Deciding on a career in sports or any athletic field might be an option if you do a handful of research. One such option includes being a college referee for various kinds of sports. The role of the referee is important for any college to win the competition. Researching about estimated salaries as a college referee would make the plan easy for the person who wishes to opt for this career. Let’s look into the details. Here, let’s know How Much Do College Referees Make?
What does a college referee do?
A referee plays an important role in the game. The job of the referee is to officiate the game. He is the person who enforces the rules and laws of the game or competition. The referee makes sure the player adheres that the players are following the rules of the sport. Referees have to make difficult calls during the game, and they have to be neutral while taking that decision. A college referee is required for sports like football, basketball, tennis, volleyball, hockey, and lacrosse.
How much does a college referee make
The salary of the referee depends upon many factors and also the kind of sport there are employed. The average salary of referees in the United States is around $16.26 per hour. Sometimes when the game happens in a different country, the college might add the travel expenses to the salary otherwise the referee has to endure the expenses. While some colleges might pay $2,000 to $3,000 excluding expenses per game, the referee’s salary for the year may range to $15,000. Also, the position of the referee is to consider while deciding the salary structure.
Levels of a referee and how much they make
There are certain levels in which the referees are segregated. Accordingly, they are paid and hired by the colleges. Each level has a different salary structure, and their responsibilities also vary. Below is a detailed explanation.
- Youth referee: A youth referee is a person who looks after elementary and middle school sports events. These kinds of referees also work for high schools and aged athletes. The job of youth referees is to use their knowledge in various sports like basketball, football, and lacrosse providing judgment of the game accurately. The salary of a youth referee is around $11.58 per hour.
- Local referee: A local sports referee works for a local club that is organized or facilitated by the college. Their job is to apply their knowledge of a particular type of sport. They guide youth, adult, and coed sports athletes. Local referee earns $25.00 per hour.
- State referee: A state sports referee is hired by colleges, league clubs, and universities. A state referee needs high-level experience in variety to fulfill the state-wide talent duties. A state referee tends to earn $20.00 per hour.
- National level referee: This kind of referee needs in-depth knowledge and experience. National referee oversees sports at the national level. They must have an understanding of the particular sport and have practice. The salary of national-level referee sums around $19.61 per hour.
| Level | Salary per hour |
| Youth level sports referee | $11.58 per hour |
| Local-level sports referee | $25.00 per hour |
| State-level sports referee | $20.00 per hour |
| National level sports referee | $19.61 per hour |
Referees salary based on types of sports leagues
The salaries of referees depend upon the various leagues. If the sports league is major, they are expected to earn higher while if the league is minor, the pay might not be satisfying. The league and salary details are explained below:
- State/club leagues: There are various state and club leagues that take place in the United States. They required referees for the smooth flow of gaming. Such referee’s pay is average since it is a minor sports league. The salary of the referee varies depending on the kind of league.
- Youth and young league: In this kind, the referee usually earns $13.62 per hour, and the yearly income is nearly $27,000.
- Adult and children indoor league: Such kind of league pay their referee amount that ranges $15.79 per hour. The referee earns $31,000 per year.
- Amateur league: The referee in this kind of league tends to earn $20 to $40 per hour. The yearly income varies from $40,000 to $80,000.
- Major/National league: Such leagues are huge, and the referees have a chance to earn a higher amount. The leagues taking place at the national level have importance thus, the referee to have a crucial role to play. The income of such referees ranges from $20.35 to $20.43 per hour. Whereas the yearly income varies from $40,000 to $300,000.
Salary of college referee based on the type of sport
There are various sports played during the time of high school and college. Many students receive a scholarship based on that. So colleges hire referees for these sports competitions and championships. The work of referee differs in each sport so does his earning. Below is the detailed explanation:
- Football referee: Football is a widely popular game of every college. Many students enroll in this sport due to its wide range and popularity. A football referee in the United States usually earns $57,105 to $142,490 yearly. It varies from college to college.
- Basketball referee: After football, the highest played game is considered to be basketball. Hence colleges give preference to conduct basketball competitions in colleges. The income of referees for such ranges from $10,067 to $200,447 per year.
- Soccer referee: Soccer is the favorite game of students and some are great in that. College held various soccer championships with another college. The referee tends to earn $22,611 to $36,374 yearly.
- Volleyball referee: Volleyball is an optional game considered in few colleges. They also provide scholarships to the students through competitions. A volleyball referee’s salary ranges between $25,000- $44,000 per year.
- Lacrosse referee: In many sports lacrosse is played by students of various colleges. A lacrosse referee’s yearly income stands in between $50,000.
Requirements of college referees
A college referee needs to have specific skills. The college required certain things from the referee below are details:
- Need to have the correct certification
- Must have a moral character and be unbiased
- Have a depth knowledge of sports and field
- Must be physically fit
- Better communication skills
- Must be physically fit
- Tend to lead
Conclusion
A college needs referees to judge their various competitions. Since the referee plays a crucial role in deciding the result of the game the whole game depends on that one person. A college has some expectations while hiring a referee be it for sports like football or basketball. The job of the referee differs from sports to sports and college to college. But the thing that remains common is their skills and knowledge about the sport. Also, the salary of the referee varies depending upon the level of the tournament and also the experience of the referee.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is a college referee a full-time job?
Answer: Some colleges that have a permanent sports club might hire a referee for full-time. Usually, it is a full-time job where the referee travels with the team for the competition. The expenses might be paid by the college or the referees have to pay by themselves. There are some full-time positions available as college referees.
