How Much Do Basketball Officials Make?

While some basketball stars are taking home upwards of $48 million every season, how about the other people they share the court with? How much do basketball officials make, and is it a full time career?

The reality is that it depends which league you work in. Your experience matters too, with pay significantly increasing for those trusted with big games and important events. Even then, not all officials are paid equally. 

There are four key types of official found in basketball:

• Crew Chief
• Umpire
• Referee
• Replay Review Official

Before we dive into their reimbursement, it’s important to note that being a professional referee is a high stress, high pressure and highly skilled job. There are a lot of downsides – abuse from fans, time away from family, and of course, the inability to bet on sports following the 2007 betting scandal. 

So, are the refs fairly compensated for their work? Read on to find out how much they make.

NBA referees have to regulate the game and keep players in check. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)

NBA Officials Salaries

We all know there is big money in the NBA. How big? Well, the highest paid referees in the NBA, crew chiefs, can make upwards of $550,000 per year. Assuming they work an average of 80 games per season, that works out to just less than $7,000 per game. For playoff games, their pay check jumps to $9,000, while it could triple if they are chosen to officiate the NBA Finals.

Each crew chief is joined by two on-court umpires, and those umpires are usually paid around $3,000 per game. That still leaves them with a significant salary that’s around $240,000.

On top of their salaries, NBA officials receive accommodation, travel reimbursements and per diem to cover their meal expenses. This is down in large part to the NBA Referees Association (NBRA), the union which was launched in 1973. There are currently around 200 referees working in the NBA.

NCAA Basketball Officials Salaries

College basketball officials have a median income of $36,000. On top of that, they receive travel expenses and per diem to cover their meals. Though it seems low compared to those working in the professional league, it’s important to note that college basketball officials don’t work anywhere near the same number of games as those in the NBA do. It’s not uncommon for college officials to referee football in the fall before switching to basketball in the winter. 

The NCAA college basketball official salaries are probably the most surprising. Though they’re not covered by a union, NCAA referees operating in major conferences make around $2,500 per game. Those experienced officials chosen to marshal the NCAA Tournament can make as much as $3,500 per game. 

Though only a select few make it to officiating the Final Four, they enjoy a sizable pay day for their troubles. Officials take home around $4,500 per Final Four game.

High School Basketball Official Salaries

There is plenty of money for basketball referees at the college and professional level, but the same can’t be said for the grassroots. Entry level referees officiating youth games can expect to take home just $30 per game. For high school, it jumps to $50-60. Officials refereeing recognized AAU games take home around $70. 

While these salaries are pitiful compared to those officiating at a higher level, most lower-level referees are part-time. Besides, it’s common for referees to start at the grassroots level and work their way up. 

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