Headline risk
5%
Low RiskUmpires, referees, and other sports officials
AI displacement pressure score for United States AI Work Index, combining global AI task overlap with local wages, employment trends, and demand signals.
Why This Score
Share of job tasks that overlap with current AI capabilities
Median annual wage
Projected employment change over 10 years
Typical preparation needed for this occupation
Occupation profile
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.
Task evidence
100% weighted task match · 0% effective coverage
Scores combine AI task overlap, human advantages, and local demand. How it works
United States Now
Median Wage
USD 38,820
Employment 2024
19.3K
Projected Change (2024–34)
5.7%
Openings (2024–34)
4.6K
Wage distribution
Demand outlook
Employment of umpires, referees, and other sports officials is projected to grow 6 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations.
Role Profile
Tasks
- 1. Officiate at sporting events, games, or competitions, to maintain standards of play and to ensure that game rules are observed. AI use: 0%
- 2. Teach and explain the rules and regulations governing a specific sport. AI use: 0%
- 3. Confer with other sporting officials, coaches, players, and facility managers to provide information, coordinate activities, and discuss problems. AI use: 0%
- 4. Signal participants or other officials to make them aware of infractions or to otherwise regulate play or competition. AI use: 0%
- 5. Inspect game sites for compliance with regulations or safety requirements. AI use: 0%
- 6. Inspect sporting equipment or examine participants to ensure compliance with event and safety regulations. AI use: 0%
Technologies
Requirements
Work context
Worker profile
Median age 36.7 · 63K employed
Under 25: 10% · 25–54: 70% · 55+: 19%
Related
No direct US role match is available yet for this occupation.
Source coverage
11/11 source families · O*NET 30.2 / OEWS 2024 / ORS 2025 / OOH 2025-08-28 / Projections 2024-34 / CPS 2025 / Anthropic task penetration
Data quality
Employment data available
Narrative & sources
Umpires, referees, and other sports officials preside over competitive athletic or sporting events to help maintain standards of play.
Part-time, seasonal work is common for umpires, referees, and other sports officials. Schedules may vary, and they often work irregular hours that including evenings, weekends, and holidays. Officials working outdoors are exposed to all types of weather conditions.
Requirements for umpires, referees, and other sports officials typically vary by state and local sports association. Although some positions have no formal education requirements, others may require a high school diploma.
The median annual wage for umpires, referees, and other sports officials was $38,820 in May 2024.
Employment of umpires, referees, and other sports officials is projected to grow 6 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations.
Important context
This score measures structural AI displacement pressure, not actual job losses. Local wages and demand data are specific to United States AI Work Index; the underlying AI task overlap analysis is consistent across all countries.