Updated September 14, 2023
Average referee salary
To create our salary estimates, Zippia starts with data published in publicly available sources such as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Foreign Labor Certification Data Center (FLC) Show More$56,571
$27.20 hourly rate
Entry-level referee salary
$25,000 yearly salary
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.
Referee salary is impacted by location, education, and experience. Referees earn the highest average salary in Pennsylvania, Virginia, Connecticut, West Virginia, and Arizona.
Referee salary summary.
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The average salary for a referee is $56,571 in the US. -
The average referee salary ranges between $25,000 and $127,000 in the US. -
Referees' hourly rates in the US typically range between $12 and $61 an hour. -
Referees earn the highest salaries in Pennsylvania ($77,920), Virginia ($76,753), and Connecticut ($74,660). -
Referee salaries at Syracuse University are the highest of any company.
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Average referee salary by state
The average referee salary in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Connecticut are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average referee salary states are Georgia, Texas, and Missouri.
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- County View
Average Salary:
Highest paying states for referees
| Rank | State | Avg. Salary | Hourly Rate | Job Count |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Virginia | $72,206 | $34.71 | 1 |
| 2 | Pennsylvania | $77,920 | $37.46 | 2 |
| 3 | Arizona | $72,096 | $34.66 | 2 |
| 4 | Virginia | $76,753 | $36.90 | 1 |
| 5 | Michigan | $72,090 | $34.66 | 1 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $74,660 | $35.89 | |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $65,975 | $31.72 | 4 |
| 8 | Vermont | $69,649 | $33.49 | |
| 9 | Maine | $65,483 | $31.48 | |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $65,713 | $31.59 | |
| 11 | Kentucky | $61,641 | $29.64 | 1 |
| 12 | North Carolina | $65,572 | $31.52 | |
| 13 | Washington | $65,491 | $31.49 | 1 |
| 14 | Delaware | $64,672 | $31.09 | |
| 15 | Maryland | $64,547 | $31.03 | 1 |
| 16 | California | $66,380 | $31.91 | 3 |
| 17 | New Hampshire | $63,885 | $30.71 | |
| 18 | North Dakota | $55,326 | $26.60 | 1 |
| 19 | Indiana | $57,245 | $27.52 | 1 |
| 20 | New Mexico | $59,179 | $28.45 | |
| 21 | Oregon | $61,600 | $29.62 | |
| 22 | Nevada | $58,794 | $28.27 | |
| 23 | District of Columbia | $62,824 | $30.20 | |
| 24 | Wyoming | $56,172 | $27.01 | |
| 25 | Iowa | $54,867 | $26.38 | |
| 26 | Utah | $49,566 | $23.83 | 2 |
| 27 | Ohio | $54,458 | $26.18 | |
| 28 | Wisconsin | $49,686 | $23.89 | 3 |
| 29 | Montana | $47,381 | $22.78 | 2 |
| 30 | Arkansas | $50,710 | $24.38 | |
| 31 | Alaska | $52,273 | $25.13 | |
| 32 | Idaho | $50,493 | $24.28 | |
| 33 | Kansas | $46,285 | $22.25 | 1 |
| 34 | South Dakota | $47,385 | $22.78 | |
| 35 | Minnesota | $48,010 | $23.08 | 1 |
| 36 | Illinois | $47,170 | $22.68 | 2 |
| 37 | New Jersey | $48,679 | $23.40 | |
| 38 | New York | $48,766 | $23.45 | |
| 39 | Louisiana | $46,972 | $22.58 | |
| 40 | Tennessee | $39,594 | $19.04 | 3 |
| 41 | Florida | $42,887 | $20.62 | 5 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $45,215 | $21.74 | |
| 43 | Texas | $36,211 | $17.41 | 12 |
| 44 | Georgia | $37,724 | $18.14 | 6 |
| 45 | Alabama | $38,034 | $18.29 | 2 |
| 46 | Colorado | $32,691 | $15.72 | 6 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $40,582 | $19.51 | |
| 48 | Missouri | $34,043 | $16.37 | 3 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $40,179 | $19.32 | |
| 50 | Nebraska | $33,798 | $16.25 | |
| 51 | Mississippi | $32,508 | $15.63 |
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Highest paying cities for referees
The highest-paying cities for referees are Philadelphia, PA, Lynchburg, VA, and Scottsdale, AZ.
