sports officials
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What this looks like in Akron
Akron sits well above the national pay line for umpires, referees, and other sports officials, local pay runs about 38% higher than the U.S. median of $41K. Rent runs $1,012/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.4 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for umpires, referees, and other sports officials in metros near Akron, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Cleveland | $57K | , |
| Columbus | $58K | , |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek | $26K | , |
| Fort Wayne | $41K | , |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Akron, OH
Entry-level umpires, referees, and other sports officials (10th percentile) start around $28K. Mid-career wages sit at $56K. Top earners bring in $57K or more, a $29K spread from bottom to top.
Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $68K | +66% | 420 |
| North Dakota | $64K | +57% | 180 |
| South Carolina | $61K | +51% | 50 |
| Wisconsin | $57K | +40% | 300 |
| Ohio | $55K | +35% | 580 |
| Louisiana | $50K | +23% | 310 |
| Illinois | $49K | +21% | 690 |
| Massachusetts | $48K | +19% | 250 |
| West Virginia | $46K | +14% | 50 |
| Arizona | $46K | +14% | 210 |
| Indiana | $46K | +13% | 170 |
| Vermont | $46K | +13% | 80 |
| California | $45K | +9% | 1,950 |
| Colorado | $44K | +9% | 1,120 |
| Pennsylvania | $44K | +9% | 320 |
| Iowa | $43K | +6% | 190 |
| Texas | $43K | +5% | 650 |
| Washington | $41K | +2% | 400 |
| Virginia | $41K | +0% | 260 |
| Connecticut | $40K | -3% | 200 |
| Oregon | $39K | -5% | 170 |
| Florida | $37K | -9% | 280 |
| Montana | $36K | -11% | 60 |
| South Dakota | $35K | -13% | 80 |
| Michigan | $35K | -15% | 340 |
| Missouri | $33K | -19% | 1,240 |
| Idaho | $32K | -21% | 170 |
| Utah | $31K | -23% | 1,100 |
| Nebraska | $31K | -23% | 40 |
| Georgia | $28K | -30% | 280 |
| Mississippi | $27K | -34% | 60 |
| North Carolina | $27K | -35% | 400 |
| Kansas | $26K | -37% | N/A |
| Oklahoma | $22K | -46% | 220 |
Showing 1–10 of 34 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track umpires, referees, and other sports officials salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Akron numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a umpires, referees, and other sports official afford a 2BR apartment alone in Akron?
Yes — at the median salary of $56K, rent takes 26.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,012/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for umpires, referees, and other sports officials in Akron?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new umpires, referees, and other sports officials typically earn — is $28K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,680/month. At HUD’s $1,012/month FMR, rent would take 60% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is umpires, referees, and other sports official a high-paying job in Akron?
Local pay is 38% above the national median — $56K here vs. $41K nationally.
How does Akron compare to the national average for umpires, referees, and other sports officials?
Akron pays $56K median vs. the U.S. average of $41K — that’s +38%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.4), the purchasing-power equivalent is $60K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do umpires, referees, and other sports officials make in Akron, OH?
The median is $56,200 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $28,000, and experienced umpires, referees, and other sports officials can clear $57,010. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $56K enough to live in Akron?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,863/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,012/month, which eats 26.2% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a umpires, referees, and other sports officials salary go in Akron?
Akron has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median umpires, referees, and other sports officials salary is worth about $60,171 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do umpires, referees, and other sports officials get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.