How Much Do MLB Umpires Make?

Working as a Major League Baseball umpire sounds like one of the worst jobs in the world. No job in professional sports comes with the immense pressure and requires quick decision-making skills than the men who call balls and strikes and decide whether runners are safe or out. Not only do MLB umpires have to worry about making the same costly blunder Jim Joyce did to ruin Armando Galarraga's perfect game in 2010, but they must be concerned with the threat of being replaced by robot umpires and being constantly ridiculed by instant replay review. Still, there are perks to calling MLB games. Traveling the country and working inside one of the 30 beautiful and historic MLB stadiums like New York's Yankee Stadium and San Francisco's Oracle Park are pretty attractive duties. I mean, imagine going to the World Series because it's your job. Baseball umpires must endure a long road of gaining minor league experience before earning the call-up to the big leagues. According to MLB.com, there are only 70 Major League umpires working in 17 crews of four plus two national rovers. Umpiring isn't easy, but it's worth it for those who reach the top level. Let's dig into how one becomes an MLB umpire and earns as much as hundreds of thousands of dollars calling games. One does not just decide they want to be a MLB umpire. First, you must meet the physical requirements: 20/20 vision, reasonable body weight, quick reflexes and good coordination. Most start out with some sort of high school baseball or travel baseball experience. The first step, however, is to enroll in one of the nation's two minor-league approved umpiring schools: the Harry Wendelstedt Umpire School or the Minor League Baseball Umpire Training Academy in Florida. It'll cost you about $2,500 to enroll in one of these schools. The caveat is that only the top 15 or 20 percent of these umpire hopefuls are handpicked to partake in the Minor League Baseball Advanced Course in February. Only a select