Referee demographics and statistics in the US
Referee demographics research summary. Zippia estimates referee demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our referee estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about referees after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 4,204 referees currently employed in the United States.
- 24.3% of all referees are women, while 75.7% are men.
- The average referee age is 32 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of referees is White (68.8%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (11.2%), Black or African American (8.0%) and Unknown (6.7%).
- Referees are most in-demand in Philadelphia, PA.
- Philadelphia, PA pays an annual average wage of $78,501, the highest in the US.
- In 2022, women referees earned 95% of what men earned.
- West Virginia is the best state for referees to live.
- Referees are 41% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to education companies.
On This Page
Referee demographics by:
Referee gender statistics
24.3% of referees are women and 75.7% of referees are men.
- Male, 75.7%
- Female, 24.3%
Referee gender ratio
Gender  | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 75.7% |
| Female | 24.3% |
Referee gender pay gap
Women earn 95¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male Income
$54,692
Female Income
$51,962
Referee gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in referee positions over time. Currently, 24.3% of referees are female.
Referee gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 41.61% | 58.39% |
| 2011 | 39.04% | 60.96% |
| 2012 | 40.87% | 59.13% |
| 2013 | 37.83% | 62.17% |
| 2014 | 38.00% | 62.00% |
| 2015 | 38.55% | 61.45% |
| 2016 | 36.08% | 63.92% |
| 2017 | 36.77% | 63.23% |
| 2018 | 65.35% | 34.65% |
| 2019 | 68.10% | 31.90% |
| 2020 | 81.44% | 18.56% |
| 2021 | 75.69% | 24.31% |
Referee related jobs gender ratio
We compared referees with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, 19d cavalry scout and baseball player have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job Title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Harpist | 8% | 92% |
| Actress | 8% | 92% |
| Modern Dancer | 8% | 92% |
| Referee | 76% | 24% |
| Assistant Varsity Football Coach | 98% | 2% |
| Baseball Player | 98% | 2% |
| 19D Cavalry Scout | 99% | 1% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Referee demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among referees is White, which makes up 68.8% of all referees. Comparatively, 11.2% of referees are Hispanic or Latino and 8.0% of referees are Black or African American.
- White, 68.8%
- Hispanic or Latino, 11.2%
- Black or African American, 8.0%
- Unknown, 6.7%
- Asian, 4.9%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
Referee Race
| Referee Race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 68.8% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 11.2% |
| Black or African American | 8.0% |
| Unknown | 6.7% |
| Asian | 4.9% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.4% |
Referee race and ethnicity over time
See how referee racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
- White
- Asian
- Hispanic or Latino
- Black or African American
Referee race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 80.64% | 6.39% | 3.67% | 6.58% |
| 2011 | 79.62% | 6.91% | 3.79% | 6.52% |
| 2012 | 80.05% | 5.32% | 4.41% | 6.71% |
| 2013 | 77.41% | 6.27% | 3.84% | 8.32% |
| 2014 | 78.39% | 6.67% | 3.59% | 7.89% |
| 2015 | 79.26% | 5.55% | 3.97% | 8.32% |
| 2016 | 75.87% | 7.34% | 4.47% | 8.50% |
| 2017 | 77.01% | 6.59% | 3.84% | 8.29% |
| 2018 | 79.74% | 5.96% | 3.18% | 7.42% |
| 2019 | 77.78% | 6.01% | 3.27% | 9.15% |
| 2020 | 72.87% | 6.86% | 5.03% | 9.76% |
| 2021 | 68.84% | 8.04% | 4.86% | 11.22% |
Referee wage gap by race
According to our data, unknown referees have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Hispanic or latino referees have the lowest average salary at $53,506.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $57,084 |
| White | $53,678 |
| Black or African American | $53,640 |
| Asian | $55,645 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $53,506 |
Referee JOBS
Referee age breakdown
The average age of referees is 20-30 years years old, representing 31% of the referee population.
