How much money do NFL referees and cheerleaders make? (2024)

Seven officials are on the field during professional and most college football games. Even if most of the pressure is on players, referees have a crucial role in the game and specific duties depending on each of their positions.

Those positions include: referee (which is the lead member of the officiating team), umpire, head linesman (or down judge), line judge, field judge (or back umpire), side judge, back judge, and center judge.

Meanwhile, cheerleaders have been a part of the gameday experience since 1954. 26 of the 32 NFL teams have cheerleaders performing during their home games.

If they might not have a direct impact on the game, they have had to pass several auditions among many candidates (application, preliminary audition, semi-final audition, personal interview, written test and final talent auditions), they have to stick to some restrictions and demands (have a full-time job elsewhere or be a full-time student) and many events are mandated for them (photoshoots, etc).

How much do referees get paid?

Depending on role and seniority, pay for the NFL officials changes, but most of them earn a considerable amount of money. The NFL referees also earn a substantial pension plan on top of a base salary.

Officially, an NFL referee’s salary is undisclosed. However, it can be estimated based on the pay figures in the expired NFL CBA. An NFL referee earned an average of $205,000 starting in 2019.

The league pays its officials a flat-base rate plus a payment per game. Typically, on multiplying by 16 through the year, one can calculate in-season game check totals. The average official banks a six-figure salary in part-time work through the season.

Officials also attend practices to improve their in-season performances by gaining a better understanding of existing rules and new regulations, which justifies the base salary. Referees also receive large bonuses for officiating postseason games.

How much do cheerleaders get paid?

NFL cheerleaders, on the other hand, are not paid very well. Until recent times, some teams were paying them less than the minimum wage, although over the past few years things have changed and their wages have been raised. Still, their salary is quite low compared to those of the players or other NFL staff.

Different media published the common rate of pay for NFL cheerleaders is $150 each game day and $50-75 per public appearance, which comes out to about $22,500 per year.

One former cheerleader revealed to Cosmopolitan that she made just $3000 during a season but it was far less after taking into account manicures, makeup and personal trainers. Some NFL teams make their cheerleaders pay to audition as well.

Considering how much time NFL cheerleaders commit to their teams and considering how much NFL franchises are worth, it is hard to believe they make so little.

Read more from @NBCDFW here: https://t.co/LCi7fPRxXI

— NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt (@NBCNightlyNews) September 18, 2022

However, professional or very experienced cheerleaders have been reported to make as high as $75,000 per season. This salary includes extra bonus money from playoffs and Super Bowl performances.

When the professional cheerleaders miss the games due to injury or other reasons, they are replaced by the supporting cheerleaders. They get paid a maximum of $9 per hour and minimum wage of $5 per hour, getting up to $20,000 per season.

The reason why cheerleaders get paid so little is because for both the NFL and the NBA, they are independent contractors. This means the teams are not necessarily required to pay them salaries in line with state and federal minimum wages.

How much money do NFL referees and cheerleaders make? (2024)

FAQs

How much money do NFL referees and cheerleaders make? ›

NFL cheerleaders

NFL cheerleaders
National Football League Cheerleading or simply NFL Cheerleading, is a group of professional cheerleading organizations in the United States. 25 of the 32 NFL teams include a cheerleading squad in their franchise.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › National_Football_League_C...
make, on average, $22,500 per year, which was less than half the average US salary of $54,132 in 2022. Some squads get paid more. For example, America's Sweethearts, the cheerleaders of the Dallas Cowboys, are one of the most well-known in the NFL and receive a reported salary of $75,000.

How much does a NFL cheerleader make per game? ›

A report just last year from NBC News pinpointed the average pay for NFL cheerleaders to be about $150 a game, or roughly $22,500 a year, which is not much different than what it was reported to be in the original Raiders lawsuit.

How much does a NFL ref make per game? ›

To be clear, if we use the aforementioned 2019 report, NFL referees receive approximately $12,000 per regular season game.

Who is the highest paid NFL referee? ›

Q. Who is the highest-paid NFL referee? A. Brad Allen and Walter Anderson are the highest-paid NFL referees for the 2020-21 season.

