This weekend puts a wrap on another year of Illinois High School Association sports.
State finals in baseball and softball mark the finale of the 2024-25 school year. As big as these events are for the athletes, the licensed officials chosen to officiate during the postseason take their jobs equally serious.
Those officiating jobs come with fair compensation from regional play all the way through the state finals. So, what do these officials make during the postseason?
“For postseason pay, our office works independently from whatever fees schools pay officials in the regular season,” IHSA associate executive director Kurt Gibson told the Journal Star in May 2024. “As you can likely imagine, those prices will vary considerably by any number of factors so while we have a general idea of what various schools pay, it’s just a general idea.
“For postseason pay, our office establishes a ‘baseline’ fee ($200) that is used to guide what we will pay officials by sport. Postseason pay will differ slightly by sport, as tournaments are unique. They have different levels of postseason play, the number of officials per sport can vary, along with the amount of time an event takes.”
These figures were provided by the IHSA and are based on 2024-25 school year. These official fees went into effect on July 1, 2024.
How much do IHSA baseball umpires get paid for the postseason?
The three baseball umpires — behind home plate and two field umps — will make $76.50 in regionals. For sectionals, an umpire will make $95, then $129 in supersectional play. The state finals pays $340.
How much are IHSA softball umpires getting paid for the postseason?
Softball is on the exact same pay scale as baseball. The trio of umpires make $76.50 in regionals, $95 for sectionals and $129 for supersectionals. An umpire that officiates the state finals makes $340.
How much do IHSA football officials make for the playoffs?
Once the playoffs hit, the five varsity officials — referee, umpire, head line judge, line judge and back judge — are each paid $90 for the first round. That figure increases each round until the state championship where officials make $200. Those amounts maybe multiplied based on the number of games that an individual works each round.
How much do high school basketball refs make per IHSA postseason game?
For the boys and girls postseason, the three referees are paid $90 during regionals. The sectional level pays $112 and the supersectional offers $152. Once the state finals hit, the officials are paid $200. Much like the other sports, the refs are able to multiply their earnings per round based on the number of games worked.
How much do volleyball officials get paid during the IHSA postseason?
Volleyball officials make $76.50 for regionals, while a line judge is paid $35. That payment goes up to $95 for sectional officials and $50 for line judges. In supersectional play, officials make $129 with line judges getting paid $60. During the state finals, the officials will earn $170 and the line judges get paid $130 per day.
What do refs make in other IHSA postseason sports?
Other sports like boys and girls soccer offer the same pay scale as baseball and softball — $76.50 (regionals), $95 (sectionals), $129 (supersectionals) and $170 (state finals). Any use of a fourth soccer official pays $50 per match. Wrestling pays $229.50 (regionals), $285.50 (sectionals) and a flat fee of $530 for the individual state finals. The referee and starter for track and field are each paid $95 for sectionals and $170 per day for the state finals. The assistant official makes $73 for the sectional and $130 per day at the state meet.
Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: How much do IHSA officials make in a game? We look at the postseason numbers
Reporting by Adam Duvall, Peoria Journal Star / Journal Star
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