Sports referee earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level sports referee earnings begin at:

$41.25 per hour

$85,798 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level sports referee earnings begin at:

$31.00 per hour

$64,470 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level sports referee earnings begin at:

$22.56 per hour

$46,930 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level sports referee earnings begin at:

$16.42 per hour

$34,162 per year

10th percentile

Starting level sports referee earnings begin at:

$12.34 per hour

$25,670 per year

Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.

Sports referee salary by state

State Name Average Salary
Kentucky $46,930
Washington $37,460
West Virginia $37,270
Massachusetts $37,020
Arizona $35,472
Illinois $34,817
Vermont $34,440
New Hampshire $34,300
Kansas $34,170
Florida $32,630
Alaska $32,410
Maryland $32,160
North Carolina $31,220
Virginia $30,810
Tennessee $30,770
Texas $30,470
New Jersey $29,970
Wisconsin $29,450
Iowa $29,263
Pennsylvania $29,210
Louisiana $29,150
Minnesota $28,170
Missouri $27,880
Colorado $26,790
California $26,530
Maine $26,370
Idaho $26,163
South Carolina $25,630
North Dakota $25,350
Rhode Island $24,580
Oregon $23,950
South Dakota $23,820
Delaware $23,710
New Mexico $23,470
Indiana $22,930
Michigan $22,930
Nebraska $22,120
Mississippi $21,990
Connecticut $21,960
Ohio $21,780
Montana $19,950
Oklahoma $18,840
Georgia $18,780
Utah $18,570
Alabama $17,960

How do sports referee salaries compare to similar careers?

Sports referees earn about the same as related careers in Kentucky. On average, they make less than fitness and wellness coordinators but more than athletes.

Career Median Salary
Fitness and wellness coordinator salary $82K
Physical education teacher salary $67K
Sports referee salary $47K
Athletic trainer salary $46K
Exercise physiologist salary $43K
Fitness trainer salary $36K
Athlete salary $32K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)