As a general rule, referee pay is very consistent and uniform. A new referee and an experienced referee working on the same game generally receive the same rate. However, larger organizations (eg a youth league) will occasionally pay umpires of different experience at different rates.
Unsurprisingly, referee pay varies across the country. What an umpire receives working on a 12u game in Southern California may be different than what an umpire receives for a 12u game in Maine. Generally, youth leagues will pay between $ 15 and $ 50 per game, per referee. High school typically costs $ 50- $ 75 per 7-inning game, per referee. Tournaments are paid at a different rate. Baseball generally pays more than softball (mainly because baseball games are longer), and the older the age group, the higher the pay.
Typically, a junior referee can earn between $ 200 and $ 400 for a weekend’s work at a tournament. Combine that with working Monday through Friday (2 games x 3 nights a week) and a beginning referee can easily earn an extra $ 500 per week working part time. Taxes are generally not withheld and the arbitrator receives a 1099 at the end of the year.
As an example, I know a 17-year-old umpire in the Midwest who works for a competitive youth softball league. He is mature, reliable, hardworking, and has a great attitude. The league has a 75-minute time limit on its games. This young man works Monday through Friday, two games a night. He does not work on Saturdays or Sundays. His salary is $ 25 per game, so he takes home $ 250 per week for 17.5 hours of work (5: 30-9: 00). That’s a $ 14.28 hourly rate! It’s sure to be over $ 7.50 an hour your friends make at Piggly Wiggly.