Do you watch NFL football games? Do you see the men and women in black and white shirts? These are NFL referees. They make sure the game is fair. Many people wonder: how much do NFL refs make?
NFL ref salary is very good! These people earn a lot of money. They work hard and have a big job. Let’s learn about NFL ref salary and how much money they make.
What Is NFL Referee Salary?
NFL referee salary means how much money these referees get paid. They get money for doing their job. Their job is to watch football games and make sure everyone follows the rules.
The average NFL referee salary is about $205,000 every year. That’s a lot of money! Most people don’t make that much. But being an NFL ref is not easy. They have to study hard and work under pressure.
Some NFL referees make more money. Some make less. NFL ref salary depends on how long they have worked. It also depends on how good they are at their job.
How Much Do NFL Refs Make Per Year?
Let’s talk about numbers. How much do NFL referees make each year?
New NFL referees start with less money. They usually make between $100,000 and $200,000 per season. That’s still a lot of money for most people!
Old NFL referees make more money. Referees who have worked for many years can make $250,000 or more. The best referees make the most money.
The National Football League pays referees well because their job is very important. Football is a big business. The NFL makes billions of dollars. So they pay their referees good money too.
Read More: The Ultimate Shortest NFL Player of All Time
Average NFL Referee Salary: Breaking It Down
The average salary for NFL referees is around $205,000 per year. But what does “average” mean? It means we add up all the money that all referees make. Then we divide by how many referees there are.
Some referees make more than $205,000. Some make less. But $205,000 is the number in the middle.
This average referee salary has gone up over time. Years ago, NFL refs made about $150,000. Now NFL ref salary is higher. The NFL pays them better because the job got harder.
How Much Do NFL Referees Make Per Game?
NFL referees don’t just get money for the whole year. They also get paid per game. This means they get extra money for each football game they work.
Most NFL refs make about $11,400 per game. That’s for regular season games. If a referee works 18 games in one NFL season, that adds up to a lot of money.
Here’s how it works:
- Base salary: Money they get for the whole year
- Game fees: Extra money for each game
- Total: Base salary plus all the game fees
Super Bowl Referee Salary: The Big Bonus
The Super Bowl is the biggest football game of the year. Millions of people watch it. Only the best referees get to officiate the Super Bowl.
When referees work the Super Bowl, they get a huge bonus! This bonus is between $30,000 and $50,000. That’s just for one game! This money is on top of their regular pay.
Not all referees get to work the Super Bowl. The NFL picks only the best ones. These are usually referees who have worked for many years. They know the rules very well. They make good decisions under pressure.
Playoff Games: More Money for NFL Refs
Before the Super Bowl, there are playoff games. These are also important games. NFL referees can earn extra money when they officiate playoff games too.
For playoff game work, referees get about $3,000 to $5,000 extra. This is almost double what they make for regular season games. The NFL pays more because playoff games are more important.
Only good referees get picked for postseason games and the super bowl. The NFL officials who do well during the NFL season get these chances.
Highest-Paid NFL Referee: Who Makes the Most?
Some NFL referees make more money than others. The highest-paid NFL referee can make around $250,000 or even more per year.
Some of the referees who make the most money are:
- Brad Allen
- Craig Wrolstad
- Walt Anderson (he doesn’t work anymore, but he used to make a lot)
These are veteran referees. “Veteran” means they have worked for a long time. They are very good at their job. The head referee who leads the team usually makes more money than other game officials.
NFL Referees Earn Based on Experience
How much NFL referees earn depends on how long they have worked. New referees make less money. Old referees make more money.
New NFL Referees
New referees are people who just started working for the NFL. But even “new” NFL referees have lots of experience! They need at least 10 years of officiating experience before they can even try to join the NFL.
New NFL refs typically earn between $100,000 and $200,000 per season. This might seem like a lot. But remember, they had to work for many years to get this job.
Experienced NFL Referees
Referees who have worked in the NFL for several years make more money. They usually make around $205,000 or more based on experience. Some make much more than this.
These experienced referees get picked for more important games. They work playoff games. They might even get to officiate the super bowl. All of this means more money.
Are NFL Referees Full-Time Officials?
This is a good question. Are NFL referees full-time officials? Do they work for the NFL all year long?
The answer is: most are not full-time officials. Most NFL referees have other jobs too. During the week, they might work as lawyers, teachers, or businesspeople. On weekends, they work NFL games.
The NFL has tried to make some referees work full-time. But this program was stopped. Right now, there are no full-time officials working for the NFL.
Many people think NFL referees should be full-time officials. Some NFL players think this would make officiating better. If referees only focused on football, they might do an even better job.
NFL Referees Association and How They Get Paid
The NFL and the NFL Referees Association work together. The NFL Referees Association is like a group that helps all the referees.
They have something called a collective bargaining agreement. This is a big contract that says:
- How much referees earn
- What benefits they get
- How their salary goes up over time
- Rules about their work
The current agreement lasts until 2026. After that, the NFL and referees will meet again. They will talk about referee’s salary and make a new agreement.
Why Do NFL Referees Make So Much Money?
