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The differences between referees and coaches can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a referee has an average salary of $56,571, which is higher than the $42,716 average annual salary of a coach.
The top three skills for a referee include safety regulations, CPR and game rules. The most important skills for a coach are customer service, CPR, and food handling.
A referee is a sports official who is responsible for officiating games, sports events, or competitions. They must ensure that game rules are being followed by all players and make calls when these rules are broken. They indicate the start and end of a game and keep track of the time to determine whether a match is needed more time to complete. They settle claims of infractions or complaints by sports participants when needed. Referees also inspect sports equipment to make sure that all the organization's specifications are met.
The main responsibility of a coach is to motivate an individual or an entire team. Coaches are focused on improving the performance and skills of athletes by conducting training sessions, coordinating practice drills, and providing guidance. Their work is conducted both on and off the field - not only while an athletic event is in session. Coaches are sometimes tasked with recruitment activities in order to fill a team's roster to help them succeed. Other duties of a coach include fundraising, overseeing facilities, and promoting a safe environment.
Referees and coaches have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Referee | Coach | |
| Average salary | $56,571 | $42,716 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $127,000 | Between $27,000 And $66,000 |
| Highest paying City | Philadelphia, PA | Piscataway, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Pennsylvania | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Syracuse University | AEA Investors |
| Best paying industry | - | Technology |
There are a few differences between a referee and a coach in terms of educational background:
| Referee | Coach | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between referees' and coaches' demographics:
| Referee | Coach | |
| Average age | 33 | 36 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 75.7% Female, 24.3% | Male, 48.3% Female, 51.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.0% Unknown, 6.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.2% Asian, 4.9% White, 68.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 8.9% Unknown, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, 13.2% Asian, 5.4% White, 66.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 8% |