Major League Umpire Salary in 2023 : How Much Do MLB Umpires Make Per Game?

If you are a baseball fan, you probably know how important umpires are for the game. They are the ones who make the calls on the field, enforce the rules, and ensure fair play. But have you ever wondered how much they get paid for their services? In this article, we will explore everything you need to know about MLB umpire salary in 2023, including how much they make per game, per season, and per career, as well as the benefits they receive and the challenges they face. We will also answer some of the most frequently asked questions about MLB umpires and their salaries.

How Much Do MLB Umpires Make Per Game?

MLB umpires are not paid on a per-game basis, but rather on a set salary for the entire season. However, we can estimate how much they make per game by dividing their annual salary by the number of games they work. According to Honest Baseball, the average salary of an MLB umpire in 2023 was $235,000. Assuming that an umpire works 142 games during the regular season, which is the average number of games assigned to each umpire according to Rookie Road, we can calculate that an MLB umpire makes around $1,655 per game.

However, this amount can vary depending on the experience level of the umpire, as well as the type of game they work. Rookie umpires, who are new to the major league, can make anywhere from $120,000 to $150,000 per season, which translates to around $845 to $1,056 per game. On the other hand, veteran umpires, who have more than 20 years of service in the MLB, can make upwards of $450,000 per season, which translates to around $3,169 per game

Additionally, umpires can earn more money by working postseason games, such as the wild card games, division series, league championship series, and the World Series. According to Gazette Review, umpires can earn an extra $20,000 for working a wild card game, $30,000 for working a division series, $40,000 for working a league championship series, and $50,000 for working the World Series. These amounts are added to their regular season salary.

Moreover, umpires can also earn bonuses based on their performance evaluations throughout the season. According to Honest Baseball, these bonuses can range from $5,000 to $25,000 depending on how well they score on their accuracy and consistency.

How Much Do MLB Umpires Make Per Season?

As we mentioned earlier, MLB umpires are paid a set salary for the entire season. This salary is determined by a number of factors, such as their seniority, their role in the crew, and their collective bargaining agreement with MLB. MLB umpires are divided into four categories based on their seniority: rookies (0-2 years), juniors (3-9 years), seniors (10-19 years), and crew chiefs (20+ years). Each category has a different pay scale that increases with each year of service.

According to Honest Baseball, here is a breakdown of how much MLB umpires make per season based on their seniority:

• Rookies: $120,000-$150,000
• Juniors: $150,000-$250,000
• Seniors: $250,000-$350,000
• Crew chiefs: $300,000-$500,000

As you can see, crew chiefs are the highest-paid MLB umpires in terms of annual salary. Crew chiefs are the leaders of each umpiring crew and have the final say on any rule interpretations or disputes on the field. They also have more responsibilities and duties than regular umpires.

How Much Do MLB Umpires Make Per Session?

MLB umpires can have long and lucrative careers if they manage to stay healthy and perform well. The average career length of an MLB umpire is 18 years. However, some umpires can work for much longer than that. For example, Joe West is currently the longest-serving active MLB umpire with 44 years of service as of 2023. He also holds the record for most games worked by an MLB umpire with over 5,400 games.

Based on these numbers, we can estimate how much an MLB umpire can make per career by multiplying their average annual salary by their average career length. However, this is a rough approximation that does not account for the variations in salary based on seniority, performance, and postseason assignments. Therefore, we will use the median salary of $235,000 as a baseline and adjust it accordingly.

Using this method, we can calculate that an MLB umpire can make around $4.23 million per career on average. However, this amount can range from $2.16 million to $9 million depending on the factors mentioned above.

What Benefits Do MLB Umpires Receive?

In addition to their salaries, MLB umpires also receive a number of benefits that make their job more comfortable and rewarding. Some of these benefits include:

• Travel expenses: MLB umpires travel a lot during the season, as they have to work games in different cities and stadiums. MLB covers their travel expenses, such as flights, hotels, rental cars, and meals. They also receive a per diem of around $350 per day to cover any additional costs.
• Vacation time: MLB umpires get around four weeks of vacation time during the regular season, which they can use to rest and recover from the physical and mental stress of their job.
• Pension plan: MLB umpires are eligible for a pension plan after they retire from their job. The pension plan is based on their years of service and their final salary. An umpire who retires after 20 years of service with a final salary of $350,000 can receive around $150,000 per year in pension benefits.
• Health insurance: MLB umpires are covered by a comprehensive health insurance plan that covers medical, dental, and vision care. They also have access to a wellness program that provides them with fitness and nutrition guidance.
• Life insurance: MLB umpires are covered by a life insurance policy that pays out a lump sum to their beneficiaries in case of their death. The amount of the policy varies depending on their seniority and salary.

