Sports Official Salary in 2026

    SOC: 27-2023.00 · BLS OEWS 2026 · Updated March 2026
    Median Annual
    $38,820
    per year
    Salary Range
    $25K – $93K
    P10–P90
    Total Jobs
    15,080
    employed
    Job Growth
    +5.7%
    2024–2034
    Section 01

    How Much Do Sports Officials Make?

    Sports Officials earn a median annual salary of $38,820 as of 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) data. Wages span from $25,070 at the 10th percentile to $93,180 at the 90th percentile — a range of $68,110. The highest-paying state is Massachusetts at $83,570.

    PercentileAnnual salary
    10th percentile$25,070
    25th percentile$30,920
    Median (50th)$38,820
    75th percentile$53,560
    90th percentile$93,180
    10th: $25,070Median: $38,82090th: $93,180
    Section 02

    Sports Official Salary by State

    Median annual salary across all 50 states. Click a column to sort.

    StateMedian salary
    Massachusettstop$83,570
    Kentucky$57,450
    South Carolina$57,390
    Minnesota$52,630
    New Hampshire$52,580
    Louisiana$52,320
    Maryland$50,720
    Maine$48,400
    New Jersey$47,620
    Illinois$47,010
    Arizona$45,240
    Wisconsin$44,810
    California$44,590
    Virginia$43,940
    Vermont$43,860
    West Virginia$43,600
    Colorado$42,120
    Oregon$41,540
    Washington$40,040
    Connecticut$37,790
    Texas$37,610
    Missouri$37,300
    Indiana$37,060
    South Dakota$36,380
    Nebraska$34,370
    Iowa$34,010
    Kansas$32,970
    Michigan$32,900
    Montana$31,050
    Florida$30,190
    Utah$29,920
    Georgia$28,360
    New Mexico$28,210
    Ohio$26,250
    Idaho$25,230
    North Carolina$25,070
    Nevada$23,820
    Oklahoma$23,150
    Mississippi$23,080
    Tennessee$23,080
    Section 03

    Highest-Paying Metros for Sports Officials

    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
    Highest paying
    $83,570
    top metro salary
    Massachusetts
    $83,570
    $0 vs highest
    Baton Rouge, LA
    $62,090
    $-21,480 vs highest
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
    $54,170
    $-29,400 vs highest
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
    $53,560
    $-30,010 vs highest
    Minnesota
    $52,630
    $-30,940 vs highest
    Louisiana
    $52,320
    $-31,250 vs highest
    Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
    $51,210
    $-32,360 vs highest
    Section 04

    Sports Official Salary by Experience

    Estimated salary ranges derived from BLS wage percentiles. Entry level corresponds to P10–P25, mid-career to the median, experienced to P75, and senior to P90+.

    Experience levelEstimated salary
    Entry level (0–2 yrs)~$25,070 – $30,920
    Mid career (3–7 yrs)~$38,820
    Experienced (8–15 yrs)~$53,560
    Senior (15+ yrs)$93,180+
    Section 05

    How to Earn More as a Sports Official

    Location is the single biggest salary lever: Sports Officials in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH earn $83,570 — $44,750 above the national median. Union membership, additional certifications, and supervisory experience are the most reliable paths to higher earnings in this field. Reaching the 75th percentile ($53,560) typically requires 5–10 years of experience plus specialization in a high-demand area.

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    Section 06

    Sports Official Salary vs Similar Careers

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    Section 07

    Frequently Asked Questions

    SOC: 27-2023.00 · Data: BLS OEWS 2026, O*NET 29.1 · Salary figures are national medians unless otherwise noted.