Expert: Steve L - 8/23/2005

Question
How much money do major league umpires make?

Answer
According to documents obtained by USA Today and reported by sportsbusinessnew.com, the new agreement contains an annual escalation in salary for each of the five years.

The range for 2000 is $81,704 for a rookie umpire to $260,345 for those with 26 or more years of service. In the fifth year, the maximum base salary is $340,505. Under the old agreement, umpires' salaries ranged from $75,000 to $225,000 and there was no annual escalation. Each umpire also gets $23,000 in a postseason pool.  Other bonuses: crew chiefs, $8,200; All-Star Game, $5,500; Division Series, $13,750; League Championship Series, $16,500; World Series, $19,250.

That was five years ago.  Salaries today range from $90,000 to $350,000, plus pension.