Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials Salary
Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials in Ohio make a median of $55,040 a year. The range runs from $24K at the entry level to $62K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.45), which stretches that salary to about $60,186 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,188/month, about 32.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Ohio. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $55K get you in Ohio?
About umpires, referees, and other sports officials
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Ohio
Ohio sits well above the national pay line for umpires, referees, and other sports officials, local pay runs about 35% higher than the U.S. median of $41K. Rent runs $1,188/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.45 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Ohio
Entry-level umpires, referees, and other sports officials (10th percentile) start around $24K. Mid-career wages sit at $55K. Top earners bring in $62K or more, a $39K spread from bottom to top.
Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials salary by metro in Ohio
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus | $58K | +6% | 100 |
| Cleveland | $57K | +4% | 160 |
| Akron | $56K | +2% | 40 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek | $26K | -52% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track umpires, referees, and other sports officials salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Ohio numbers change.
Related careers in Arts & Media
Frequently asked questions
Can a umpires, referees, and other sports official afford a 2BR apartment alone in Ohio?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $55K, rent takes 31.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,188/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/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 Ohio?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new umpires, referees, and other sports officials typically earn — is $24K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,414/month. At HUD’s $1,188/month FMR, rent would take 84% 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 Ohio?
Local pay is 35% above the national median — $55K here vs. $41K nationally.
How does Ohio compare to the national average for umpires, referees, and other sports officials?
Ohio pays $55K median vs. the U.S. average of $41K — that’s +35%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.45), the purchasing-power equivalent is $60K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do umpires, referees, and other sports officials make in Ohio?
The median is $55,040 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $23,560, and experienced umpires, referees, and other sports officials can clear $62,150. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $55K enough to live in Ohio?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,788/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,188/month, which eats 31.4% 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 Ohio?
Ohio has a Regional Price Parity of 91.45 (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 $60,186 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.