MLB Umpire Salary: How Much Does an MLB Umpire Make? Everything You Need To Know
Follow Us
MLB Umpire Salary
The majority of people who are interested in baseball must know about MLB and its players. But very few of them must know about the MLB umpires. It may seem like a job with great pleasure, good pay, different locations to visit, meeting the best players, getting into world-class stadiums, etc. However, the truth is something else.
The MLB umpires have such income that is not equal to those players at the lowest level of MLB. And in fact, it is an even more complex and very time-consuming process to become an MLB umpire.
Now, let’s learn more about MLB umpires and how to become one.
Also Read – Which MLB Teams have never Won a World Series?
How to become an MLB Umpire?
Training is a must for any field, and a person must have specific skill sets to enter the area of choice. A similar can also be seen in becoming an MLB umpire. To become one, a person must join either Harry Wendelstedt Umpire School or the Minor League Baseball Umpire Training Academy. These two are the only schools that are considered to become MLB umpires. Also, these are the only schools that the Minor League Baseball Umpire Development approves.
After entering either academy, one must complete the school’s annual course. Later, as mentioned above, it isn’t easy to become an MLB umpire, with less than one-fifth of the applicants getting selected for the MLB Advanced Course. Unlike the annual course, it is a course for a week only. Sadly, it doesn’t end here, as it is just a start for even a few of those one-fifths. Of this one-week course, very few get selected as umpires in short-season or rookie leagues.
After entering the field, there might be a perception that the umpire must be adept at earning a good amount if not much. But if an umpire enters the short-season league, he will only make as little as $2000 per month. And from there on, it can take even more than a decade to be an umpire in the MLB.
How much is an MLB Umpire’s salary?
After spending years in the field as an umpire, they will be eligible to earn as much as $450,000 per year. Whereas in the MLB, an umpire starts from $150,000. However, if we talk about the minor leagues or short-season leagues, the best umpire can earn as much as $20,000. This is not annual pay because these leagues are in play or run for five months. So, when the season ends, an umpire has to wait again to join another. Otherwise, they would have to wait on their luck to get a call from higher leagues. But if and when the umpire becomes the best of the MLB, he not only enjoys $450,000 per year, they get free travel, vacations, good stays, and many more things.
So, the path is difficult, but in the end, it can be a great path for the best.
NBA vs NFL Vs MLB: Comparison Of Umpires’ salary
To start from the highest earnings, NBA is the one that pays the most to its umpires. Its umpires, on average, earn around $375,000. Then MLB lies second, with the umpires earning $235,000 on average. Following this, NHL and NFL referees earn an average of $212,500 and $188,322, respectively.
Also Read – Fransisco Lindor Net Worth, MLB Career, Personal Life, Salary, Endorsements and More
Stay Updated!
Sakshi Goel
(2 Articles Published)