How much do NFL referees make?

Professional football was the most popular sport in the United States for the ninth consecutive year, according to a 2011 poll by Harris Interactive. The National Football League, NFL, is, by far, the leading professional football league, with tens of millions of Americans tuning in every Sunday to watch their favorite teams play. Salaries for NFL players have increased dramatically as the game has gained in popularity, and salaries for NFL officials also got a boost in late 2012 when the NFL Referees Association signed a new contract with the league.

2011 NFL Referee Pay :

ESPN.com and Yahoo Sports report that NFL game officials earned an average of $149,000 in 2011. Pay for NFL officials varies based on seniority, so some officials earned considerably more. Also, keep in mind that a number of NFL referees hold second jobs, ranging from practicing law to teaching school.

Future NFL Referee Pay :

Based on the new contract between the NFL and the NFLRA signed in September 2012, NFL referees will earn an average of $173,000 in 2013, and move up to an average of $205,000 by 2019.

Developmental Referee Program :

According to Yahoo Sports, a plan to introduce a new group of developmental officials was also approved as part of the NFLRA contract. These developmental officials will work with current NFL refs to develop their skills. The developmental officials will not be NFLRA members and cannot work games until they are graded high enough to join the ranks of regular NFL officials.

Pension Plan Phased Out :

NFL referees also have a generous pension plan that was a major bone of contention during the contract talks with the league. The negotiations produced a compromise where the pension plan remains in effect for five more years, but after that will switch to 401k retirement plans.