As with all of the league’s other members, referees in the NFL make a good living by doing what they do. Because they officiate only 17 games per season, the league’s referees are among the highest paid in the world.

How Much Does an NFL Referee Make?

Following the most recent agreement reached between the league and the NFL Officials Association, it was shown that referees earned an average of $205,000 during the 2019 season.

This is despite the fact that official data are typically not disclosed to the public. This amounts to almost $12,000 for each game, which is a rather large sum.

NFL official
NFL official

There are two things that contribute to an overall increase in a referee’s earnings: the first is that their paychecks go up when they work postseason games, and the second is that the experience that they have gained over the years qualifies them to work playoff games.

Working postseason games and having more experience both contribute to an overall increase in earnings. And there’s the Super Bowl, of course.

How much does a referee make for Super Bowl?

Also unknown, but it is well known that referees receive a bonus for the Super Bowl in addition to their usual compensation.

In some situations, NFL officials can earn up to $50,000 for working the Super Bowl before it, according to a report from Money.com. Between $40,000 and $50,000 is the typical range.

According to a recent agreement, the average annual pension contribution for U.S. referees is now $18,000, which is significantly higher than the average for all other U.S. professionals. It’s not so horrible to become a man on stripes, after all.