How Much Do NFL Referees Get Paid?
You may be wondering how much do NFL referees get paid? Well, the answer may surprise you. NFL referees earn a pretty decent salary and can make a good living off of their officiating gigs.
So, how much do NFL referees get paid? According to Business Insider, the average salary for an NFL referee is $173,000. Not too shabby, right?NFL referees also get paid per game, and they can earn up to $11,000 per game.
NFL Referee Salaries
According to Business Insider, the average NFL referee salary was $173,000 in 2019. NFL referees are paid on a per-game basis and they also receive a pension from the league. The higher the level of the game, the more the refs get paid. For example, a referee in the Super Bowl would make $11,900, while a referee in a Thursday night game would make $4,700.
How much do NFL referees make?
The average salary for an NFL referee is $173,000 a year, according to a report by Forbes. But that’s just an average — some referees make much more, and some make less.
The highest-paid NFL referee is Ed Hochuli, who makes an annual salary of $205,000. Hochuli has been an NFL referee since 1990 and is widely considered to be one of the best in the business.
In contrast, the lowest-paid NFL referee is Brad Freeman, who makes an annual salary of $149,000. Freeman has been an NFL referee since 2013 and is one of the newer officials in the league.
NFL referees are paid on a per-game basis, and they also receive a bonus for working playoff games. The base pay for a regular season game is $9,000, while the base pay for a playoff game is $11,900. Referees are also reimbursed for travel expenses.
How does the NFL pay its referees?
The NFL pays its officials an average of $173,000 per year, according to an analysis by CNNMoney. This is more than triple the average salary for all other professional sports referees, which is approximately $53,000 per year.
NFL referees are paid on a scale that depends on their experience and the number of games they work during the season. New officials start at $110,000 per year and can earn up to $205,000 per year for working 15 or more NFL games during the season.
In addition to their salary, NFL referees also receive a pension plan and 401(k) retirement savings plan. They also receive medical insurance and other benefits.
NFL Referee Benefits
NFL referees are responsible for officiating professional football games. They make sure that the players are following the rules and that the game is fair. They also keep the fans safe. In return, they receive a salary and other benefits. Let’s take a look at what some of those benefits are.
What benefits do 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 medical insurance.
How does the NFL pension plan work?
All current and former NFL referees are eligible for the NFL pension plan. The plan is a defined benefit plan, which means that participants will receive a set monthly benefit upon reaching retirement age. The amount of the benefit is determined by a number of factors, including years of service, age at retirement, and average salary.
In order to receive the full benefits of the pension plan, referees must complete at least 20 years of service. If a referee retires before completing 20 years of service, they will still be eligible for a pension, but it will be reduced based on the number of years of service. For example, if a referee retires after 10 years of service, they will only receive 50% of the monthly benefit that they would have been eligible for if they had completed 20 years of service.
NFL Referee Training and Certification
In order to become an NFL referee, you must complete a training and certification program. The program consists of online and on-field training. You must also pass a written exam. Once you have completed the program, you will be eligible to officiate NFL games.
How does one become an NFL referee?
NFL referees go through a training and certification process that is overseen by the NFL. There are four steps to becoming an NFL referee:
1. Pass a written rules test with a grade of 80% or higher.
2. Attend a regional Combine where they will be evaluated on their physical fitness and abilities.
3. Complete the training program at the NFL officiating academy.
4. Pass an annual physical examination.
What training do NFL referees receive?
All NFL officials must attend a mandatory training camp each summer, teaching the league’s rules and updates. New officials also must attend. In 2019, the NFL officiating department brought in 41 new officials to fill openings created by retirements.
In addition to the mandatory camp, officials have access to year-round development programs, including position-specific clinics and training on rule changes and interpretations. League rules mandate that each official have at least three years of experience officiating football at any level before being considered for the NFL.
What certification do NFL referees need?
In order to become an NFL referee, you must pass a rigorous training and certification process. The first step is to attend a regional officiating clinic, where you will learn the fundamentals of officiating and the specific rules of the game. After successfully completing the clinic, you must pass a written exam and on-field exam administered by the NFL.
Once you have been certified, you will be eligible to officiate NFL preseason games. If you perform well during the preseason, you may be selected to officiate regular season games. The best officials will be chosen to work playoff games and the Super Bowl.
NFL officials are not full-time employees of the League; they typically have other full-time jobs in addition to officiating. Because of this, NFL officials are paid on a per-game basis. For example, in 2019, first-year officials earned $2,000 per game, while veteran officials earned $4,000 per game.