How Much Does the NFL Referee Get Paid?
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How much does an NFL referee get paid? Here’s a breakdown of what we know about their salaries.
Who are the NFL referees?
The NFL is composed of 32 teams, and each team has 16 game slots over the course of 17 weeks. So, there are a total of 256 regular-season games. During the playoffs, there are an additional 11 games.
All NFL games are officiated by a crew of seven officials. These officials are:
-the referee,
-the umpire,
-the head linesman,
-the line judge,
-the side judge,
-the back judge; and
-a field judge.
The league employs 121 full-time officials. In addition, there are several thousand part-time officials who work at the high school and collegiate levels.
How much do NFL referees make?
NFL referees make an average of $173,000 per year as of 2013, according to USA Today. They receive a pay scale based on years of experience and game assignments. Newer officials make less than the more experienced ones. The rate for a referee with less than five years’ experience is $110 per game, while a referee with over 20 years’ experience is paid $200 per game. There are 17 weeks in the regular season, meaning that an NFL referee can earn up to $34,000 for one season. Post-season games pay much more, with first-round playoff games paying $800 per game and the Super Bowl paying out $3,000 per game.
How do NFL referees get paid?
NFL referees are paid on a per-game basis and make an average of $25,000 per season. However, the top NFL referees can earn up to $70,000 per season. The amount of money that an NFL referee earns depends on their experience and the number of games they officiate in a season.
What are the benefits of being an NFL referee?
In addition to their salary, NFL referees also receive a pension plan and 401k, and are eligible for other benefits such as health insurance and life insurance.
