How Much Are NBA Referees Paid?
The salary for an NBA referee varies considerably based on their experience and pedigree.
Starting off at $600 per game or around $250,000 per year, rookie officials are still handsomely compensated. The veterans can receive up to $9,000 for a game and $550,000 per year.
While those numbers are impressive compared to ordinary salaries in the US, it is still considerably lower than the 2023-24 veteran minimum of roughly $1.1 million.
The greatest NBA players currently in the league earn tens of millions per year, with some contracts guaranteeing annual salaries exceeding $60 million in years to come.
Like the players, WNBA referees earn significantly less than their NBA counterparts. Most reporting indicates WNBA officials receive around $425 per game with an average salary in the $180,000 ballpark.
Alongside their salaries, it is important to note that NBA and WNBA officials also see their expenses covered for travel and insurance.
There are pensions in place, too. Officials are represented by the NBRA, the National Basketball Referees’ Association.
