[Ref in PA]

The schools pay the assignors (not sure how much) and the assignors will use referees from multiple associations. We pay the State an annual fee of $35 (I think) per sport to remain a certified official. I pay $55 each year to my association in dues - this year we got a shirt and a banquet (and a lot of bickering about how to spend the money) from our dues. The Schools pay us directly, so we keep all that. I am pretty sure the rest of PA works that way also. The trick here is to get in front of the assignors to prove to them you can ref. The more you know, the fuller your schedule will be.

For Playoff games, the State pays you a couple of months after the fact.