[jpgc99]

Originally Posted by chapmaja

Yeah, he's still making a nice chunk. I am just working on my taxes now and I brought in well over 10K, but that was nearly cut in half by allowable deductions. If the NCAA guys are getting paid an average of 2500 per night, but that includes their travel, lodging, food, ect, then they are losing the ability to deduct those items from their income, thus they are paying SE tax on the vast majority of what they are making. At $2500 per game, the government is getting over $350 per game in SE tax. Add in the income tax the government also charges and that $2500 is much closer to $1500 per game. They lose a lot of money to taxes, but still are making a TON of money for those seasons they work.

Sometimes I wonder if the per diem the officials get is really worth it, or if they would be better off getting paid more and covering your own expenses.

I believe most get a flat fee. The officials pay their own travel and expenses out of that flat fee.