Like the players, referees in the National Hockey League (NHL) require a high level of physical fitness. To skate nonstop for 60 minutes and keep up with the pace of the game, officials must be in top shape.
Besides keeping fit, refs must deal with many injuries, whether at the entry level or as pros. On average, they get hurt about 1.5 times per season. For instance, in March 2024, a famous referee, Kevin Pollock, had his knee destroyed by a player on the pitch.
But despite the risks, being an NHL referee can pay off financially. In this post, our expert sports analyst explores the exact amount these heroes receive during the regular seasons and the additional compensation that comes in the playoffs.
How Much Do NHL Referees Make Per Game and in a Year?
Generally, NHL referees earn between $165,000 and $400,000 per year and about $1,500 to $3,000 per game.
However, they're not the only ones who get fat payments.
To compare, baseball umpires earn as much as $150,000 to $450,000. But unlike the referees, they don't have to deal with the hard side of hockey (all the referees do is skate and take several bone-crushing knocks).
To be clear, refs don't start making much money in hockey. They begin in youth leagues, with salaries as low as $20 to $50 in a game. It's like playing Deuces Wild poker—you start with a weak hand and work your way up. Referees can earn up to $100 per game as they move up to high school games. Then, they can earn between $100 and $300 per game at the college and semi-pro levels.
Our expert found, while exploring the guide to deuces wild poker, that as it applies in the game, refs need to re-strategize and make smart calls to climb the ranks and increase their earnings. Playing deuces wild poker at online casinos can help train decision making strategy as well as bankroll management. By the side, deuces wild pokers games are also known for their relatively high RTP, making them a good way to win some extra cash.
NHL Linesman Salary
Linesmen are different from referees in many ways. They're standing at the blue line, watching for infractions like icing and offside. They're also the ones who jump in to break up fights that occur frequently in the game.
Now, at this point, you may be tempted to think that their job is easy and quite fun. But really, it isn't.
The only good part is that they get good pay for their troubles. For the most part, NHL linesmen make between $110,000 and $235,000 as salary.
How Much Do Referees Get Paid Compared to Players in Hockey?
Though hockey refs make a lot of money, they (including top officials) don't earn anything close to what even the least paid player makes at the end of the month.
At the minimum, a hockey pro would probably go home with about $750,000 as a salary. And as time goes on, it increases considerably.
Nathan MacKinnon, a top player at the Colorado Avalanche, makes a whopping $16.5 million as overall compensation. That's clearly the highest we've seen in the world of hockey (even some top-rated CEOs don't earn up to that).
Most of the top game officials we see today once had their pro hockey dreams, which explains why the salary difference can be so big. Sadly, even the less popular positions in the league earn way more than the referees.
But it's not only about the money– their lifestyle isn't also precisely glamorous.
Unlike the players, NHL refs can only afford to fly commercials. They log many miles (about 200,000, to be exact) every season and spend close to six months moving from one hotel room to another.
For all of these, they constantly get booed by crowds of 20,000 angry fans and dissatisfied gamblers who never really agree with their calls. But as ref Corey Syvret said to The Score, "You have to laugh it off. You're never going to please everybody, so it's really something you have to embrace.”
Perhaps the $400K salary helps reduce the effect of the blow.
The Pay Scale: Who are the Highest Paid NHL Refs?
Despite all that we've mentioned earlier, we can't say NHL refs are doing badly when it comes to compensation. They earn a base salary, plus playoff bonuses and extra perks like travel allowances and health insurance. And the more experienced they are, the more they can earn.
Rookie refs start out with a lower salary, but as they gain experience and show off their skills, they can move up the ranks and boost their pay.
The highest-paid officials in the NHL are often called elite referees or the 'top-tier.' These seasoned pros have been in the league for years and are trusted to handle the Stanley Cup Finals and high-stakes playoff games. They can rake in anywhere from $220,000 to $400,000 annually, plus extra postseason game bonuses that can pad their paychecks.
Refs like Wes McCauley and Kelly Sutherland reportedly earn over $400,000 annually. And for good reason: they're expected to be total pros with expertise and professionalism that's second to none.
They are assigned to the biggest, most high-pressure games, where their skill and experience are necessary to keep the competition fair.
There are also the mid-level NHL refs who have proven themselves in the league but haven't made it to the top yet. They earn between $150,000 and $220,000 per year.
Though they might not have the same level of experience or recognition as the top-tier refs, they're still well-respected.
Wrap Up
In the words of Brendan Shanahan, a former NHL player, "The future of refereeing in the NHL is going to be shaped by technology but also by the human element. We need referees who can keep up with the speed of the game but also have the judgment and common sense to make the right calls."
The NHL is growing, and that means the referees and linesmen can look forward to better opportunities in the years ahead. As the teams increase, there's a great chance that the hockey games will also increase, and officials can expect to make a lot more money per round.
Besides, technology is taking over the world and not leaving the sport of hockey behind. With tech use in top competitions, referees can make more accurate calls and officiate better in future games.
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