Women Referee Pay and the Future of Officiating for Women Referees

Pay Scale and the Future of Officiating for Female Officials

 

Female officials enforce the rules, assess penalties start and end the game, check equipment, watch for rules infraction, track and approve the score.  The push across the country to increase the pay for female officials as well as all sports officials has been overdue.  In Florida for example, the long awaited pay raise for officials came in November.   The Florida High School Athletic Association increased the per-game rate for female officials and all sports officials for 12 varsity level sports.  Florida lagged behind neighboring states in what it paid sports officials. Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and South Carolina all paid officials at least $8 more per game (12.3%). Six of those states paid at least $25 more (38.5%).

Don't let this information deter you from officiating.  Officials are in demand across the country.  Programs are being put in place to retain officials at all levels.  The future of officiating is bright.  The Occupational Outlook Handbook published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment of umpires, referees and other sports officials is predicted to grow by 8% from 2019-2029.  That growth is much faster than the average for all occupations.  Job possibilities are expected to be very good at the youth and high school level.

With the shortage of officials due to the aging population of current officials to the impact Covid has had on all team sports, the opportunities for sports officials and specifically women officials is exploding.  If you are considering becoming an official you can contact us at www.Officiastore.com and inquire about the closest officials training in your area.  If you are currently an official we thank you for the work you do.  It makes a difference is so many lives and allows the sport you love to continue on in others lives. 

2021 school year average pay for Lacrosse official per person:

Lacrosse Varsity         $60.00 (3 person)             $80.00 (2 person)   

Lacrosse JV/Soph.     $49.00 (3 person)              $60.00 (2 person)

 

A study conducted by Zippia in 2017 of average hourly rates by state for all sports officials varies by region and sport.  Connecticut is $26.63 per hour on average, New Jersey is $31.67 and New York is $31.84.  

 

 

 

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