Average Salary

• According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics 2010-11 Occupational Outlook Handbook, professional referees in the United States earned $23,780annually as of 2008. The highest salaries equaled more than $48,000 annually while the lowest earners made less than $20,000 annually. Simplyhired.com lists the average salary for referees at $32,000 annually as of 2011.
  
  

The Pros

• In professional sport leagues such as the National Football League, National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball and National Hockey League, referees can earn six-figure salaries annually. While National Football League referees only work part-time, as of 2011, NFL paid them an average between $25,000 and $70,000 per season. Senior referees with 20 years experience earn as much $120,000 annually. NFL referees work in other careers such as law enforcement and law. NBA referees earn an average salary between $100,000 and $300,000. Major League Baseball referees, or umpires, earn approximately $120,000 yearly compared to National Hockey League referees who earn between $110,000 and $255,000 yearly.
  
  

Other Pro Referees

• In professional boxing, fight promoters generally pay referees. As such, boxing referees may earn between $150 and $25,000. Top referees earn the higher end of this salary range. Mixed martial arts, or MMA referees, the sport's athletic commissioner pays them between $200 and $1,200 dollars per fight. Simplyhired.com states that the average salary for professional soccer referees is $21,000 s of 2011.
  
  

College Referees

• Referees in collegiate sports are also part time referees who must manage other jobs. Collegiate sports are in the amateur sports category and referees on this level earn between $34,000 and $56,000 annually as of 2011. According to a September 2010 article for ESPN's "Outside the Lines" publication, referees for Division I basketball games earn roughly $50,000 yearly if they are able to work between 40 and 60 games during the year.