FAQs
Referees in Spain's top flight are the best paid on average but officials in England have the potential to earn the highest annual salary. In La Liga, referees command a fixed £124,256 ($157,115) salary and receive an additional £4,205 match fee, or £2,102 per game if they are the VAR referee.
What is the highest paying referee job? ›
What sport has the highest-paid referees? NBA referees have the highest salaries of any sport. The average NBA ref salary is around $375,000 and some elite referee's are reported to earn over $500K per season.
How much does a Super Bowl referee get paid? ›
Money.com reports that in some cases, a couple of NFL referees earning up an average of $114,000 approximately for working with the NFL. For the Super Bowl, every referee will get a bonus and their salary can rage from $54,428 up to a maximum amount of $462,622.
What do top referees get paid? ›
According to figures released by Goal in 2021, every EPL official will receive an annual salary, paid to them regardless of how many matches they take control over. This Premier League referee salary will be between £38,500 and £42,000, varying slightly from individual to individual based on their level of experience.
What sport has the highest paid refs? ›
The NBA referees are the highest paid professional match officials in the world.
What does a Big 10 ref make? ›
How much does a Ncaa Football Referee make? The average Ncaa Football Referee in the US makes $63,709. Ncaa Football Referees make the most in San Jose, CA at $125,786 averaging total compensation 97% greater than US average.
How much does an NFL ref make? ›
How much do NFL referees make? How much does an NFL referee make? In 2019, under the agreement that was to expire in May 2020, game officials earned an average salary of $205,000, according to a post on the latest NFL referee salary agreement from Football Zebras, a site focused on football referees.
Do referees get Super Bowl rings? ›
Do Officials Get A Super Bowl Ring? Yes. "I don't wear them that much anymore," said Green, who has three, "but I do keep them in a safe place. It's the same thing the players are shooting for and the coaches are shooting for: You want to be on the field for that last game of the year."
How much do waterboys get paid in the NFL? ›
Those who have been in the game for an extended period of time, however, can earn significantly more, with some even reported to be starting well above $50,000.
Who was the highest-paid NFL referee? ›
Who Is the Highest-Paid NFL Referee? NFL referees who have earned the highest reported salary are Walt Anderson (now retired), Brad Allen, and Craig Wrolstad. All three have been reported to have made as much as $250,000 at one point in time in their careers.
Salary Structure
As of 2021, the annual salary for NFL referees ranged from $205,000 to $550,000. This range reflects the varying levels of experience and tenure among the referees. Additionally, NFL referees are typically employed on a part-time basis, officiating games during the football season and playoffs.
How much do NBA referees get paid? ›
The average salary of an NBA referee is from $150,000 to $550,000. The average salaries have spiked considerably since 1983, when NBA officials made between $18,146 and $78,259 each season. Entry-level referees: Entry-level referees in the NBA earn $150,000 per year, according to information released by the league.
What is the highest paid NBA referee salary? ›
NBA referees are some of the highest-paid officials in professional sports, with a salary that range from $150,000 to $550,000 per year.
What do NHL refs get paid? ›
The approximate average yearly salary for NHL officials is between 165,000 USD – 360,000 USD, depending on tenure. Rookies kick off their careers at the bottom of the scale, that is at around 200,000 USD for referees and around 137,000 USD for linesmen and as the years roll on, these figures see a steady rise.
What do most NFL refs do for a living? ›
Unlike players, who are full-time employees, NFL referees are considered part-time employees. Officiating NFL games is not their primary occupation. Many NFL referees have careers outside of football, ranging from professions like lawyers, teachers, and business executives to various other fields.
Who will referee the Super Bowl 2024? ›
The seven NFL officials who will be on the field — and seen often on TV — during the Super Bowl between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers probably would prefer it if no one realizes they are there in Las Vegas on Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024. The referee in charge this time is Bill Vinovich.
Can you make a living as a referee? ›
Referees at the youth hockey level can generate up to $70 per game. On an hourly basis, youth officials typically make $25-$35 per hour. An NBA caliber referee is making $500,000 dollars a year. This is the equivalent of $3000-$6000 per game.
Who is the highest paid NBA referee? ›
Who is the highest-paid NBA referee? The highest paid NBA Referee in 2023 is James Capers who is estimated to earn $550,000 annually, with $9,000 in fees per playoff game. James Capers' NBA career spans over 1,500 games in 28 seasons, starting from his early days of refereeing high school basketball.
What are NFL refs full time jobs? ›
Unlike players, who are full-time employees, NFL referees are considered part-time employees. Officiating NFL games is not their primary occupation. Many NFL referees have careers outside of football, ranging from professions like lawyers, teachers, and business executives to various other fields.
Who is the richest football referee? ›
Kuipers is a multi-millionaire, a rarity for match officials in any sport. And he comes from a family of referees.