| Rank | City | Avg. Salary | Hourly Rate | Job Count |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia, PA | $78,501 | $37.74 | |
| 2 | Lynchburg, VA | $73,128 | $35.16 | |
| 3 | Scottsdale, AZ | $72,059 | $34.64 | 1 |
| 4 | Greenville, NC | $69,737 | $33.53 | |
| 5 | Roseville, CA | $68,384 | $32.88 | |
| 6 | Shoreline, WA | $66,264 | $31.86 | |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $65,727 | $31.60 | 1 |
| 8 | Medford, OR | $64,927 | $31.21 | |
| 9 | Fort Wayne, IN | $61,443 | $29.54 | |
| 10 | Albuquerque, NM | $58,877 | $28.31 | 2 |
| 11 | Iowa City, IA | $55,624 | $26.74 | |
| 12 | Anchorage, AK | $53,049 | $25.50 | 1 |
| 13 | Racine, WI | $49,476 | $23.79 | 1 |
| 14 | Pleasant Grove, UT | $49,023 | $23.57 | |
| 15 | New York, NY | $48,653 | $23.39 | 1 |
| 16 | Fridley, MN | $48,060 | $23.11 | |
| 17 | Missoula, MT | $47,894 | $23.03 | |
| 18 | Wheaton, IL | $47,158 | $22.67 | 1 |
| 19 | Overland Park, KS | $46,338 | $22.28 | 1 |
| 20 | Palm Harbor, FL | $44,615 | $21.45 | 1 |
Referee salary details
A referee's salary ranges from $25,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $127,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a referee's salary?
| Percentile | Annual Salary | Monthly Salary | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $127,000 | $10,583 | $61 |
| 75th Percentile | $86,000 | $7,167 | $41 |
| Average | $56,571 | $4,714 | $27 |
| 25th Percentile | $36,000 | $3,000 | $17 |
| 10th Percentile | $25,000 | $2,083 | $12 |
Which companies pay referees the most?
Referee salaries at Syracuse University and YMCA of Metro Knoxville are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average referee salary at companies like The University of New Mexico and City of Greenville, NC are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average Salary | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Syracuse University | $61,766 | $29.70 |
| 2 | YMCA of Metro Knoxville | $57,408 | $27.60 |
| 3 | The University of New Mexico | $57,272 | $27.53 |
| 4 | City of Greenville, NC | $57,141 | $27.47 |
| 5 | Think Together | $55,714 | $26.79 |
| 6 | Ymca Of Metropolitan Atlanta | $55,382 | $26.63 |
| 7 | University of Pennsylvania | $51,764 | $24.89 |
| 8 | Volo Aviation | $51,485 | $24.75 |
| 9 | The State of Oregon | $50,559 | $24.31 |
| 10 | University of Alaska | $50,483 | $24.27 |
| 11 | Rink Management Services | $49,532 | $23.81 |
| 12 | ZogSports | $46,680 | $22.44 |
| 13 | City of Roseville Michigan | $46,435 | $22.32 |
| 14 | Fairmont Schools | $46,288 | $22.25 |
| 15 | City of Moorhead | $45,022 | $21.65 |
| 16 | City of Racine | $40,738 | $19.59 |
| 17 | Wheaton Park District | $38,954 | $18.73 |
| 18 | Des Moines, Washington | $38,675 | $18.59 |
| 19 | City of Medford | $35,844 | $17.23 |
| 20 | City of Plymouth, MN | $33,891 | $16.29 |
Referee salary trends
The average referee salary has risen by $11,240 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average referee earned $45,331 annually, but today, they earn $56,571 a year. That works out to a 13% change in pay for referees over the last decade.
