Salary

Average Salary: $50,000

Expected Lifetime Earnings: $1,200,000


As is the case for baseball players themselves, salaries for umpires vary widely depending on the league. Like most jobs, it's experience that brings the moolah. As you make your way through the minor leagues, your pay will naturally increase.

Starting out in the Class-A league, expect to earn around $1,900 to $2,100 monthly, and up to $2,400 with a little more experience. In the Double-A leagues, umpires earn between $2,300 and $2,700 per month; in the Triple-A leagues, it's closer to around $2,600 to $3,500 per month. If you're not so hot with numbers―and as an umpire, counting to four is basically all you need―that's about $31,200 to $42,000 annually (source). 

Thankfully, when you graduate to the Majors, you start making that serious money (which is still lower than what most of the rookie players are making—but on the other hand, you don't have to practice in the offseason). Starting salaries for the major leagues are around $120,000, and senior umps can earn up to a whopping $350,000. 

In addition, umpires in the Major Leagues are also allotted a $340 daily travel allowance, which goes towards hotel rooms, meals, rental cars, and so on. Because now that money is plentiful, you shouldn't have to ever use it.

Basically, expect money to be tight for a long time. If you never make it to the big leagues, the salary might be hard to live on if you're not really, really in love with umpiring.