Referee age breakdown
| Referee Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 26% |
| 30-40 years | 13% |
| 20-30 years | 31% |
Referee educational attainment
The most common degree for referees is bachelor's degree, with 67% of referees earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are high school diploma degree at 14% and high school diploma degree at 12%.
- Bachelor's, 67%
- High School Diploma, 14%
- Associate, 12%
- Master's, 4%
- Other Degrees, 3%
Referees by degree level
| Referee Degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 67% |
| High School Diploma | 14% |
| Associate | 12% |
| Master's | 4% |
| Other Degrees | 3% |
Referee Jobs You Might Like
Referee wage gap by degree level
According to the data, referees with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $65,606 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, referees earn a median annual income of $65,137 compared to $53,094 for referees with an Associate degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $65,606 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $50,119 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $65,137 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $53,094 |
Referee employment statistics
Most referees work for a private in the education industry.
Company size where referees work
Below, you can see the size of companies where referees work.
Referee jobs by employer size
| Company Size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 15% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 25% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 26% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 6% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 23% |
| > 10,000 employees | 5% |
Referee jobs by company type
Employees with the referee job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most referees prefer to work at private companies over education companies.
Referee jobs by sector
| Company Type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 38% |
| Public | 3% |
| Private | 41% |
| Government | 18% |
Referee jobs by industry
The most common industries for referees are education, hospitality and government.
Referee industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 29% |
| Government | 13% |
| Hospitality | 13% |
| Non Profits | 10% |
| Manufacturing | 6% |
| Retail | 5% |
| Health Care | 5% |
| Professional | 5% |
| Media | 4% |
| Start-up | 2% |
| Real Estate | 2% |
| Technology | 2% |
| Transportation | 1% |
| Finance | 1% |
| Utilities | 1% |
| Insurance | 1% |
Referee turnover and employment statistics
Referee unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for referees between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Unemployment rate
Referee unemployment rate by year
| Year | Referee Unemployment Rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 10.64% |
| 2011 | 10.09% |
| 2012 | 9.54% |
| 2013 | 7.83% |
| 2014 | 6.50% |
| 2015 | 6.51% |
| 2016 | 6.01% |
| 2017 | 6.48% |
| 2018 | 9.49% |
| 2019 | 10.83% |
| 2020 | 16.40% |
| 2021 | 14.98% |
Average referee tenure
The average referee stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 11,773 referees resumes in Zippia's database.
Referee tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 23% |
| 1-2 years | 28% |
| 3-4 years | 16% |
| 5-7 years | 16% |
| 8-10 years | 6% |
| 11+ years | 12% |
Referee LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of referees that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job Title | LGBT | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|
| Referee | 5.42% | - |
| Professional Athlete | 6.54% | 43,447 |
| Baseball Instructor | 7.62% | 30,396 |
| Gospel Singer | 8.54% | 89 |
| Bareback Rider | 13.74% | 3,097 |
| Educational Program Director | 14.31% | 76,691 |
| Band Leader | 30.45% | 29,066 |
Similar referee jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|
| Professional Athlete | 6.54% | 43,447 |
| Baseball Instructor | 7.62% | 30,396 |
| Gospel Singer | 8.54% | 89 |
| Bareback Rider | 13.74% | 3,097 |
| Educational Program Director | 14.31% | 76,691 |
| Band Leader | 30.45% | 29,066 |
Foreign languages spoken by referees
The most common foreign language among referees is Spanish at 64.0%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 8.6% and German is the third-most popular at 5.5%.
- Spanish, 64.0%
- French, 8.6%
- German, 5.5%
- Italian, 3.2%
- Portuguese, 3.1%
- Other, 15.6%
Referee languages spoken
| Foreign Language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 64.0% |
| French | 8.6% |
| German | 5.5% |
| Italian | 3.2% |
| Portuguese | 3.1% |
| Other | 15.6% |
