Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials Salary
Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials in Washington make a median of $41,350 a year. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $62K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.01), that's roughly $40,535 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,830/month, about 61.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Washington. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $41K get you in Washington?
About umpires, referees, and other sports officials
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What this looks like in Washington
Umpires, referees, and other sports officials pay in Washington tracks closely to the national median, $41K locally vs. $41K nationwide, a 2% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,830/month, which is 62.3% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 102.01) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington
Entry-level umpires, referees, and other sports officials (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $41K. Top earners bring in $62K or more, a $28K spread from bottom to top.
Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials salary by metro in Washington
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $44K | +5% | 260 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | $41K | -1% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track umpires, referees, and other sports officials salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Washington numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a umpires, referees, and other sports official afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $41K, rent takes 62.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,830/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/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 Washington?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new umpires, referees, and other sports officials typically earn — is $35K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,079/month. At HUD’s $1,830/month FMR, rent would take 88% 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 Washington?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $41K locally vs. $41K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Washington compare to the national average for umpires, referees, and other sports officials?
Washington pays $41K median vs. the U.S. average of $41K — that’s +2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.01), the purchasing-power equivalent is $41K — below the national median.
How much do umpires, referees, and other sports officials make in Washington?
The median is $41,350 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,650, and experienced umpires, referees, and other sports officials can clear $62,430. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $41K enough to live in Washington?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,939/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,830/month, which eats 62.3% 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 Washington?
Washington has a Regional Price Parity of 102.01 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median umpires, referees, and other sports officials salary is worth about $40,535 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.