It isn’t easy being an NFL referee. They have to make the right call in a fraction of a second without any instant replay (except on reviews), and they often draw the ire of fans.
With more eyes on them than ever, NFL referees are under constant scrutiny, and their job has never been more demanding. That’s also sparked growing curiosity about how much they actually earn. What’s the average salary for an NFL referee? Which officials are the highest-paid? And do they receive bonuses for working playoff games or the Super Bowl?
NFL Referee’s Average Salary
While the league does not publish official referee salary figures, available information provides a reliable estimate. Based on details from past Collective Bargaining Agreements, the average NFL referee earns approximately $205,000 per season, which translates to around $11,400 per regular-season game for officials assigned to all 18 contests.
About a decade ago, annual compensation was closer to $150,000, but pay has risen steadily alongside the league’s growth in revenue and viewership.
Referee compensation is negotiated through the NFL Referees Association, which agreed to a seven-year labor deal with the league in 2019. That agreement remains in effect through May 31, 2026, at which point negotiations will resume.
It is also worth noting that this number represents an average. More experienced officials, particularly those serving as crew chiefs, can earn considerably more depending on tenure, assigned role, and performance evaluations.
NFL officials receive a guaranteed seasonal salary in addition to a per-game payment, offering financial consistency while still compensating weekly on-field duties.
Officials chosen to work playoff games receive extra compensation, as postseason assignments are merit-based and highly coveted. Although exact figures are not publicly disclosed, reports indicate playoff bonuses can approach nearly double the standard per-game rate, with top officials potentially earning around $1,500 per game, though those numbers remain unofficial.
Who Is the Highest-Paid NFL Referee?
Brad Allen and Craig Wrolstad are reportedly the highest-paid NFL referees, with both earning as much as $250,000 at one point in their careers.
Walt Anderson, who is now retired, also reportedly made $250,000 during his time on the field. Tony Corrente earned an estimated $230,000 before retiring.
Veteran officials such as Carl Cheffers, Bill Vinovich, and Clete Blakeman could eventually reach that highest-paid tier as they continue to advance through the league’s officiating ranks.
Meanwhile, Sarah Thomas is the highest-paid female referee. The NFL hired its second female official, Maia Chaka, in 2021. She is also the first black woman to officiate an NFL game.
The league has continued expanding its officiating ranks with the addition of Robin DeLorenzo, who previously worked Big Ten games, becoming the NFL’s third female official. In 2024, the National Football League also hired Karina Tovar as a field judge, making her the league’s fourth female official.
That said, all reported salary figures should be treated as estimates, as neither the NFL nor the NFL Referees Association has ever publicly released detailed compensation information.
How Much Does a Ref Make in the Super Bowl?
Officials selected to work postseason games or the Super Bowl receive substantial bonuses, which are reserved for the league’s highest-graded referees.
While exact numbers are not disclosed, reports indicate postseason assignments typically pay between $3,000 and $5,000 per game, with the Super Bowl head referee reportedly earning a bonus in the $30,000 to $50,000 range.
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Other on-field officials earn less than the head referee during the playoffs, though their bonuses reportedly begin around $3,000 per game and rise based on role and experience.
Are NFL Referees Full-Time?
The NFL has experimented with transitioning around 20% of its referees to full-time league employees.
However, that program was shelved during the 2019 CBA discussions, and currently, there are no full-time officials on the NFL payroll. The NFL intended to resurrect the program in 2020 but decided against it, overhauling the officiating program in its entirety.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has advocated for referees to be full-time NFL employees and receive higher salaries, stating that these changes could improve officiating.
“I do think that it would probably help to have all of them full-time,” Rodgers said on The Pat McAfee Show last year. “I think [an] increase in pay probably [would] as well. It’s a really important part of our game. We’re a billion-dollar industry. I think those men and women deserve to be paid appropriately where they can make this their full-time gig.
“They got a tough job to do, to make calls in real-time, and they’re as scrutinized as the quarterbacks and kickers are, as they have one job to do, and that’s to interpret the rulebook in zero time possible. I think it’s good that we have the extra official in the box to help them out with several calls [and] avoid some of these unnecessary challenges. But I think full-time, yes. More pay, definitely, yes.”
Referees face a demanding stretch from season’s end through mid-May. During that period and throughout the summer, they typically turn their attention back to their primary careers outside of football. While some officials attempt to balance a full-time weekday job, the heavy travel and preparation required for officiating often make that difficult to maintain.
