Being a Referee Could Provide a Great Side Income

As many of you know, my son and I make some extra money as soccer referees (for specifics, see How to Make Money as a Soccer Referee and How Much I Made This Spring Refereeing Soccer.) It's not much money for me (I pretty much break even after expenses) but for him it's a solid source of income -- $400 or so per "season" (one in the spring and one in the fall) -- that allows him to earn more than most 14-year-olds out there.

I've told him that if he wants to keep with it, he's young enough to make it into a profession (or at least a good-paying side income). But I never knew what kind of money he could make until recently.

To be honest, I don't know how much he could make as a soccer referee, but I at least have a sense that an earning can be made from this piece detailing the life of a basketball referee. Some key quotes:

Hall will work a quarterfinal game tonight in the Sun Belt tournament. It will be the 98th game he has refereed this season -- a new high for him, topping the 97 he worked last season. With luck, he will go well beyond 100 games before his season is over.

Hall is one of a growing number of college referees who are giving up their "real" jobs in large part because the money for officiating has gotten so much better. Referees working in the six power conferences generally make $2,000 and up per game, plus first-class airfare and expenses. That means the top officials are making well into six figures during the five-month season.

"Years ago, you couldn't do it this way," Hall said. "Now a lot of guys are like me -- working very, very hard for five months and then being able to take it easy the rest of the year."

Ok, so let's pull this all together:

• $2,000 (which seems to be low since it says "and up") x 100 games = $200,000 per year.
• This is for five months worth of work. Not bad.
• What if you also refereed for a sport that didn't conflict with basketball (like baseball)? Does that mean you could earn $400,000 (or even close) per year?
• This, of course, is for top-flight referees. So let's scale it way back for just high school/lower level college refs. Seems like they could make $50,000 or so a year over five months, doesn't it? Still this is a pretty decent salary.
• Could soccer referees earn anywhere near this amount? I'm not sure. But it seems to me that even if it was a "hobby", someone who worked their way up the ranks could bring home $5,000 to $10,000 a year above and beyond their normal job/salary. Not bad for an extra income, huh?

Anyone out there have experience with this (earning money as a referee)? If so, please share your thoughts with us.

Comments

[Dr Dean]

It probably takes a real thick skin to take the abuse, especially from the parents...

Great training for your young man regardless of the income!

[indio]

I don't have any experience referring, but I recall reading an article (I think it was in NY Times) about a World cup soccer referee. He had a training regime similar to the players in the off season. Since he was in the whole game, no bench time for him, he had to eat well and workout to keep up with the players. This is definitely a profession that is highly dependent upon good health. I'm not even sure if you would get health insurance or compensation for being out with an injury.

[soners]

I've dreamed about traveling from youth soccer tournament to youth soccer tournament during the warm months. I'm not sure you could make a living off of it--I figure you go to a three day tournament every week March through November and ref 4 games per day you would make $16,380 (at $35/game which is about average--you can get better for East Coast league games though).

But my idea would be to take it easier and use it to help finance summer travel that I already want to do. Surely some people do this, right?

[stock2mail]

I am a high school football official. In my state, you will be lucky to average about $40/game and since the season is only about 12 weeks long, you would have to bust your butt to work 100 games. Even then you will only make about $4000 and probably not even that. I have a friend that is a Junior College basketball official and he only makes about $200 per game. So unless you are an elite official, you will never get rich doing it. The only reason to be a sports official is for a love of the game and young people.

[FMF]

Soners --

Sounds like a great idea!

You could probably throw in some high school, college, and weekday club games to add more to the pot if you liked.

[FMF]

stock2mail --

First of all, $4k for a side gig is pretty good. Even $2k isn't bad for most people. Plus you get exercise and it's fun.

Second, I know some people who do multiple sports during different seasons -- soccer and basketball, football and baseball, etc. They must earn several thousand dollars extra every year. Again, not bad at all.

[DIY Investor]

I've umpired local youth baseball and got $40/game. Do a couple games during the week and 2 on Saturday and it mounts up. You get to see some good games and the young kids are fun. Be nimble though...sometimes a 10 year old will put their glove up and then pull it away. Catchers jump out of the way of low pitches...lost a couple of toenails that way.

[Justin]

I know a lot of guys who made great money as referees for soccer and baseball games. If you love the sport, it's a great way to make some extra cash.

[jim]

Certainly would be a great job if you can work your way up to that level.

NBA refs can make even more from what I gather they make in the $150k to $500k range.

Only major downside is that there would be a LOT of travel involved during the season. You don't just ref 100 games in your local city. To do that much you'd have to bounce all around day to day covering different games in different cities so it would be almost non stop traveling. But still its very good pay, thats $200k for working a part of the year.

[Val Zumbro]

What the ... how does this relate to being retired (?) which I think is how this thread started.
Starting young is one thing ... but staring at 65+? Let's get real here!

[Sunil from The Extra Money Blog]

sounds high no? i have to imagine to make the solid bucks one must be doing it over a long period of time? not to mention it must be very competitive "up there"?

[Brad]

I had a friend of mine that was a double-A and triple-A baseball umpire. Not sure what kind of money he made, but he said the MLB umps made $200-400k with insane benefits. He said the problem is that you basically have to wait for someone in MLB to die or retire. The job is so great that no one quits. You work the baseball season which I guess is April through October and then you are off the rest of the year.

[FMF]

Val --

You must be reading something I'm not. This post doesn't mention and isn't about retirement.

[Rob]

I'm a high school football official in North Carolina. Officials get paid $75 for varsity high school games, plus you can make ~$35/game for 2-6 youth games on Saturdays.

I'm sure there are more basketball and baseball games available, not to mention volleyball, soccer, wrestling, etc. Still, it would be hard to make a living at it at this level. I know a couple of guys locally who do it, but they are always doing at least 2 sports and are working various sports all year round. It's not the easiest thing in the world.

Higher levels it's much more doable, but in most sports it takes a lot of years to move up to that level.

[Scott]

I think several of your estimates are a little on the high side and are for referees at levels that most will never reach. But it definitely is a good source of some extra money and great exercise. A lot of folks pay to work out at the gym and I get paid to go work out when I referee soccer. At all but the level of the youngest kids, soccer at least can take quite a toll on an aging body, so you have to make sure you're not spending more on medical bills than you're making!

[Mike]

Started Reffing youth basketball and soccer this year. Made $11k. Basketball pays on average $30/game. Soccer anywhere from $35-$60. Got very lucky to hook up with several assignors. Big time. But what an incredible side job for someone who enjoys both sports. Wife didn't mind since it relieved our financial strain.