Okay, so I was digging around the internet the other day, trying to figure out how much those guys in the black and blue make—you know, the umpires in baseball. It’s kind of a random thought, but hey, it got me curious. I mean, they’re out there on the field, making the calls, getting yelled at by managers and players. They must be getting paid something decent, right?
So, I started my little adventure by hitting up Google. Typed in “how much does an umpire make” and boom, a whole bunch of stuff popped up. I clicked on a few links and started reading. It was a bit of a mess, to be honest. Different sites were saying different things. But, I kept going, because that’s what we do when we’re curious.
What I Found
I found out that there’s a pretty big range in what umpires can make. It all depends on their experience and what level they’re working at. For the big leagues, the Major League Baseball (MLB) umpires, the rookies apparently start around $120,000 a year. Not too shabby for a starting gig, huh? But get this, the veteran umpires, the ones who’ve been around the block and work the big games like the playoffs and the World Series, they can rake in over $300,000, even up to $450,000 a year. I mean, that’s some serious cash!
One site mentioned a couple of the highest-paid umpires, like Joe West and Angel Hernandez, saying they earn over $400,000 annually. Then, I saw another number floating around, saying the average MLB umpire salary was about $235,000 in the 2023 season. But, again, it varies a lot. Some less experienced umpires might only be making around $150,000, according to one of the sources.
Going Deeper
I didn’t stop there, though. I wanted to know more, so I kept digging. I found this one article that talked about umpires in other leagues, like the minor leagues. The pay there is way lower. We’re talking a few thousand a month during the season. It’s a grind, man. These guys are traveling all over, working their butts off, just to get a shot at the big leagues. It really puts things into perspective.
I also learned that location can affect how much an umpire makes, although the details on that were kind of fuzzy. It makes sense, though. Cost of living and all that jazz probably plays a role.
The Final Word
After all that searching and reading, here’s what I came away with: being an MLB umpire can be a pretty sweet gig, money-wise, especially if you make it to the top. But it’s not easy. There’s a lot of competition, and you gotta work your way up from the bottom. Plus, you gotta have thick skin. Those guys take a lot of heat out there.
- Rookie MLB umpires: Starting around $120,000 a year.
- Veteran MLB umpires: Can make over $300,000, even up to $450,000 a year.
- Average MLB umpire salary (2023): Around $235,000.
- Minor league umpires: A few thousand a month during the season.
So, yeah, that’s my little journey into the world of umpire salaries. It was more interesting than I thought it would be. And, I feel good because I get to share my findings with all of you! Hope you found it as interesting as I did!
