With power comes great responsibility. In the NBA specifically, referees who get to officiate the third most popular sport in the U.S. have big duties to follow: interpreting the rulebook, calling fouls and making the right call under a high-pressure matchup, in addition to foreseeing other responsibilities.
And while being an entry-level referee differs from being an experienced senior-level ref in the NBA, these officials are still paid a substantial amount of money annually on top of additional income they can earn with playoffs and finals matchups.
How much are refs paid in the NBA?
As of 2022, the average annual salary for an NBA referee ranges from $180,000 to $500,000, depending on experience, job title and the level of the game itself. More info on that here.
So who are the highest paid refs in the NBA? And how much do they make? We’ve got you covered below.
Top 5 highest paid refs in the NBA
Scott Foster
Born in 1967, Foster has handled 1,477 regular-season NBA games and 187 playoff games, including 19 Finals matchups since the 1994-95 season. He also supervised the 1996 Europe tour in Spain and Germany. The veteran referee was employed by the CBA (Collective Bargaining agreement) for two years and had the most significant role in the 2010 All-Star match. His estimated salary for each season he’s worked is at $550,000.
Rodney Mott
Mott, who was born in 1957, has worked 1,255 regular-season games and 35 playoff games, earning a respectable record in his 23 seasons in the league.His salary is estimated at $550,000 annually.
Tony Brothers
Served as a CBA official for four years, Tony has handled more than 1,466 regular-season games and more than 140 playoffs as a ref. Working in the NBA since the 1994–95 season, Brothers is an experienced official who makes an estimated $550,000 per year.
Sean Corbin
Corbin was a basketball player at the beginning of his career before switching over to the officials side. Since then, he’s officiated more than 1,300 regular-season games and 79 playoff matches. In 1999, Corbin witnessed a triple-overtime thriller on February 17 between the Boston Celtics and the Vancouver Grizzlies. His salary as a professional official is $550,000.
James Capers
Currently presiding over the NBA Finals along with Scott Foster, James Capers has overseen more than 135 playoff games, including 10 finals. As a professional ref with substantial experience, Capers has officiated 1,357 games throughout 24 seasons, worked in the CBA for six years and has been a part of three championship games and two all-star games. Capers annual salary is estimated to be around $550,000.
