how much does an nfl ref make

An NFL referee in 2025 makes on average between $205,000 and $270,000 per year. The base pay for the head referee or crew chief is roughly $250,000 to $270,000 annually, while other officials earn between $150,000 and $200,000 depending on experience and tenure. These salaries reflect a part-time seasonal role from preseason through the Super Bowl, with ongoing offseason training. In addition to base salaries, referees receive bonuses for officiating playoff games, ranging from $1,500 to over $10,000 per game, and significant bonuses for officiating the Super Bowl, potentially up to $40,000 to $50,000 extra for the championship game. Most NFL referees also maintain other jobs during the offseason. The salary figures have risen gradually over recent years, due to league revenue growth and broadcast deals. The salary typically covers about 18-19 game assignments including preseason and regular season, plus training and clinics.