Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials Salary
Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials in Missouri make a median of $33,140 a year. The range runs from $29K at the entry level to $50K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.97), which stretches that salary to about $37,249 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,097/month, about 48.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Missouri. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $33K get you in Missouri?
About umpires, referees, and other sports officials
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What this looks like in Missouri
Pay for umpires, referees, and other sports officials in Missouri runs about 19% below the U.S. median of $41K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,097/month, which is 47.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for umpires, referees, and other sports officialss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Missouri
Entry-level umpires, referees, and other sports officials (10th percentile) start around $29K. Mid-career wages sit at $33K. Top earners bring in $50K or more, a $22K spread from bottom to top.
Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials salary by metro in Missouri
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | $38K | +14% | 490 |
| St. Louis | $34K | +4% | 520 |
| Springfield | $31K | -7% | 150 |
Compare to other states
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Frequently asked questions
Can a umpires, referees, and other sports official afford a 2BR apartment alone in Missouri?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $33K, rent takes 47.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,097/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $700/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for umpires, referees, and other sports officials in Missouri?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new umpires, referees, and other sports officials typically earn — is $29K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,716/month. At HUD’s $1,097/month FMR, rent would take 64% 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 Missouri?
Local pay runs 19% below the national median — $33K here vs. $41K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Missouri compare to the national average for umpires, referees, and other sports officials?
Missouri pays $33K median vs. the U.S. average of $41K — that’s -19%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $37K — below the national median.
How much do umpires, referees, and other sports officials make in Missouri?
The median is $33,140 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $28,600, and experienced umpires, referees, and other sports officials can clear $50,320. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $33K enough to live in Missouri?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,324/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,097/month, which eats 47.2% 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 Missouri?
Missouri has a Regional Price Parity of 88.97 (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 $37,249 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.