The NFL gives opportunities to numerous players to exhibit their talent on the gridiron. Along with footballers, the referees also play a significant role in the league. No NFL games can take place without the official referees. That’s primarily because they are significant in enforcing the rules of the game and maintaining the right order.
It’s worth noting that generally there have to be 7 official referees on the field during an NFL or college game. All the referees have particular duties and names as per the position they are working at. Some of these positions are referee, umpire, field judge, head linesman, etc. A referee is generally responsible for supervising the game.
As the referees play an important role, they earn a good amount as well in the NFL. Generally, the salaries of the referees may differ depending on their position and seniority. However, most of them bag a huge amount home.
How much do NFL referees take home every game?
The salary of an NFL referee is officially meant to be undisclosed. However, the sums in the previous NFL CBA reveal that referees earn a substantial income per game. As per reports, the average salary of a referee in the league is over $205,000. However, the officials signed a new CBA according to which referees will make even more money. Along with that, now there are pension plans of $401,000 as well for referees.
1) Being an NFL Referee is Lucrative
Average NFL ref: $205,000 / season
Highest-paid refs: $250,000 / seasonThe NFL does not release salary figures, but Sporting News has obtained this data. pic.twitter.com/EfkXQQHxiL
— Andrew Petcash (@AndrewPetcash) January 21, 2023
Reports suggest that the NFL referees earn a payment per game every season. Also, it’s worth noting that their job is not full-time as the league doesn’t happen all year. The referees outside the NFL, on the other hand, earn around $16.26 every hour.
As per Money Nation’s Tom Gerencer, a referee in the league gets a 6-figure salary on average through their part-time job. This is undoubtedly a huge amount considering the fact that they don’t have to work 24/7. This justifies the reason why a lot of people are interested in taking the job of a referee in football.
How much do referees make during playoffs and Super Bowls?
The salary of the NFL referees during the regular season is great in itself. However, they take even a bigger amount home when they officiate in a postseason game, playoffs, or Super Bowls. Reports suggest that a referee in the league can earn a bonus between $1500 to $5000 for every playoff match.
Every NFL lover and player knows how important the Super Bowl is in the league. Considering that, it’s quite obvious that only the most experienced referees get to officiate during a Super Bowl game. Those top referees take a massive amount between $30,000 and $50,000 for just one Super Bowl game.
Along with the salary, the referees who officiate during a Super Bowl get rings for the game as well. The Super Bowl ring serves as a sovereign of memory for those referees for officiating in a special game. Considering the role they play, the NFL referees deserve the salary they receive.