How Much Does an NFL Referee Make?
How much does an NFL referee make? This is a question that many people have. We take a look at the answer and find out how much these officials make.
NFL Referee Salaries
How much do NFL referees make?
NFL referees generally make a salary of about $205,000 per year. NFL referees also receive other benefits, such as a pension plan and 401(k) retirement savings plan.
How do NFL referee salaries compare to other professional sports?
The salary for an NFL referee is very competitive when compared to other professional sports. In fact, NFL referees are some of the highest paid officials in all of professional sports. The average salary for an NFL referee is $173,000 per year. However, the top NFL referees can earn much more than this, with some making as much as $500,000 per year.
NFL Referee Benefits
NFL referees have a few benefits that come with the job. They get to stay in shape by running around the field during games. They also get to travel to different cities and meet new people. In addition, they get paid a decent salary and receive other benefits, such as health insurance and a pension.
What are some of the benefits that NFL referees receive?
In addition to their salaries, NFL referees also receive a number of benefits, including pension and 401(k) plans, per diem expenses for food and lodging while on the road, and reimbursement for travel expenses.
How do NFL referee benefits compare to other professional sports?
In addition to their salaries, NFL referees receive a number of other benefits. These include pension and 401(k) plans, as well as health insurance and life insurance. They also receive reimbursement for travel expenses and are given a per diem allowance when they are on the road.
While the benefits offered to NFL referees are very generous, they pale in comparison to the benefits received by other professional sports leagues. For example, Major League Baseball umpires receive free housing during spring training and the regular season. They also receive a daily meal allowance, as well as reimbursement for travel expenses. In addition, MLB umpires have a pension plan and are eligible for 401(k) matching contributions from the league.
NFL Referee Retirement
retirees from the NFL receive a pension of $12,000 per year, according to a report from USA Today. The average NFL career lasts just over three years. So, for a retiree who played for three years, their pension would total $36,000. This pension is in addition to any other earnings from their NFL career, such as their salary and any bonuses.
What is the NFL referee retirement plan?
NFL referees are eligible to participate in a defined benefit pension plan when they reach age 50 and have at least 20 years of credited service. The NFL Indexed Pension Plan is a retirement plan that is based on years of credited service and the final average salary (“FAS”) of an eligible participant. The FAS is determined by averaging the highest five consecutive years of a participant’s salary.
For participants who first become eligible for benefits prior to 1984, their benefits are calculated using a units-of-service factor that reflects their credited service after 1959 multiplied by $75. For those first becoming eligible for benefits in or after 1984, their benefit is equal to 1.1% times their FAS times their total credited service, subject to certain maximum and minimum benefit levels. If a participant elects to begin receiving benefits prior to Normal Retirement Age (“NRA”), they will receive a reduced pension. The pension payment is made in equal monthly installments for the life of the retiree.
How does the NFL referee retirement plan compare to other professional sports?
In order to understand how the NFL referee retirement plan compares to other professional sports, one must first understand how the NFL referee retirement plan works. Currently, any official who has worked at least three seasons in the NFL is eligible to participate in the league’s defined benefit pension plan.
Under the NFL’s defined benefit pension plan, an eligible official receivea a monthly pension benefit equal to 1/65th of their final average salary times the number of credited seasons of service. For example, an official with a final average salary of $200,000 and 20 credited seasons of service would receive a monthly pension benefit of $3,077.
According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for all umpires, referees, and other sports officials was $33,780 in May 2018. This means that an official who has worked for three seasons in the NFL would have an annual salary that is six times higher than the median annual salary for all umpires, referees, and other sports officials.
In comparison, Major League Baseball (MLB) umpires do not have a defined benefit pension plan. Instead, MLB umpires are given the option to participate in a 401(k) retirement savings plan. Under MLB’s 401(k) retirement savings plan, umpires can contribute up to $18,000 per year (or up to $24,000 per year if they are age 50 or older). The MLB also provides a matching contribution of up to $3,000 per year for each umpire who participates in the 401(k) retirement savings plan.
According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for all umpires and referees was $63,170 in May 2018. This means that an MLB umpire who has worked for three seasons would have an annual salary that is nearly twice as high as the median annual salary for all umpires and referees.
