Do NFL refs have jobs
Zoe Patterson
Updated on April 27, 2026
NFL refs have day jobs. Since NFL refs only work one day each week, they can have “real” jobs to supplement what they earn on any given Sunday. Some of them actually have pretty interesting jobs. … Prior to becoming a referee, he was better known as Dr. Walt Anderson, a dentist.
How do NFL referees get their jobs?
The path to becoming an NFL referee is a long one. In order to be considered for the position, referees are expected to have at least ten years of experience. This experience is usually gained by refereeing high school games, college games, and semi-pro games.
How many hours a week do NFL refs work?
A conservative estimate is 20-25 hours week – not including travel. For head referees 30-35 hours. But there’s always another game to watch or another page in the rule book worth re-reading. How much do NFL refs earn?
Do NFL refs have to pay for travel?
Do NFL refs Pay Their Own Travel Expenses? Since referees have to spend a lot of time traveling to games throughout the NFL season, they do receive a stipend to cover their travel expenses, but the amount of the stipend is not publicly available. … Refs tend to arrive at their destination the day before the game.Who is the highest paid referee?
Brad Allen and Walter Anderson are the highest-paid NFL referees for the 2020-21 season.
How much do Waterboys make in the NFL?
How much does an NFL waterboy make? The typical starting salary for a waterboy is $53,000 per year according to stack.com.
What do college football refs make?
Salary Ranges for College Football Referees The salaries of College Football Referees in the US range from $11,753 to $314,406 , with a median salary of $57,014 . The middle 57% of College Football Referees makes between $57,015 and $142,490, with the top 86% making $314,406.
Why are the NFL refs so bad?
1. They Are Not Full-Time Employees Of The NFL. NFL officials are not full-time employees, they are employed on a contract basis by the NFL. Not only does this reduce their salary, making them more prone to being able to be “bought” by unscrupulous types, it means they often have another job.Who is the youngest NFL referee?
Sarah Thomas (American football official)
What do NFL refs do at halftime?It depends on the referee, some will just chill and get their breath back, others will review the first half and any mistakes he might have made, the majority I’d imagine, will warm down by stretching and getting ready for the second half. They may also write up their notes from the first half.
Article first time published onDo NFL referees do college games?
The NFL requires that an official have at least 10 years of officiating football before being considered to be an NFL official. Out of those 10 years, at least five of them must include major college games. … Whether that’s Pop Warner football or high school, officials only will learn if they are out there in the action.
What do football referees do at halftime?
At halftime, officials are given the opportunity to communicate in the privacy of the locker room and take time to discuss the events of the first half. The officials can also use that time to refocus and concentrate on making the second half of the game even better.
How much do NFL refs make 2021?
How much do NFL refs make in 2021? NFL referees earn around $205,000 per year, based on reports from predominant sports websites (including FanDuel). The average hourly wage for an amateur official is just over $16.
How do NFL referees stay warm?
The NFL issued their officials the latest in cold weather undergarments, a foul weather hood (like a ski mask), and a waist pouch to help keep their hands warm.
Do NFL referees have to be lawyers?
Some, including referees Walt Anderson and Terry McAulay, are officiating supervisors at the college level. … They are attorneys — including referees Ed Hochuli, Ronald Torbert and Clete Blakeman — as well as insurance agents, high school principals and financial advisers.
What is Sarah Thomas salary?
Sarah Thomas leads a lavish life with her millions of dollars. Although they haven’t enclosed her detailed net worth and figures, she makes $180,000 as an average annual salary today. According to sources, her normal game earning is between $4,000-$5,000 per game, while she makes $10,000 for the Super Bowl playoffs.
Are NFL referees full time employees?
Referees have what is referred to as a dark period between the end of the season and the middle of May. That time and during the summer is when they typically focus on their other job. During the season, they are essentially considered full-time employees for the league.
How much does a NFL line judge make?
NFL Referee Salary Per Game – 2021 It’s estimated that in 2019, the average NFL referee made $205,000 per season. This is a significant increase over the previous year’s earnings of around $150,000.
How much do SEC college football refs make?
College football refs make between $11,000 and $300,000 per year. Newer officials in the power conferences can take home around $800 per game. Their travel and expenses are usually covered as well.
How much does a NFL ref make per game?
With 17 weeks in the NFL regular season, a referee would make an estimated $12,058.82 per NFL game. That’s just the base salary and doesn’t even include preseason games or the hefty bonus checks game officials receive for working during postseason football games, too.
How do you become a referee?
- Obtain a high school diploma or equivalent.
- Choose the sport you want to officiate.
- Obtain specific training.
- Complete state registration.
- Gain experience for career advancement.
- Become certified.
How much does an NFL towel boy make?
NFL Waterboy Salary: $53,000. You might want to sit down before reading this: the average salary of an NFL waterboy is a whopping $53,000 a year, according to Stack.com. Some are unpaid or work as stipend interns, per reference.com, but the full-time water and towel boys are considered part of the training staff.
Who is the wealthiest NFL coach?
- Bill Belichick, $12.5 million. …
- Pete Carroll, $11 million. …
- Sean Payton, $9.8 million. …
- John Harbaugh, $9 million. …
- Matt Rhule, $8.5 million. …
- Sean McVay, $8.5 million. …
- Mike Tomlin, $8 million. …
- Andy Reid, $8 million.
How much does an NFL mascot make?
Mascots usually start out working in the minor leagues, where they earn a starting salary of about $25,000, but once you make it to the ranks of a mascot for an NFL, NBA, MLB or NHL franchise, the average salary shoots up to about $60,000, according to ESPN.
Are there any female NFL officials?
Sarah Thomas was the first female to be hired as a full-time NFL official. She accomplished this in 2015 when the NFL announced the move to make her a regular part of the officiating cast.
Why do NFL refs throw their hat?
So, in order to help remember that the player has gone out-of-bounds, the ref watching him throws his hat to the ground and later, if the catch is made, throws his flag. The one exception to this rule is if the offensive player has been pushed out-of-bounds by a defender.
What happens when NFL refs make bad calls?
The NFL generally doesn’t discipline officials for judgment calls, though being downgraded for performance can affect officials’ postseason assignments. … NFL senior vice president of officiating Perry Fewell indicated in a social media video the call was correct, and Marsh was fined $5,972 for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Do NFL refs get fired for bad calls?
No, but they do get written up. At the end of every game, each official’s work is evaluated by senior non-field referees. They’re not just looking for bad calls, but other things that you wouldn’t even notice like an official being out of position or not paying attention in a critical situation.
Do NFL referees have a union?
The NFL and the NFL Referees Association (NFLRA) have reached a seven-year collective bargaining agreement that will run through May 31, 2026. The new deal, announced Saturday, between the league and the referees’ union was agreed upon via unanimous approval from the NFLRA Board of Directors.
Do NFL referees have a locker room?
90-minute officiating meeting: One hour and 30 minutes prior to kickoff, the referee and other game officials meet in their locker room with both teams’ PR directors, the PR departments’ sideline communications personnel, the NFL sideline TV coordinator (Green Hat), the NFL football operations representative, the TV …
Do referees have their own locker room?
(They have their own locker room area where they have discussions about the game, any calls or issues they want to discuss and hydrate.)