How much money does the NFL pay their referees? Let's take a look at a prior collective bargaining agreement and the salary of NFL referees.
A career as an NFL referee comes with significant pros and cons. You do not have to work significant hours, and you get to be on the field for NFL games.
On the other hand, you are highly likely to be the subject of public ridicule.
So, how much does the NFL pay their referees?
NFL referees made an average of $205k per year
Unfortunately, the NFL has not reached an official update on referees' salaries in recent years, but there is plenty of information regarding a prior collective bargaining agreement. It was an eight-season agreement, which ran from 2012 to 2019.
In 2019, the average NFL official made $205,000 per year.
The league provides referees with retirement benefits. In 2019, they made an annual contribution of $23,000 per official along with a partial 401(k) match.
Referees are part-time workers, but the NFL does retain the option to hire "a number" of referees to work year-round. The league also carries the option to hire additional officials for training and development purposes.
In 2019, the NFL and the NFL Referees Association agreed to a new seven-year CBA. It is set to expire on May 31, 2026, but details are scarce. NFLRA Executive Director Scott Green said the following on the deal:
"It was a mutual and cooperative effort that took over a year and a half, and the outcome is seven years of certainty for the league and our officials. We appreciate Troy Vincent and his staff for recognizing that working together to find solutions is the best course of action to reach a long-term agreement."
We can assume referees are making more than they were before. But we don't know how much.
