I earned $17.50 for the first game I officiated in 1986. That game was located at Marietta High School in Marietta, Georgia. I was living in Roswell, Georgia at the time.
The drive was 22 miles, each way. Now, let’s break this down. The cost of gas, in 1986, for the drive was $3.50. I’m sure I stopped and got something for lunch on the way home. Let’s put that at $5.00. I know I got a cup of coffee and a Pop Tart on the way to the game, $2.50. Total cost, $11.00. So, I netted $6.50. I wasn’t going to get rich doing this, was I?
To make matters a little more interesting, an official didn’t get paid until after all the previous season’s games had been completed. Usually, this happened around the middle of December. I believe my first year’s check totaled approximately $750. If we use the opening percent of net earnings of 37%, that will leave a net amount of $277.50.
Now, we have to deduct the cost of annual association dues, state registration fees and uniform costs. My first year, I might have broken even. Maybe. Was it worth it? Absolutely. My wife wasn’t so sure!
Today, power five football officials will be paid somewhere in the area of $4250 per assignment. However, they have to cover all of their costs. These costs consist of travel, hotel stays, liability insurance, meals and entertainment, just to name a few. Friday is a travel day so missing work has its own costs. Plus, their time commitment extends way beyond the actual playing season. It is almost a year-round lifestyle.
So, when all income and expenses are tallied up and average over the total time an official spends preparing, executing and debriefing, those individuals are actually earning just above minimum wage. Are they being paid enough? As a former official, NO they are not!