How Much Does an NFL Referee Make?
Find out how much an NFL referee makes in this blog post. We’ll explore the salary and compensation of these officials, as well as the factors that affect their earnings.
NFL referee salaries
NFL referees are some of the highest-paid officials in all of professional sports. In 2019, the average salary for an NFL referee was $205,000. However, the pay scale for NFL referees can range from $165,000 to $700,000 per year, depending on experience.
How much do NFL referees make?
According to Business Insider, NFL referees made an average of $205,000 per year in 2019. That’s up from $173,000 in 2018 and $149,000 in 2017. The highest-paid NFL referee is reportedly Ed Hochuli, who made $5 million in salary and bonuses in his final year before retiring in 2019.
How do NFL referee salaries compare to other sports?
While the average salary for an NFL referee is among the highest of any sport, it is worth noting that the NFL only employs a limited number of officials. In contrast, Major League Baseball employs more than 1,200 umpires, while the National Basketball Association has more than 300 officials. When compared on an annual basis, MLB umpires and NBA referees earn more than their NFL counterparts.
NFL referee benefits
NFL referees are paid well for their services. In addition to their regular game-day salary, they also receive bonuses for working playoff games and the Super Bowl. NFL referees also receive a pension and health insurance.
What are the benefits of being an NFL referee?
NFL referees are some of the highest-paid sports officials in the world. In addition to their regular salary, NFL referees also receive a number of benefits that can include everything from health insurance to a retirement plan. Here are some of the most notable benefits that NFL referees enjoy:
-A yearly salary that can range from $173,000 to $200,000
-Generous health insurance plans
pension and retirement plans
-Educational stipends of up to $5,250 per year
-8 tickets to every game they officiate
-Business travel expenses covered by the NFL
How does the NFL pension plan work?
NFL referees are eligible for a pension plan after 20 years of service. The pension benefit is based on the average of the highest three years of an official’s salary. For example, if an official made an average of $100,000 per year during his or her career, he or she would be eligible for a pension benefit of $50,000 per year.
NFL referee training
Becoming an NFL referee is not an easy task. There are a number of training and development programs that a potential referee must go through before being accepted into the NFL. These training and development programs help NFL referees to improve their officiating skills and knowledge of the game.
How does one become an NFL referee?
officials are not selected through a public tryout system, but are hired by the NFL. There are generally much fewer officials than players in the NFL. A typical NFL officiating crew is composed of seven officials: the referee, umpire, head linesman, line judge, back judge, side judge and field judge.
All seven officials are equal in terms of their authority on the field; however, the referee is considered the “lead official” and is responsible for the management of thecrew and for making final decisions on all rulings except for certain specified reviewable calls. Each official has different responsibilities associated with his respective position.
In order to be eligible to officiate an NFL game, an individual must meet the following requirements:
-Be at least 21 years old
-Have previous experience officiating high school or collegiate football
-Possess excellent communication skills
-Demonstrate good physical conditioning
-Be able to make quick decisions
-Undergo a background check conducted by the FBI
What is the NFL referee training program like?
The NFL referee training program is a multi-week training course that covers all aspects of officiating an NFL game. The program is designed to train officials to be able to make the correct call on every play, and to do so in a consistent and professional manner.
The training program includes classroom instruction, on-field training, and video review. Classroom instruction covers the rules of the game, officiating mechanics, and proper game management. On-field training allows officials to practice making calls in live game situations. Video review gives officials the chance to see plays from multiple angles and make sure they are making the correct call.
After completing the training program, officials are evaluated on their ability to correctly call games. Those who pass the evaluation process are then eligible to officiate NFL games.
NFL referee assignments
usually are made on a yearly basis by the NFL schedule maker. There are a total of 17 NFL weeks in a season, and each team plays 16 games. This leaves one week where each team has a bye. So, for each NFL week, there are a total of 16 games. There are a total of 32 NFL teams. This leaves us with a total of 512 NFL games in a season.
How are NFL referees assigned to games?
The NFL assigns its referees to games using a computer program that takes into account many factors. Some of these include:
-The teams playing
-The location of the game
-The time of the game
-The day of the week the game is being played
-The weather conditions
What are the different types of NFL referee assignments?
In the NFL, there are seven different types of referee assignments, each with different responsibilities. These referees include the head referee, line judge, back judge, field judge, side judge, umpire, and down judge.
The head referee is the leader of the officiating crew and is responsible for making sure that all rulings on the field are fair and consistent. The line judge is responsible for watching the defensive line and making sure that no illegal blocking or tackling occurs. The back judge is responsible for monitoring the play from behind the offense and watching for any illegal backfield activity.
The field judge is responsible for watching the offensive line to ensure that there is no holding or other illegal activity occurring. The side judge is responsible for monitoring the play from the sidelines and making sure that no one goes out of bounds or commits any other infractions. The umpire is responsible for positioning him/herself in between the offensive and defensive lines to help with calling penalties and maintaining order on the field.
The down judge is responsible for keeping track of downs and distance as well as monitoring player substitutions. NFL referees are paid on a per-game basis and earn more depending on their experience level and which type of assignment they have. Head referees in particular can make up to $17,000 per game while first-year officials make a base salary of $110,000 per year.