What Challenges Do MLB Umpires Face?

MLB umpires have one of the most difficult and demanding jobs in sports. They have to deal with a lot of pressure, criticism, and scrutiny from players, coaches, fans, media, and even technology. Some of the challenges they face include:

• Physical strain: MLB umpires have to work long hours on the field, often in harsh weather conditions. They have to stand, squat, run, and bend for several hours without much rest or breaks. They also have to endure the risk of injuries from foul balls, bats, collisions, or fights.
• Mental stress: MLB umpires have to make split-second decisions on every play, often on fast-moving and complex situations. They have to be accurate and consistent with their calls, as any mistake can affect the outcome of the game or the season. They also have to deal with the emotions and reactions of the players and coaches, who may argue or protest their calls.
• Social isolation: MLB umpires travel a lot during the season, which means they spend a lot of time away from their families and friends. They also have to maintain a professional distance from the players and coaches, as they are not allowed to fraternize or socialize with them. They also have to cope with the hostility and abuse from some fans and media outlets who may disagree or dislike their calls.
• Technological competition: MLB umpires have to compete with technology that can challenge or undermine their authority and credibility. For example, instant replay can be used to review or overturn some of their calls, such as home runs, boundary calls, or tag plays. Additionally, some advanced metrics and tools can measure and evaluate their performance based on data such as pitch tracking, strike zone accuracy, and call consistency.

Conclusion

MLB umpires are among the most important and influential figures in baseball. They are responsible for ensuring fair play and enforcing the rules of the game. However, they also have one of the most challenging and demanding jobs in sports. They have to work long hours under intense pressure and scrutiny from various sources.

MLB umpires are well-compensated for their services. They earn an average salary of $235,000 in 2023, which can vary depending on their experience level, role in the crew, and postseason assignments. They also receive a number of benefits that cover their travel expenses, vacation time, pension plan, health insurance, and life insurance.

MLB umpires can have long and lucrative careers if they manage to stay healthy and perform well. The average career length of an MLB umpire is 18 years, but some umpires can work for much longer than that. The average career earnings of an MLB umpire are around $4.23 million, but this amount can range from $2.16 million to $9.

FAQ

Who is the highest paid MLB umpire? 

There is no official data on who is the highest paid MLB umpire, but based on the salary ranges and seniority levels, it is likely that one of the crew chiefs is the highest paid. Some of the most experienced and respected crew chiefs in MLB are Joe West, Ted Barrett, Tom Hallion, and Jeff Nelson.

How much does a MLB umpire make per game? 

MLB umpires are not paid per game, but rather on a set salary for the entire season. However, we can estimate how much they make per game by dividing their annual salary by the number of games they work. According to Honest Baseball the average salary of an MLB umpire in 2023 was $235,000. Assuming that an umpire works 142 games during the regular season, which is the average number of games assigned to each umpire according to Rookie Road, we can calculate that an MLB umpire makes around $1,655 per game.

Do umpires get paid for extra innings?

Yes, umpires get paid for extra innings. According to Gazette Review, umpires can earn an extra $500 for each extra inning they work. This amount is added to their regular season salary.

How are MLB umpires hired? 

MLB umpires are hired through a rigorous and competitive process that involves several stages of training and evaluation. According to Rookie Road², aspiring MLB umpires have to attend one of the two accredited umpire schools in Florida: The Harry Wendelstedt School for Umpires or The Umpire School. There, they have to complete a five-week course that covers the rules, mechanics, and techniques of baseball officiating. Only the top graduates from these schools are then invited to attend the Minor League Baseball Umpire Training Academy, where they have to undergo another four-week course that prepares them for professional baseball. From there, only the best candidates are hired by Minor League Baseball and assigned to one of the nine minor league levels. They have to work their way up through the minor league system, which can take anywhere from seven to 15 years, before they are eligible for promotion to the major league. They also have to pass annual evaluations and physical exams to maintain their status as professional umpires.

How many umpires work for MLB?

There are 76 full-time MLB umpires as of 2023. They are divided into 19 crews of four umpires each, plus four extra umpires who rotate among the crews as needed. Each crew works a different series of games throughout the season, traveling from city to city and stadium to stadium. During the postseason, more umpires are added to each crew to cover more bases and angles.