Compare referee salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average referee salary over time
Compare referee salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Referee salary by year
| Year | Avg. Salary | Hourly Rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $56,600 | $27.20 | +1.3% |
| 2023 | $55,800 | $26.83 | +5.4% |
| 2022 | $52,800 | $25.39 | +0.8% |
| 2021 | $52,400 | $25.19 | +4.3% |
| 2020 | $50,200 | $24.12 | +3.1% |
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Recently added referee salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date Added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Racine | Adult Volleyball Referee | Racine, WI | 07/02/2023 | $41,657 |
| Ymca of Greater Seattle | Referee/Sports Official | Seattle, WA | 07/02/2023 | $41,740 |
| I9 Sports-North Seattle/Snohomish, Wa | Soccer Referee | Seattle, WA | 06/26/2023 | $41,740 |
| Wheaton Park District | Soccer Referee-Seasonal | Wheaton, IL | 06/26/2023 | $27,131 |
| University of California | Referee Tester | Riverside, CA | 06/22/2023 | $53,536 |
| City of O'Fallon | Volleyball Referee | OFallon, MO | 06/21/2023 | $31,305 |
| Toca USA | Soccer Leagues Referee | Loganville, GA | 06/16/2023 | $41,740 |
| YMCA of The Suncoast | Referee/Official/Umpire Coach-Recreational-James P. Gills Branch | New Port Richey, FL | 06/14/2023 | $25,044 |
| Jam | Softball League Referee-JAM Sports Grand Rapids | Grandville, MI | 06/14/2023 | $41,740 |
| Zogsports | Sports Referee: Volleyball, Soccer, Softball, Pickleball | Santa Monica, CA | 06/14/2023 | $37,566 |
Show more
Referee salary FAQs
What state pays Referees the most?
Pennsylvania pays Referees the most in the United States, with an average salary of $77,920 per year, or $37.46 per hour.
How do I know if I'm being paid fairly as a Referee?
You know if you are being paid fairly as a Referee if your pay is close to the average pay for the state you live in. For example, if you live in Virginia you should be paid close to $76,753 per year.
How much do NBA refs make?
NBA refs make anywhere between $180,000 to $550,000 per season. This depends on each individual ref's experience, job title, and the level of the game the ref is officiating.
NBA refs are generally paid more to referee NBA Playoff games and a good deal more for NBA Finals games. During the first two rounds of the playoffs, referees can expect to earn around $10,000 per game, and in the semi-finals and finals, refs can earn up to $30,000 per game. These earnings are separate from their base salaries.
How much do NFL referees make?
NFL referees make an average salary of $205,000 per year. This means NFL refs earn five figures for each game they referee.
There are 18 weeks in the NFL regular season, so the average NFL referee makes an estimated $11,388 per game. And this is just in regards to their base salary and doesn't include additional payments for preseason games and the much larger payments they receive for playoff games.
How much do NFL refs make?
NFL refs make an average salary of $205,000 per year. This means NFL refs earn five figures for each game they referee.
There are 18 weeks in the NFL regular season, so the average NFL ref makes an estimated $11,388 per game. And this is just in regards to their base salary and doesn't include additional payments for preseason games and the much larger payments they receive for playoff games.
How much do UFC refs make?
A professional UFC referee earns between $1,500 and $2,500 each match and between $5,000 and $10,000 per pay-per-view event. Entry-level MMA referees make approximately $250 per fight.
How much do professional referees make?
Professional referees make a wide variety of different salaries. This depends on many different factors, including:
What professional sport they officiate
How many games they referee per season
The experience level of the referee
If the referee participates in officiating any playoff games or championship matches
Have more questions?
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Updated September 14, 2023