You might wonder: why do NFL referees make so much money? Here are the reasons:
High Stakes
NFL games are very important. Millions of people watch. Lots of money depends on who wins and loses. Referees have to make perfect decisions under high stakes.
Intense Pressure
Imagine having millions of people watching everything you do. That’s what NFL referees face. They work under intense pressure every game. This is why NFL ref salary is so high.
Perfect Knowledge Needed
NFL rules are complicated. Referees must know every single rule perfectly. They have to make decisions very quickly about the rules of the game.
Control the Flow of the Game
Referees help control the flow of the game. They make sure games move along well. They keep players safe.
How to Become an NFL Referee
Do you want to become an NFL referee? Here’s what you need to do:
Step 1: Start Small
Begin by officiating high school football games. Learn the basic rules. Get experience making decisions.
Step 2: Get Experience
You need at least 10 years of officiating experience. Work college games too. Learn from other referees.
Step 3: Stay in Shape
NFL referees must be in good physical shape. They run around the field for 3 hours. They need to keep up with fast players.
Step 4: Learn All Rules
You must know every NFL rule perfectly. Study the rulebook many times. Go to training camps.
Step 5: Apply to NFL
When you have enough years of officiating experience, you can apply. But very few people get accepted.
NFL Referee Benefits
NFL referees don’t just get money. They also get other good things:
Health Insurance
The NFL pays for referees to have health insurance. This means if they get sick or hurt, their medical bills are paid.
Pension Plan
A pension plan means money for when they get old and stop working. The NFL helps referees save money for their future.
Travel Money
When referees have to travel to football games, the NFL pays for their trips. They don’t have to spend their own money.
Training Camps
The NFL pays for referees to go to training camps. This helps them learn and get better at their job.
NFL vs Other Football Referees
NFL officials make much more money than other football referees. Let’s compare:
College Football Referees
College football referees make much less money than NFL refs. A college referee might make $3,000 to $3,500 per game. But they don’t work as many games.
High School Football Referees
High school referees make even less money. They usually earn $100 to $200 per game. That’s much less than what NFL referees get paid for one game.
But many NFL officials started as high school referees. It’s a way to learn and get experience.
NFL Referee Salary in 2025: What’s New?
In 2025, NFL referee salaries are still very good. The league continues to pay referees well. Why? Because good officiating is very important for NFL football.
Much nfl referees are happy that their pay keeps going up. Years ago, they made about $150,000. Now the average is around $205,000. That’s a big increase! NFL ref salary has grown a lot over time.
The NFL keeps making more money each year. When the league makes more money, referees also tend to earn higher salaries over time.
Regular Season vs Playoff Money
NFL referees get paid differently for different games:
Regular Season Games
- About $11,400 per game
- Most referees work 16-18 regular season games
- This is their main source of money during the NFL season
Playoff Games
- About $3,000-$5,000 bonus per game
- Only the best referees get picked
- Much more money than regular season
Super Bowl
- $30,000-$50,000 bonus for the game
- Only 7 referees get picked for the Super Bowl crew
- The biggest payday of the year
Challenges of Being an NFL Referee
Even though the pay is good, being an NFL referee is not easy. Here are some challenges:
Everyone Watches You
Millions of people watch every move you make. If you make a mistake, everyone sees it. People might get angry at you.
Quick Decisions
You have to make decisions very fast. Players are moving quickly. You have only seconds to decide what happened.
Physical Demands
You have to run around a big field for 3 hours. You need to be in very good shape. This gets harder as you get older.
Travel
You have to travel to different cities for games. This means being away from your family often.
But despite these challenges, many people want to be NFL referees. The good pay helps make up for the hard parts of the job. NFL ref salary makes it worth the effort for many people.
How Much Do NFL Referees Make: Final Numbers
Let’s look at all the numbers one more time:
- Average annual salary: $205,000
- Starting salary: $100,000-$200,000 per season
- Top referees: $250,000+ per year
- Per game: About $11,400
- Playoff bonus: $3,000-$5,000 per game
- Super Bowl bonus: $30,000-$50,000
These numbers show that refs make good money. NFL referees get paid well because they have an important job. NFL ref salary reflects the value of their work.
Conclusion: Is NFL Ref Salary Worth It?
NFL refs make about $205,000 per year. Top refs make even more. They get extra money for big games too.
But the job is hard. They work under lots of pressure. Millions of people watch them work.
For football fans, being an NFL ref is a great job. You help make games fair. You get paid well.
Much do nfl referees make? A lot! They earn it by working hard.
If you love football, maybe try being a ref. Start small and work up. Who knows? Maybe you could earn that good NFL ref salary too!
Note : All salary information is based on reports and estimates. The NFL and referees don’t always share exact salary numbers with the public.
FAQs
Who is the highest paid NFL referee?
Brad Allen and Craig Wrolstad make $250,000 per year.
How much do NFL refs make per game?
About $11,400 per game.
What do Super Bowl refs get paid?
$30,000 to $50,000 bonus.
How much do the Chiefs pay the Refs?
The Chiefs don’t pay refs. The NFL does.
