How Much Do Referees Make in Pro Sports

Of course, you’re gonna blame the referee when your team loses, they are getting paid to handle that pressure. They are paid really well compared to the mistakes they are making, which you could see in the NBA Finals 2025, for example.

NBA Officials: Full-time, Unionized, and Richly Compensated

Rookie-level referees are getting paid better than some of the top WNBA players, around $250,000 annually. They are represented by the National Basketball Referees Association.

Senior refs are untouchable when it comes to decision-making, so it’s rarely heard that they get demoted after having bad calls. The seniors can get up to $550,000 without bonuses. The finals can lend them another $30,000 per match.

NFL Referees: High Pay for Part-Time Roles

Even if they are part-time employees, NFL refs make from $200,000 to $250,000 annually. There are fewer matches compared to the NBA, so they have the time to have other jobs. Even if it’s not needed, it can be a bit boring when it’s the offseason.

MLB Umpires: Between $150K and $450K With Full Benefits

MLB umpires are working full-time for the Major League Baseball Umpire Association. Entry-level MLB refs have around $150,000 per year, while seasoned veterans bring in between $250,000 and $450,000.

There are some top refs that make more than $500,000, but only a couple. People are Gerry Davis, Jim Reynolds, Brian O’Nora, and Paul Emmel are some of the top-paid umpires.
 

NHL Refs: High-End Earnings in a Small Pool

There are 35 full-time referees in the NHL, the same number of linesmen, and a few more refs switching between the leagues. With such a small number of staff, and less popularity compared to other sports, you would guess they are not paying like the big boys.

Once they start working for the NHL, they can earn over $150,000. After a few years of experience, the sum can get up to $400,000. They also get $30,000 bonus for the finals.

College Referees: A Hard Climb

The money drops like crazy when you are in the lower leagues. The top earners are in the NCAA with an average of $2,500 to $3,500 monthly earnings. This is okay compared to other leagues where they get around $6,000 annually. You can consider it a side gig for them.

There are no benefits for them; it’s usually payment per game. If you thought soccer pays the most, all of the US top leagues pay their refs more than the top 5 soccer leagues in Europe.