Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links marked with (Ad). If you click through and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more

Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials Salary in Illinois: Cost of Living Adjusted (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

What does a Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials salary really buy you in Illinois?

Illinois is near the US average cost of living

Data: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19

Nominal Salary
$49,070
Median annual (2025)
-1.3%
Real Purchasing Power
$48,440
COL-adjusted (RPP=101.3)

Illinois Cost of Living Index

Illinois's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 101.3, meaning prices are 1.3% higher the national average. A Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials earning $49,070 in Illinois has the equivalent purchasing power of $48,440 in an average-cost US state.

IL: 101.3
Cheapest (~85) US Avg (100) Priciest (~115)

Salary Breakdown: Nominal vs. COL-Adjusted

Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Illinois's cost of living.

Percentile Nominal Salary COL-Adjusted Difference
10th Percentile (P10) $31,200 $30,799 $-400
25th Percentile (P25) $35,310 $34,856 $-453
Median (P50) $49,070 $48,440 $-629
75th Percentile (P75) $82,960 $81,895 $-1,064
90th Percentile (P90) $86,860 $85,745 $-1,114
Key Insight

Illinois's cost of living is close to the national average, so $49,070 keeps most of its value at $48,440 in real terms. Location choice here is more about career opportunities than cost arbitrage.

What the Cost-of-Living Data Says

Illinois Sits Near the National Cost Benchmark

RPP 101.3

With an RPP of 101.3, Illinois is within a few percent of the national cost-of-living baseline. Salary adjustment for Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials is therefore minor — what you earn is close to what you'd keep in real purchasing power.

Minor COL Adjustment for This Salary

-1.3%

After adjusting for Illinois's cost of living, $49,070 nominal nets out to $48,440 in real purchasing power — a small 1.3% loss. The state's cost profile is close enough to average that COL alone shouldn't drive location decisions for this Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials.

Above-Median Adjusted Pay

#10 / 34

Illinois sits at #10 of 34 states for Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials COL-adjusted salary — comfortably above the national midpoint.

Best States for Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials (After Cost of Living)

Where does Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.

$72,063
RPP 88.7
$65,480
RPP 93.6
$62,132
RPP 108.8
$61,755
RPP 92.3
5. Ohio
$60,153
RPP 91.5
$55,275
RPP 90.6
$52,118
RPP 89.2
8. Indiana
$50,261
RPP 91.8
9. Iowa
$48,687
RPP 88.4
10. Illinois
$48,440
RPP 101.3

Illinois ranks #10 out of 34 states for Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials after cost-of-living adjustment.

How much do you actually take home? See Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials take-home pay in Illinois after taxes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the real salary for a Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials in Illinois after cost of living?

A Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials in Illinois earns a median salary of $49,070 per year. After adjusting for Illinois's cost of living (RPP=101.3), the real purchasing power is $48,440 — a -1.3% difference.

Is Illinois expensive to live in?

Illinois's cost of living is 1.3% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Illinois is 101.3 (US average = 100).

What are Regional Price Parities (RPP)?

Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.

How is the cost-of-living adjusted salary calculated?

The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials in Illinois: $49,070 x (100 / 101.3) = $48,440. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.

What To Do Next

Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.

Related Salary Pages

Get Monthly Salary Insights & Career Data

Free data-driven career updates — no spam, unsubscribe anytime.

Join career-minded Americans who use data to make smarter decisions. Privacy Policy