In the National Football League, it’s all out in the open how much players and coaches make during a season given how lucrative contracts are given out left and right.

But there’s very little known about how much the officials who actually run the show make during a game. The officials make sure of proper proceedings and keep players’ safety in mind.

Also Read: NFL: Odell Beckham Jr in doubt, Jadeveon Clowney returns for Browns’ opener at Kansas City

Here’s everything you need to know about NFL officials’ pay: 

A report in 2019 estimated that on average an NFL official makes about $205,000 a year. Although each official’s pay will vary based on the position they have on the crew, as well as how long they have been in the league.

However, officials are considered to be part-time employees of the NFL so they don’t receive insurance benefits.

But the officials do have a 401k plan with a partial matching contribution. They also have representation from the NFL Referees Association.

Also Read: NFL: Brady throws for 379 yards, 4 TDs as Bucs beat Cowboys 31-29

How much does an NFL official make for working the Super Bowl?

Handling a match in the regular season is an incredible achievement in itself but officiating the Super Bowl is a different ball game. It’s considered a high honour to officiate in the grand sporting gala. However, it doesn’t pay too shabbily either. 

While the exact number is not known, the most commonly reported number as of 2019 was between $40,000-$50,000. There is also an increased amount made for other playoff games, while the Super Bowl offers the biggest paycheck. 

Also Read: Watch: Michelle Williams performs national anthem ahead of NFL 2021 kickoff

As the pay is different for officials for different positions, let’s know about the different positions for an NFL official?

Although they are tagged as “officials,” the eight-man team have different designations.

For each NFL game, an officiating crew consists of eight distinct roles. The referee, umpire, line judge, side judge, down judge, back judge, field judge, and replay official are all involved in the game. During play, all officials except the replay official are on the field.

The crew chief is another name for the referee. This individual is in charge of all other officials and is the one who makes the decisions on the field. The referee is easily identifiable as the official who wears a white cap.

The other officials’ roles differ, but they all check for pass interference, offsides, game delays, and other offences.