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How Much Do NBA Referees Make Per Year?

Samir Mehdi
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How Much Do NBA Referees Make Per Year?

Jun 22, 2021; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; NBA referee Scott Foster (right) with Kane Fitzgerald and Curtis Blair during a video review in the Phoenix Suns against the Los Angeles Clippers during game two of the Western Conference Finals for the 2021 NBA Playoffs at Phoenix Suns Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

How much do NBA Referees earn per game and per season? 

Being an NBA referee is one of the toughest jobs in the league. Most of the time, you’re going to be considered public enemy number 1 as fan bases on both sides believe officials have it out for their squad. The second a game finishes up, fans on social media immediately cast blame upon the officiating rather than certain blunders players may have made throughout 48 minutes of play. 

There have been several moments throughout NBA history that a wrong call has been made but for the most part, trained refs tend to make the right call. The league implementing a coaches challenge was one of the steps taken to hold officials accountable for the former. 

With such a challenging job, NBA referees need to be compensated accordingly. So let’s take a look at how much they make in a season.

Also read: Charles Barkley Career Earnings Quadruple Following $100-200 Million NBAonTNT Contract

How much do NBA Referees earn in a single season? 

Officials in the NBA earn according to a variety of factors. The two most important ones are experience and the type of game they are officiating for the night. 

When it comes to entry-level referees, they would go on to earn around $600 per game. This would come up to about $250,000 a year 

NBA referees who have been officiating for a long time and hold a position of seniority earn about $3,500 per game which would come to around $550,000 as annual income. 

Some of the highest paid refs in the NBA today earn close to $550,000 or even more so. Scott Foster, Marc Davis, Sean Corbin are all refs who have officiated well over 20 seasons in the league, leading to them getting a $550,000+ paycheck at the end of each regular season. 

Do NBA referees make money during the Playoffs? 

Yes, NBA referees have a chance to earn more money for each Playoff game they officiate. If they are chosen to ref in the postseason, they are likely to warn an additional $800 to $5,000 per game. 

If they are reffing the NBA Finals, they most certainly would be in the higher part of the range shown above. 

Also read: NBA ON TNT Crew: Who Are the Play-By-Play Announcers, Sideline Reporters, and Analyst for TNT?

About the author

Samir Mehdi

Samir Mehdi

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Samir Mehdi is a senior strategist for the NBA division at The Sportsrush. Ever since he was 13 years old, he’s been obsessed with the game of basketball. From watching Kobe Bryant’s highlights on YouTube to now, analyzing and breaking down every single game on League Pass, Samir’s passion for the game is unwavering. He's a complete basketball junkie who not only breaks down current games but also keenly watches ones from the 60s’ and 70s’ while also reading comprehensive books on the history of the league. Samir’s life revolves around basketball and he hopes that shows in his work. Aside from work, he loves to spend time in the gym and with his friends at social gatherings.

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