They don’t score points or throw down monster dunks, but NBA referees are just as crucial to the game as any All-Star. Every call they make can shift the momentum of a matchup. Still, most fans don’t know much about how much these officials actually earn.
That doesn’t mean it’s all a mystery. Thanks to credible reports, we’ve got a pretty clear picture of what refs make — from their regular-season grind to high-stakes playoff moments.
Whether it’s seasoned names like Scott Foster and Tony Brothers calling big games or rookies like Tyler Ricks and JD Ralls working their way up, the money structure behind the stripes is more interesting than you’d think. Here’s how the NBA referee pay system really works.
How Much Do NBA Referees Make on Average?
Unlike player contracts, referee salaries aren’t made public. That’s because in 2022, the NBA and the NBA Referees Association agreed on a new collective bargaining agreement that runs through the 2028–29 season. And per league policy, the financial details of that deal aren’t disclosed.
NBA referees are full-time employees, and their pay depends on two main things: seniority and performance. The longer they’re in the league, the more they earn. There’s a steady pay scale that grows each year.
Top-level referees — those who have built reputations over decades — can reportedly make up to $550,000 a year. That breaks down to about $7,000 per game in the regular season. Ken Mauer and Ron Garretson fall in this category. At the lower end, newer refs earn closer to $150,000 annually.
But salary alone doesn’t tell the whole story. Referees are evaluated constantly, and high ratings can lead to promotions and playoff assignments, where the real money starts to kick in.
How Much Do the NBA Referees Make in the Playoffs?
When the regular season ends, referee pay doesn’t stop; it actually ramps up. Postseason bonuses start at about $800 per game and climb all the way up to $29,000 per game, depending on how deep into the playoffs it is and how experienced the ref is.
Veterans like Tyler Ford and Ben Taylor, who often call Finals games, can reportedly earn close to $30,000 for a single game during the NBA Finals. These assignments are only given to the highest-rated officials, and the pressure is intense. But with that kind of paycheck, it’s easy to see why they push for top marks all season long.
NBA Referee Pay by Tier
Top-Tier Referees
These are the best in the business – the ones who get the biggest games and are trusted to make the toughest calls. Their base salaries fall somewhere between $350,000 and $550,000, not counting playoff bonuses. Jason Goldenberg, Marat Kogut, Dedric Taylor, Scott Twardoski, and more might take home the mentioned amount this season. They’re the ones you see every June when the Finals tip off.
Mid-Level Referees
This group is full of reliable refs with a few years under their belts. They typically earn $150,000 to $350,000 per year. With more experience and strong evaluations, they can move into the top tier.
Rookie Referees
New faces like Ricks and Ralls start off earning between $75,000 and $150,000 annually. Before even getting to the league, they undergo a serious evaluation and training process. The NBA wants to make sure rookies can handle the speed, pressure, and travel that comes with the job. Note that all referees, no matter the tier, get extra benefits like health insurance, travel allowances, and retirement plans.
NBA Salaries: Referees vs. Players
NBA refs make a good living, but it’s nowhere near player-level money. Even the NBA rookie takes home between $2.1 million to $6.6 million — and that’s just the floor. Veterans like LeBron James, Stephen Curry, or Nikola Jokić are pulling in $40 million or more annually.
Entry-level refs earn around $600 per game, and just like players, their earnings increase with experience. But even at the top, the gap between stripes and sneakers is massive.
NBA G League Referee Salaries
Referees in the NBA G League — the NBA’s development league — make a lot less. They earn between $500 and $800 per game, which adds up to around $25,000 to $50,000 per season. That said, this is where many NBA refs start. It’s a training ground for officials, just like it is for players trying to break into the league.
Referees who shine in the NBA G League can eventually move up, where the paychecks are bigger and the stakes are higher.
Are NBA Referees Full-Time?
Yes, NBA referees are full-time employees. They work throughout the regular season, playoffs, and even some preseason games. The league currently has 74 full-time referees and less than 10 non-staff officials who also call games during the year.
With the travel demands and packed game schedule, holding down another job just isn’t realistic. Being an NBA ref is a demanding gig, but one that comes with steady pay, great benefits, and the kind of job security most fans wouldn’t expect.