How much do college basketball referees make per game?
When it comes to college basketball, few individuals command as much respect as the men and women on the sideline, responsible for upholding the integrity of the game. But have you ever stopped to think about just how much money college basketball referees make for their hard work and dedication?
The Salaries
As it turns out, college basketball referees can make anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand dollars per game. So, how is that possible? Here are the general salaries for college basketball referees broken down:
- NCAA Divisions II and III : $50-$300 per game
- NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association) : $30-$100 per game
- NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) : $20-$60 per game
Let’s take a closer look at each of these associations and how much referees earn:
• NCAA Divisions II and III : $50-$300 per game: Higher-end talent and referees who officiate championships and regional semifinals, for instance, may earn closer to $300. Referees who work lesser-played Division III matchups could earn $50 per game, while Divison II games, which may include more prominent names, could land somewhere in between ($50-$150).
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NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association) : $30-$100 per game: Games featuring non-NJCAA programs typically command lower wages, with refuges earning on the low-end of this spectrum ($30 per game). On the high end, well-established crews and NCAA tournament teams in NJCAA’s "super- sectional" games (think major juniors vs. rival program) could top out around $100 per game.
- NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) : $20-$60 per game: Similar to the NJCAA, lower-end talent, smaller teams, or early rounds of championship series would skew towards $20 per game. At the high-end, reputable, experienced, and "dream" matchups (upcoming pros/legit competitors) within the NAIA top conferences may earn a slightly higher range of $30-$60 per game.
Taxes and Expenses
Keep in mind, these figures exclude taxes and potential expenses. With taxes removed and considering, for example, expenses for food, travel, lodging, and equipment referees typically take home , say 15-40% (it varies for each).
Consider the implications:
For top-tier collegiate referees: an estimated after-tax hourly pay of $65-$225 an hour at the extreme upper end for NCAA tournaments
For NCAA Division I assistant referees working regular games, after tax, it can look like:
- Per-hour: around $65 to $1,200/hour
While it can differ depending on performance, experience, team, travel, and tournaments involved, NCAA Division I conference championships in the United States’ top tiers can often top out:
- Estimated maximum hourly after-taxes around $2,800-hr and/or $3,350-hr * for NCAA Champions
So when you think it’s $50 to $$350 **referees really take 15 to 40% deduction. Even high-end performance can top-off around (2,000). When considering potential expenses, hourly revenue may indeed be
Please note * Top-Hour Performance refers Top High- Level Play to Exceptionally Experienced Top-Talent and Crew with a very solid performance! Refs
A breakdown like Table 1 above gives more realistic numbers by considering income adjustments:
- Adjust for expenses or taxes
5 – 14% for low-middle tier matches
For average-tier mid-level referees to the regular NCAA divisions of II / III *2
• 17 – 40.15% for all Division I.