Can you make a living as a referee? (2024)

Can you make a living as a referee?

State and club leagues

Do referees make good money?

How much does a referee make? The average referee salary in the United States is $56,571. Referee salaries typically range between $25,000 and $127,000 yearly. The average hourly rate for referees is $27.2 per hour.

Is being a referee a good side hustle?

As you learn the skills and earn credibility to officiate higher levels of play, your pay will also increase. As a referee, you will earn, on average, $15-30 a game for the lower levels of youth sports. High school and collegiate sports can yield a better source of income, averaging $50-150 per game.

What is the highest paying referee job?

Is referee a hard job?

Referees are tasked with one of the hardest jobs in the sports market. An official has so much power to potentially sway a game, that every single call they make is heavily scrutinized.

Do refs ever get fired?

While referees, of course, cannot be penalized in game, missed calls and poor performance can lead to disciplinary action, up to and including their dismissal from the NFL.

What do NFL refs make?

Considering the average NFL referee salary is $205,000 and there are 17 rounds per regular season, that means, on average, refs are earning about $12,000 per game. However, not every ref will adjudicate every round, so these numbers are still an estimation.

How do I start a career as a referee?

What is the hardest sport to referee?

However, sports like American football, ice hockey, and rugby are often considered tough to officiate due to the fast pace of the game, the physical nature of the sport, and the intricate rules that need to be enforced.

How do referees get paid?

Refs are actually not paid per game, but rather annually. They earn a flat salary for the season and then bonuses, which can come per-game or for working postseason games.

How much do Level 1 referees get paid?

Premier League referees' salary

Officials reportedly receive an annual retainer of between £38,500 ($46,600) and £42,000 ($50,820), based on experience, which can make their total income as high as £70,000 ($84,700). Championship referees receive the same salary to accompany the lower match fee in the second tier.

What does a NBA referee make?

NBA referees are some of the highest-paid officials in professional sports, with a salary that range from $150,000 to $550,000 per year. However, this figure can vary depending on the referee's level of experience and the number of games they officiate during the season, as they earn a fee for each game they officiate.

How do you become a NFL referee?

How does someone become an NFL ref? The NFL requires that an official have at least 10 years of officiating football before being considered to be an NFL official. Out of those 10 years, at least five of them must include major college games. But before then, there is a ton of training that goes into it.

Who Cannot be a referee?

The referee must not be related to the applicant or the other referee. They must not be the applicant's representative. They must not be employed by the Home Office.

How old should a referee be?

To become a referee there are certain qualifications and requirements you'll need to complete first. This being at least 14 years old, completing online Laws of the Game module and safeguarding qualification. To get started, enrol on a course with your local County Football Association.

How many hours do referees work?

May work part time or full time, but most work less than 40 hours a week. Travel often and for long periods, if they work in professional sports.

Do refs get punished for bad calls?

NBA commissioner Adam Silver revealed that referees do face punishment for incorrect decisions, in the wake of a high-profile missed call by some of the league's officials.

How many refs have quit?

A recent survey by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) indicates that approximately 50,000 individuals have stopped officiating since the 2018-2019 season. In Nebraska, the state has seen a decline of 15-20% in high school officials since the 2020 season.

Do referees get demoted?

An involuntary demotion can be a blow to your ego, your career and your bank account. It could be a wake-up call that your officiating skills aren't up to the standard expected. Your first inclination may be to turn hang up your whistle or flag and start looking for another involvement in the game you love.

Do NFL refs have side jobs?

In addition to their roles as officials in the league, National Football League referees are required to hold other jobs to supplement their income. Yes, NFL referees typically have other jobs besides their role as league officials.

What do Super Bowl refs get paid?

Salary Ranges for Super Bowl Referee

The salaries of Super Bowl Referees in The US range from $50,743 to $462,622, and the average is $114,258.

Do NFL referees have to pay for travel?

NFL Referee Compensation

Bonuses may be awarded for exemplary performance, such as making correct calls or improving officiating accuracy over time. In addition to their base pay and bonuses, referees are also eligible for travel expenses, per diems, and other benefits that come with their position.

Am I too old to be a referee?

There is no upper age limit but candidates need to be able to fully participate in practical sessions. Until you reach the age of 16 you will only be able to referee games involving children at least 1 year younger than yourself.

Is it too late to become a referee?

Anyone over the age of 14 complete the course, but the game doesn't just need young referees - plenty of players who are in the twilight of their football years have also enrolled on one of our courses to continue their involvement in the game... it's never too late!

How long does it take to become an NFL referee?

NFL referees are required to have 10 years experience as football game officials. Of those 10 years, at least five must be at the major college level. So… here's what you do.