Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials Salary in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA make a median of $32,470 a year. The range runs from $25K at the entry level to $62K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.7), which stretches that salary to about $35,409 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,318/month — about 59.5% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $32K get you in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Des Moines-West Des Moines’s Regional Price Parity (91.7). 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.
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
Entry-level umpires, referees, and other sports officials (10th percentile) start around $25K. Mid-career wages sit at $32K. Top earners bring in $62K or more, a $37K 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
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $84K | +115% | 210 |
| Kentucky | $57K | +48% | 70 |
| South Carolina | $57K | +48% | N/A |
| Minnesota | $53K | +36% | 180 |
| New Hampshire | $53K | +35% | 40 |
| Louisiana | $52K | +35% | 260 |
| Maryland | $51K | +31% | 50 |
| Maine | $48K | +25% | 40 |
| New Jersey | $48K | +23% | 420 |
| Illinois | $47K | +21% | 820 |
| Arizona | $45K | +17% | 180 |
| Wisconsin | $45K | +15% | 280 |
| California | $45K | +15% | 2,830 |
| Virginia | $44K | +13% | 380 |
| Vermont | $44K | +13% | 100 |
| West Virginia | $44K | +12% | 60 |
| Oregon | $42K | +7% | 170 |
| Washington | $40K | +3% | 430 |
| Connecticut | $38K | -3% | 150 |
| Texas | $38K | -3% | 650 |
| Missouri | $37K | -4% | 690 |
| Indiana | $37K | -5% | 190 |
| South Dakota | $36K | -6% | 110 |
| Nebraska | $34K | -11% | 70 |
| Iowa | $34K | -12% | 160 |
| Kansas | $33K | -15% | 620 |
| Michigan | $33K | -15% | 310 |
| Montana | $31K | -20% | 110 |
| Florida | $30K | -22% | 540 |
| Utah | $30K | -23% | 960 |
| Georgia | $28K | -27% | 90 |
| New Mexico | $28K | -27% | 40 |
| Ohio | $26K | -32% | 500 |
| Idaho | $25K | -35% | 270 |
| North Carolina | $25K | -35% | 480 |
| Nevada | $24K | -39% | 40 |
| Oklahoma | $23K | -40% | 140 |
| Mississippi | $23K | -41% | 30 |
| Tennessee | $23K | -41% | N/A |
Showing 1–10 of 39 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track umpires, referees, and other sports officials salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
How much do umpires, referees, and other sports officials make in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The median is $32,470 a year, that works out to about $0 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $24,970, and experienced umpires, referees, and other sports officials can clear $61,970. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $32K enough to live in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,225/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,318/month, which eats 59.2% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a umpires, referees, and other sports officials salary go in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Des Moines-West Des Moines has a Regional Price Parity of 91.7 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median umpires, referees, and other sports officials salary is worth about $35,409 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.