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From simple youth games in the park to high-stakes tournaments, a variety of factors influence a referee's earnings. We’ve explored how pay rates in general are determined in youth sports and how youth referees are paid. Now, let’s dive into soccer referee pay specifically. What’s driving the differences in what soccer referees are paid?
The role you take on the field has a significant impact on your earnings. In soccer, there are two main referee positions: Center Referee and Assistant Referee.
Center Referee: Often the highest-paid official on the field, the center referee takes charge of game management, enforcing rules, and handling disputes. Their level of responsibility justifies a higher pay rate. They also cover a larger area of the field.
Assistant Referees: While essential for accurate calls along the sidelines, assistant referees typically earn less than the center referee. Their duties are less comprehensive but equally crucial for ensuring fair play. There can be one or two assistant referees during a game. It is most common to have two assistant referees, so there is one on each side of the field with designated halves.
Pay Rates Insight: The Interquartile Range (IQR), also called the middle 50%, of Center Referee pay in the United states is $42.50 to $63.50 (average of competitive and recreational), depending on the many factors listed below. Assistant referees often earn 50–75% of the Center Referee’s rate.
Number of Referees per Game
Soccer referee pay is also influenced by how many officials are required. In youth soccer, it is common for young age groups to have only one center referee with no assistant referees. Ages U12 and up are where you often see the assistant referees joining the team of officials on the field.
Single Referee System: Recreational or lower-age-group games may use only one referee, which often results in slightly higher pay for the sole official, all else being equal.
Two-Referee System: Occasionally, games are scheduled with two referees. While both referees are on the field, they each cover play in specific zones, so they have less ground to cover. Additionally, they have a partner to help ease the burden of responsibility. Therefore, each referee in this system typically receives slightly less pay than a single referee for the same game.
Three-Referee System: Competitive matches, especially in older age groups or tournaments, require a center referee and two assistants. While the workload is shared, individual pay rates are often lower for assistant referees compared to the center referee.
The level of competition plays a critical role in determining soccer referee pay rates. At a high level, the level of competition for soccer can be divided into “Competitive” and “Recreational.” There are no hard and fast rules that determine which games fall into which category, but games that require travel or games with players who compete year-round are typically considered “Competitive.”
Recreational Games: These are typically local, lower-stakes games that involve younger or less experienced players. Recreational Center Referee pay is modest, with an interquartile Range (IQR) range of $50 to $75 per game at the U14 level.
Competitive Games: Higher-stakes games, such as travel leagues or regional championships, command higher pay due to the intensity and skill level of play. Competitive Center Referee pay is higher, with an interquartile Range (IQR) range of $35 to $52 per game at the U14 level.
Player Age: Pay increases with the age of the players. For older divisions in youth soccer (e.g. U14 to U19) the expectations of referees is higher and the risk of physical violence is higher. Therefore, these games are more challenging to officiate, and referees are compensated accordingly.
More expertise and experience often leads to higher pay and when it comes to sports officiating, you can expect the same. Soccer referees with advanced certifications and trusted experience earn more. Here’s how:
Certification: Referees certified by organizations like the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) or National Federation of High Schools (NFHS) often earn higher rates. For example, obtaining a ‘Grassroots’ level referee certifications from the USSF opens up many more games and higher pay rates for referees.
Experience: A referee with years of experience or a track record of officiating high-level games can negotiate higher rates, or will be assigned to games with higher pay. Many assignors reward consistency and reliability.
Depending on the game type, the pay could change. Different game formats come with unique pay structures:
7v7: Smaller-sided games for younger age groups typically pay less, ranging from $15 to $40 per game.
11v11: Full-sided matches, especially for older players, require more effort and responsibility, leading to higher pay rates.
Tournaments: Soccer referee pay scales often increase for tournament matches. Referees may earn bonuses for officiating multiple games in a single day or for high-stakes matches, such as finals or regional championships.
Game Length: Longer games naturally result in higher pay. For example, younger players' games may last 20-30 minutes per half, while older age groups or competitive matches can be 30-45 minute halves.
Many leagues offer bonus pay to reward loyal referees and those willing to travel. We’ve done a deeper dive into Referee Bonus Pay to help understand how they work and what the benefits are. In Soccer, the more common bonus pay is:
Mileage Reimbursement: Referees who travel long distances may receive compensation for their travel costs.
Game Volume: Referees who officiate multiple games in a day, a week, or a season, often earn bonuses for their commitment.
Experience Incentives: Long-serving referees or those who step in at the last minute may receive higher rates.
In general, when soccer referee pay is transparent to officials, the free market works and pay rates are quite fair. Recreational rates are lower while competitive game rates are higher. These rates are shaped by many factors: role, player age, level of play, game type, and the referee’s own experience and abilities. If you're interested in becoming a referee or organizing games, check our blog, “How to Become a Youth Sports Referee.”
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