Officiate at competitive athletic or sporting events. Detect infractions of rules and decide penalties according to established regulations. Includes all sporting officials, referees, and competition judges.
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:
| Employment (1) | Employment RSE (3) |
Mean hourly wage |
Mean annual wage (2) |
Mean wage RSE (3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15,570 | 4.0 % | (4) | $32,600 | 5.6 % |
Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) |
75% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Wage (2) | $17,040 | $18,460 | $23,290 | $36,960 | $52,370 |
Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local Government (OES Designation) | 5,300 | 0.10 | (4) | $29,090 |
| Other Amusement and Recreation Industries | 2,960 | 0.27 | (4) | $26,050 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools | 2,440 | 0.03 | (4) | $35,040 |
| Spectator Sports | 2,200 | 1.68 | (4) | $33,330 |
| Civic and Social Organizations | 1,200 | 0.31 | (4) | $26,800 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spectator Sports | 2,200 | 1.68 | (4) | $33,330 |
| Civic and Social Organizations | 1,200 | 0.31 | (4) | $26,800 |
| Other Amusement and Recreation Industries | 2,960 | 0.27 | (4) | $26,050 |
| Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events | 200 | 0.20 | (4) | $35,100 |
| Local Government (OES Designation) | 5,300 | 0.10 | (4) | $29,090 |
Top paying industries for this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Government (OES Designation) | 100 | (7) | (4) | $36,810 |
| Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events | 200 | 0.20 | (4) | $35,100 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools | 2,440 | 0.03 | (4) | $35,040 |
| Spectator Sports | 2,200 | 1.68 | (4) | $33,330 |
| Other Schools and Instruction | 80 | 0.02 | (4) | $32,510 |
States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.

States with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 1,740 | 0.12 | 1.02 | (4) | $27,720 |
| Illinois | 1,250 | 0.22 | 1.85 | (4) | $27,500 |
| Kansas | 1,220 | 0.93 | 7.76 | (4) | $25,100 |
| Colorado | 1,100 | 0.49 | 4.12 | (4) | $29,150 |
| New York | 940 | 0.11 | 0.92 | (4) | $96,640 |

States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas | 1,220 | 0.93 | 7.76 | (4) | $25,100 |
| Colorado | 1,100 | 0.49 | 4.12 | (4) | $29,150 |
| Utah | 500 | 0.41 | 3.46 | (4) | $21,490 |
| Wisconsin | 720 | 0.27 | 2.26 | (4) | $25,660 |
| Missouri | 700 | 0.27 | 2.24 | (4) | $34,570 |

Top paying States for this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 940 | 0.11 | 0.92 | (4) | $96,640 |
| West Virginia | 50 | 0.07 | 0.56 | (4) | $41,380 |
| Alaska | 40 | 0.14 | 1.13 | (4) | $37,170 |
| Michigan | 240 | 0.06 | 0.52 | (4) | $36,180 |
| Mississippi | 50 | 0.05 | 0.40 | (4) | $36,100 |

Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 640 | 0.50 | 4.22 | (4) | $32,350 |
| New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division | 610 | 0.12 | 0.98 | (4) | $132,080 |
| Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, CO | 470 | 0.38 | 3.16 | (4) | $27,680 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division | 450 | 0.11 | 0.96 | (4) | $25,100 |
| Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL Metropolitan Division | 400 | 0.11 | 0.92 | (4) | $23,490 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 320 | 0.33 | 2.72 | (4) | $29,780 |
| Oakland-Fremont-Hayward, CA Metropolitan Division | 290 | 0.30 | 2.50 | (4) | $26,280 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 260 | 0.15 | 1.22 | (4) | $31,020 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Glendale, AZ | 230 | 0.13 | 1.12 | (4) | $21,910 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 230 | 0.23 | 1.90 | (4) | $21,320 |

Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | 110 | 1.79 | 14.94 | (4) | $34,430 |
| Provo-Orem, UT | 190 | 1.07 | 8.99 | (4) | $17,080 |
| Peoria, IL | 170 | 0.94 | 7.88 | (4) | $25,040 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | 90 | 0.67 | 5.57 | (8) | (8) |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 640 | 0.50 | 4.22 | (4) | $32,350 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 120 | 0.45 | 3.76 | (4) | $37,970 |
| Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, CO | 470 | 0.38 | 3.16 | (4) | $27,680 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 320 | 0.33 | 2.72 | (4) | $29,780 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | 200 | 0.32 | 2.66 | (4) | $19,580 |
| Oakland-Fremont-Hayward, CA Metropolitan Division | 290 | 0.30 | 2.50 | (4) | $26,280 |

Top paying metropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division | 610 | 0.12 | 0.98 | (4) | $132,080 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | (8) | (8) | (8) | (4) | $54,650 |
| Warren-Troy-Farmington Hills, MI Metropolitan Division | 80 | 0.08 | 0.64 | (4) | $39,640 |
| Fort Worth-Arlington, TX Metropolitan Division | 200 | 0.23 | 1.94 | (4) | $38,250 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 120 | 0.45 | 3.76 | (4) | $37,970 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 40 | 0.06 | 0.53 | (4) | $37,730 |
| Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor, OH | 90 | 0.09 | 0.76 | (4) | $36,740 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division | 150 | 0.06 | 0.52 | (4) | $34,790 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | 110 | 1.79 | 14.94 | (4) | $34,430 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA NECTA Division | 200 | 0.12 | 0.97 | (4) | $32,600 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area | 250 | 1.82 | 15.25 | (8) | (8) |
| Kansas nonmetropolitan area | 240 | 0.63 | 5.25 | (4) | $25,130 |
| Western Colorado nonmetropolitan area | 140 | 1.38 | 11.56 | (8) | (8) |
| Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | 130 | 0.66 | 5.56 | (4) | $23,310 |
| Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | 60 | 0.26 | 2.17 | (4) | $23,620 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area | 250 | 1.82 | 15.25 | (8) | (8) |
| Western Colorado nonmetropolitan area | 140 | 1.38 | 11.56 | (8) | (8) |
| Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | 130 | 0.66 | 5.56 | (4) | $23,310 |
| Southside Virginia nonmetropolitan area | 40 | 0.65 | 5.45 | (4) | $18,960 |
| Kansas nonmetropolitan area | 240 | 0.63 | 5.25 | (4) | $25,130 |
Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | (8) | (8) | (8) | (4) | $38,250 |
| Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | 30 | 0.27 | 2.30 | (4) | $30,420 |
| Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area | (8) | (8) | (8) | (4) | $25,770 |
| Kansas nonmetropolitan area | 240 | 0.63 | 5.25 | (4) | $25,130 |
| Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | 60 | 0.26 | 2.17 | (4) | $23,620 |
These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.
The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate--50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.
(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.
(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly mean wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.
(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.
(4) Wages for some occupations that do not generally work year-round, full time, are reported either as hourly wages or annual salaries depending on how they are typically paid.
(7) The value is less than .005 percent of industry employment.
(8) Estimate not released.
(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.
Other OES estimates and related information:
May 2012 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2012 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2012 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2012 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
Last Modified Date: March 29, 2013