NFL referees get paid a good amount of money. On average they make about $250,000 per year. They also get paid for their travel, lodging and meals. Some NFL referees get paid for overtime.
Refereeing is a very time-consuming job which requires a lot of physical strength and stamina. Often, an official will have a life-long dream of becoming an NFL referee, although the average official will work in the National Football League for only about 3 to 5 years, then move on to some other field of work.
In the case of the NFL, officials make correct calls almost always. The average game features 154 called plays compared to 98 uncalled plays. The NFL earns over $1 billion dollars per year on the NFL officiating, a league record.
The NFL is notorious for its secrecy when it comes to pay and other benefits, so when we looked into the details of how much officials make, we found that the typical NFL referee makes between $250,000 and $300,000 annually.
How Much do NFL Referees Make per Game?
At the start of the season, the average salary for a member of the NFL was $2.16 million, which is approximately half the average annual wage for a non-union member of the United States in 2019, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. By the end of the 17-week regular season, the average salary for NFL referees rose to $2.53 million.
But you don’t need to know the NFL’s salary scale to notice that refs aren’t getting paid like their regular-season colleagues. But the extra money isn’t all they get. Here’s a look at some of the perks they get from the league, whether it be a free team plane ride, free hotels, or an extra $6,000 toward travel per game.
But in the end, they will be ready to officiate the game. The rules are the rules, and the officials are doing their best to keep things fair for everyone, and for that they have to follow the rules. But it’s not easy to do and they have to give their best effort.
In a game in which the teams are evenly matched, officials are often left to decide the game by themselves. Sometimes refs will call a game for the home team, other times for the visiting team. Regardless of the referee’s team, the refs’ decision usually favors the home team, resulting in the home team winning more games than not.
Do NFL refs Pay Their Own Travel Expenses?
The NFL and all the players that work in the NFL are bound by the NFL Anti-Tampering Policy. This policy is in place to keep the game fair by making all players have an equal opportunity to succeed. The NFL Players Association does not want the NFL to tamper with any outcome of games. According to the NFL, there are several rules for this. Rule 8, the “Ineligible Personnel Rule,” states that any member of the “NFL personnel” is forbidden from contact with the game officials. The “NFL personnel” consists of the coaches, trainers, and officials involved in the game. Rule 6, the “Improper Conduct Rule” gives the NFL the authority to penalize any player who violates Rule 8.
Do NFL Refs Have Day Jobs?
The salary for referees is not higher. This is just a way for officials to get more money if they want to take it, and if they still want to work for the league as a full-time employee – which they won’t because they’re part-time already.
Who is the Highest Paid NFL Referee?
Sarah Thomas Makes History in 2021
Sarah Thomas, who officiates in the NFL and is the first woman to officiate a Super Bowl, is paid more than $250,000. Only five women referees are included in the league.
How do NFL referee salaries compare to other professional sports?
The salary of a ref in the NFL typically ranges from $50,000-$80,000, whereas the salary of a regular player can go up to $100,000 per year.
The NFL also has a history of not paying its officials as well as not ensuring their health insurance. The NFL Referees Association is also not recognized by the NFL and have to negotiate directly with the league and refs on their behalf.
As much as I personally would love to have the pay of the NBA, the NHL, or MLB, I know the real reason I don’t is that I don’t feel I can do the job at that level. There’s just not much to keep me honest.
Conclusion on How Much NFL Refs Make
All it takes is a little bit of knowledge of sports to become a sports referee. It takes a good memory and a good sense of what the rules are. You don’t need to be a genius to know if a football has gone out of bounds. It is not like you need to be a doctor.
