NFL Referee Salary Has Been Revealed

NFL referees don’t have the easiest jobs in the world.  They are constantly under scrutiny, and their calls can effect millions of fantasy football players and gamblers alike. But don’t feel too bad for them, they make a  pretty decent living  wearing the zebra stripes. According to a report from 2019, it is estimated that the average NFL official makes a lot more than you would think.

How Much Do NFL Refs Make?

Each official’s pay will depend on the position they have on the crew, as well as how long they have been in the league.

According to various sites, including FanDuel, the average NFL referee salary was set at $205,000 per year starting in 2019.

For those who watched Monday night football where the refs decided the winner NFL Referee Salaries Shockingly High Considering How Bad They Are https://t.co/GOKDw6UWLL

— James (Jep) Potvin (@JEP68) October 15, 2019

Not only that, if they work the playoffs they can earn a whole lot more. While the exact number is not known, the big game reportedly pays very well. As of 2019, officiating the Super Bowl paid between $40,000-$50,000. There is also an increased amount made for other playoff games, while the Super Bowl is still the single biggest paycheck an NFL ref can make.

How do you become an NFL Referee?

According to the NFL’s website, there are two ways the league scouts future referees: “bird-dogging” and word-of-mouth.

Being a referee in the NFL is the very top of the profession, and definitely not easy to become one.

What it takes to be an NFL referee pic.twitter.com/lrzSxfaQmB

— Business Insider (@BusinessInsider) September 10, 2020

We have to wait and see if this year’s crop of refs will earn their paychecks…

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