How much does a Dallas cheerleader make in the NFL? ›

That is, if you're a popular, well-known squad. For instance, Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders, aka America's Sweethearts, who happen to be one of the most popular groups in the NFL, earn about $15-20 per hour, or $500 per match. Therefore, their yearly salary comes out to about $75,000.

Is a Dallas Cowboy cheerleader a full time job? ›

Is being a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader a full-time job? No, most Cheerleaders hold part-time or full-time jobs or attend college.

Is NFL cheerleader a full time job? ›

Most NFL cheerleading squads are a part-time job. Often, cheerleaders have completed or are attending a university, and continue on to other careers after cheering for one to four seasons. The members participate in practice, training camp, games, appearances, photo shoots, and charity events.

What do Super Bowl refs get paid? ›

The NFL has not freely given out the figures, but according to the most recent reports, referees were estimated to bring in between $30,000 and $50,000 for officiating in the big game in 2018, so it is likely that this rate has gone up or at least is in this ballpark for Super Bowl LVI.

Are NFL refs full time jobs? ›

Referees have what is referred to as a dark period between the end of the season and the middle of May. That time and during the summer is when they typically focus on their other job. During the season, they are essentially considered full-time employees for the league.

Do Waterboys get a Super Bowl ring? ›

The Average NFL Waterboy Gets Paid More Than You, And If Their Team Wins The Super Bowl – They Get A Ring. I'm not sure which rabbit hole I was going down when I learned this information. But when a team wins the Super Bowl, the members of the staff usually all get a ring, too.

Do NFL referees have other jobs? ›

For the majority of officials, being a referee is only their side job. Primary Occupation: Civil litigator at a Phoenix law firm. FYI: He's run 12 marathons and is known to have the build of a pro-athlete himself—Hochuli is 6'1 and 215 pounds.

Who pays NFL referees travel expenses? ›

Each week, NFL officials also get a quiz - a written test on the rules of the game. Friday night or Saturday morning, it's time to fly out. Refs are required to arrive at least 24 hours before a game. They fly first-class and the league covers all their travel expenses.

What sport pays refs the most? ›

High Paying Referee Jobs
  • Sports Statistician. Salary range: $41,500-$100,000 per year. ...
  • Umpire. Salary range: $39,000-$60,500 per year. ...
  • Soccer Referee. Salary range: $30,000-$46,500 per year. ...
  • Basketball Referee. Salary range: $27,000-$43,000 per year. ...
  • Scorekeeper. Salary range: $21,000-$34,000 per year.

Which NFL cheerleader makes the most money? ›

The highest-paid NFL cheerleader is paid $75,000 in a season. Who is the richest NFL cheerleader? The richest NFL cheerleader is Teri Hatcher, with a net worth of $50 million. Do all NFL teams have cheerleaders?

How much does an NBA cheerleader make? ›

The New York Knicks and Atlanta Hawks cheerleading squads are the highest-paid cheerleaders in the NBA, making between $200 and $650 per game. They also get bonuses of up to $2000, with an annual salary of $35,000. Related: How much money do mop boys get paid in the NBA?

How much does a water boy in the NFL make? ›

NFL waterboys typically make between $53,000 and $58,000 per year. However, not every waterboy you see on TV is paid. Many waterboys and assistants are unpaid or are working at a discounted rate on an internship for high school or college.

How old was the oldest Dallas Cowboy cheerleader? ›

In 2012, Vikmanis would have been dethroned from the honor of being the oldest cheerleader in the league by Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader-hopeful Sharon Simmons, at 55, but Simmons was unable to make the squad. Vikmanis went on to be a member of the Ben–Gals squad for a total of six years.

Can a NFL player date a cheerleader? ›

5. Stay away from players at all times. This means: no personal, private, or social relationships with the players are allowed, and if it wasn't already clear, that means absolutely no dating.

How old is the average NFL cheerleader? ›

While some teams enlist cheerleaders as young as 18 or 19 years old, the average reported age of an NFL cheerleader stands at 25 years old.

How much does an Atlanta Falcon cheerleader make? ›

They can earn up to $75,000 per year, which is still low compared to the average salary of their male football counterparts. They can earn more if the team makes the playoffs.

How much do NFL kickers make? ›

That puts the average kicker salary at around $2.5 million.

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