As of June 2026, Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials has an AI-exposure score of 50/100 (Elevated exposure) on the AI-Safe Careers index, blending O*NET tasks, the Anthropic Economic Index, the Penn/OpenAI study, and BLS data. This is an estimate of task exposure, not a prediction of job loss.
Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials
More exposed than 32% of the roles we track. Median pay ~US$40,710. About 4,600 projected openings a year (BLS 2024–34 — growth plus replacement).
Pay & demand figures are US medians (BLS, in USD) — your local figures will differ. Your exposure score applies broadly.
How you compare to similar Arts, Design & Media roles
Your tasks, by AI exposure
- Compile scores and other athletic records.
- Verify scoring calculations before competition winners are announced.
- Confer with other sporting officials, coaches, players, and facility managers to provide information, coordinate activities, and discuss problems.
- Verify credentials of participants in sporting events, and make other qualifying determinations, such as starting order or handicap number.
- Officiate at sporting events, games, or competitions, to maintain standards of play and to ensure that game rules are observed.
- Resolve claims of rule infractions or complaints by participants and assess any necessary penalties, according to regulations.
- Signal participants or other officials to make them aware of infractions or to otherwise regulate play or competition.
- Report to regulating organizations regarding sporting activities, complaints made, and actions taken or needed, such as fines or other disciplinary actions.
- Start races and competitions.
- Keep track of event times, including race times and elapsed time during game segments, starting or stopping play when necessary.
- Direct participants to assigned areas, such as starting blocks or penalty areas.
- Inspect game sites for compliance with regulations or safety requirements.
- Inspect sporting equipment or examine participants to ensure compliance with event and safety regulations.
- Research and study players and teams to anticipate issues that might arise in future engagements.
- Judge performances in sporting competitions to award points, impose scoring penalties, and determine results.
- Teach and explain the rules and regulations governing a specific sport.
Safer adjacent roles
Your AI-Safe Career Report
Every task scored with what to do about it · 5–10 safer roles with salary, demand & reachability · skill-gap map · a 30/60/90-day roadmap · plus a résumé & LinkedIn rewrite · PDF.
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Workers with AI skills earn a roughly 62% wage premium — adapting pays. — PwC Global AI Jobs Barometer, 2026
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