NFL referees are generally considered to be part-time employees. Although the officials don’t have to be at the games all the time, they are expected to attend all the games that they are assigned to officiate.
The majority of NFL referees have a day job and only do officiating on the side. During the season, NFL referees work a demanding schedule that includes regular game officiating duties, attending training camps and preseason games, and attending meetings with other referees and league officials.
During the offseason, NFL referees continue to attend training camps and meetings with league officials, as well as work on strengthening their skills and staying up to date with the current rules and regulations.
Do NFL refs work full-time?
Yes, NFL Refs do work full-time. According to the NFL website, NFL Refs are required to attend training camps, pre-season games, and regular-season games throughout the season, meaning they usually work extended hours that runs from June through February.
During the off season, they are required to attend various seminars and are available to work in other leagues to maintain their on-field skills. Additionally, NFL Refs must keep up with all the rule changes and learn various new officiating techniques that come out each year.
It is also important for them to be physically fit in order to keep up with the demands of the job. All of these things taken together means that NFL Refs do indeed work full-time.
How many hours does a NFL referee work?
NFL referees typically work a 20-hour-per-week schedule spread across three days. Referees will typically officiate a game on Sunday, attend meetings and review game film on Monday, and spend the rest of their time completing administrative duties and referee-specific training.
On the weeks when they are assigned games, referees will typically fly to the game city on Saturday, go to a mandatory pre-game meeting on Sunday morning, referee the game and then attend a post-game meeting.
In addition to their officiating duties, referees are expected to attend at least one training session a month to stay up to speed on rule changes, on field mechanics, and other related topics. While these three days are the main focus of a referee’s responsibilities, they may be asked to attend special events or meetings occasionally, typically during the offseason.
Why are NFL officials not full-time?
Although NFL referees are seen as some of the best in their field, they are not full-time officials. This is because most NFL officials have full-time jobs outside the NFL. Instead of having a full-time job, the NFL compensates its officials by paying them a salary for home games and compensates them for travel for away games.
In most cases, NFL officials need to work a full-time job in order to support their family and provide financial security. Even though they do not receive a full-time salary, NFL officials make up average salaries of over $200,000 per year and have very flexible scheduling.
This structure works well for most NFL officials, and allows them to work their jobs and still remain available for NFL games.
In addition, most NFL officials are independent contractors, so they are not subject to rules and regulations that full-time employees might be. This allows the NFL to keep costs low and gives officials the flexibility to decide when and how often to work.
Therefore, NFL officials are not full-time because the NFL prefers to keep them as independent contractors. The NFL compensates its officials with a salary for home games, travel expenses for away games, and a flexible work schedule.
This structure works well for most NFL officials, allowing them to maintain a full-time job, provide for their families, and still remain available to officiate NFL games.
Do NFL refs have other jobs?
Yes, NFL referees typically have full-time jobs outside of their duties as an official for the National Football League. As a profession, being an NFL referee is considered a part-time job with referees typically working no more than 20 weeks each year.
Typically, NFL referees have day jobs as teachers, attorneys, accountants, financial advisors, business owners, and even entrepreneurs. Each referee must fulfill the requirements of their full-time job while also having enough flexibility to manage their NFL referee responsibilities.
In addition to a full-time career, NFL referees are also required to hold certifications in the sport of football. A minimum number of years refereeing in the college or high school ranks is necessary; after that, referees must attend a special four-day camp each summer to stay current on the rules and mechanics of the game.
Referees must also pass a physical fitness test prior to the start of the season, maintain a knowledge of positions in the NFL and also must accept clinics and seminars throughout the season.
Do NFL refs make a lot of money?
Yes, NFL referees can make a significant amount of money, depending on the length of their career and the reward pay structure for specific assignments. According to the National Football League Referee Association, referees who officiate NFL games make an average salary of $205,000 per season (not including playoffs or Super Bowls).
However, salaries do range from $150,000 to $300,000 per season. NFL referees with more than 20 years of experience can expect to make up to $400,000 per year. NFL referees are also rewarded for more prestigious assignments such as the playoffs and the Super Bowl.
Referees for those assignments can earn up to one and a half times their normal annual salary for a game, plus a variety of other bonuses. Although the average NFL referee salary is lower than many other professional sports leagues, these referees are among the highest paid referees in the world.
How often do NFL referees get paid?
NFL referees are classified as independent contractors, meaning that they are paid for each game that they referee rather than on a set salary. Referees are typically paid in the range of $2,000 to $10,000 per game, depending on the responsibility level that comes with the game, their seniority, and the league they are officiating in.
Referees in higher profile leagues such as Monday Night Football and the Super Bowl can expect to make the higher end salary. It is estimated that referees working in the NFL will earn between $25,000 and $70,000 per season, depending on the number of games they are assigned.
