Pay

Simply put, refereeing is a job. But as referees, we are independent contractors. This makes earnings and pay pretty complicated. Unlike a “normal” job, pay cycles, pay rates, and fees are not standardized. It is important to stay on top of your games to make sure you got paid and so that you are ready for tax season. 

On the bright side, being a hockey referee is one of the most lucrative part time jobs you can have! Even in districts that are lower on the pay scale than others, you can still pull in a decent amount of money. I’ll try below to give you a range of how pay works.

First off, let’s start with the pay range. Assignors sign contracts with teams and tournaments to secure rates for referees. Because rates vary by assignor and team, it is important to know the rates so you can make a decision of where you want to spend your time most to maximize earnings. Below I have included a chart of rough ranges per game at various age levels. It is important to note that rates vary by assignor, organization, level, skill of play, and general location in the country.

     U8: $25 – $50
     U10: $30 – $55
     U12: $40 – $65
     U14: $50 – $80
     U15/16/18: $75 – $115

Another common question is: how do you get paid? Again, this varies widely. The most common options are:

1. A direct deposit into your account
2. A check or cash at the rink 
3. Venmo/Cashapp/Zelle
4. A check sent to your house

Always make sure you know how you will be paid before leaving the rink!

The last major thing is to have a way to keep track of what games you have been paid for and what games you haven’t been paid for yet. I get paid for some games at the rink, but get paid for some games 3 months later. It can get very confusing without an organized system. Having a way to keep track of games is also beneficial at tax season so you can calculate your total earnings and your mileage based on where you’ve worked. Starting with a spreadsheet in the beginning will save a lot of frustration later!