NFL refs don’t have an officially published Super Bowl paycheck, but best estimates say they get a big one‑game bonus on top of their regular salary. Most recent reporting puts the Super Bowl bonus for each official in roughly the $30,000–$50,000 range for that single game, with the head referee at the top of that band.

Quick Scoop: What Super Bowl Refs Earn

  • The NFL does not release exact Super Bowl officiating fees, so all numbers are based on credible estimates and past CBA details.
  • Multiple outlets report that Super Bowl officials receive a special game bonus estimated at $30,000–$50,000 each, with the head referee usually at the high end.
  • That’s just the Super Bowl check; it comes on top of their normal per‑game and seasonal pay.

Regular Season vs Super Bowl Money

During the year, NFL referees are already well paid by officiating standards:

  • Average annual referee salary is estimated at about $205,000 under recent NFL officiating CBAs.
  • That works out to roughly $11,000–$12,000 per regular‑season game for a full schedule.
  • Experienced refs with a decade or more on the field can push closer to $250,000 per season.

By comparison, the Super Bowl bonus alone can be several times a normal game check, which is why officials see it as both a career honor and a massive payday in one night.

Why The Numbers Aren’t Exact

  • The league and officials’ union treat specific game‑fee numbers as confidential, so there is no official public rate card for “Super Bowl ref pay.”
  • Reported ranges (like the $30k–$50k figure) come from leaks, media investigations, and references to prior collective bargaining agreement details rather than a single public document.
  • Pay can vary by role (head referee vs umpire, line judge, back judge, etc.) and by experience, so two people on the same crew might not earn exactly the same.

A Quick Story‑Style Example

Imagine an official who’s been in the league for 12 years, making around $230,000 for the season including preseason and regular‑season assignments. After being graded among the top performers, they get tapped for playoff games, then finally the Super Bowl. Their routine game checks have stacked up all year, but that Super Bowl assignment alone adds something like $40,000 on top in one night—roughly the equivalent of several regular‑season games condensed into four intense quarters.

They’ve spent decades mastering the rulebook, dealing with coaches, players, and screaming crowds. The Super Bowl is both a spotlight and a stress test—but financially, it’s the single most lucrative four quarters they’ll ever work.

So if you’re wondering “how much do refs make in the Super Bowl?” :
The best current estimate is a tens‑of‑thousands one‑game bonus , most often cited as roughly $30,000–$50,000 per official, with top pay for the head ref.

TL;DR: Super Bowl refs are believed to earn about $30k–$50k each just for that game, on top of annual salaries around $205k+ —huge money for one night, even by NFL standards.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.