NFL Referee Salary in 2024: How much does an NFL Referee earn?
Know all about NFL referee salaries and exactly how much the match officials make every season on the gridiron.
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NFL referee salaries (via FS)
NFL Referees, like match officials in any other league, play an important part in the games. Their work is not only to check the scores but also to manage everything going on the gridiron.
Whether it is a fight between players, an injury, or a precise decision to be taken, they need to be ready for everything. But very few people know about NFL referee salaries.
Today we take a look at how much NFL referees make, including incentives and other bonuses. Here’s what you need to know about the paychecks of NFL referees.
How much is NFL Referee Salary?
Unlike other sports leagues, NFL referees do not receive their salaries on a per-game basis. However, the exact figures for NFL referee salaries are not publicly disclosed by the league.
Based on available information, the average NFL referee salary was approximately $205,000 per season, back in 2019. It’s important to note that this amount is not calculated on an annual or per-game basis, but rather on a per-season basis.
The average salary of NFL referees consists of two components: a fixed salary and bonuses. Referees who are selected for postseason games have the opportunity to earn significantly more than they do for regular season matches.
For postseason games, referees can earn nearly double their regular match fee per reports. The highest pay per match for a postseason game is estimated around $5,000. If a referee is further selected for the Super Bowl, this fee can go over $10,000.
Highest NFL Referee Salary
Highest-paid NFL referees include Walt Anderson (retired), Brad Allen, and Craig Wrolstad, who have reportedly earned up to $250,000.
Veteran refs like Carl Cheffers, Bill Vinovich, and Clete Blakeman are expected to climb the earnings ladder. On the other hand, Sarah Thomas is the highest-paid female referee, with Maia Chaka being the first black woman to officiate an NFL game.
How to be an NFL Referee?
One of the most important things to be an NFL Referee is experience. To qualify, individuals must possess a minimum of 10 years of experience.
Moreover, five out of those ten years should involve officiating significant college football events. However, meeting these experience requirements doesn’t guarantee a spot as an NFL referee.
Selections are made by the league through various methods such as word of mouth or scouting at schools’ football events. Candidates are then chosen based on their demonstrated skill and expertise in officiating.
Being an NFL official is no ordinary job. While they have to maintain all the action goes according to the rules, being just and fair under all circumstances is perhaps the biggest challenge.
FAQs
The exact amount has not been revealed by the NFL but the amount paid per game depends on whether it is a regular season game or post-season game.
The last official amount paid to NFL referees was estimated to be $205,000 per season.
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Anjum Ash.
(521 Articles Published)