Skating on the ice is fun until NHL referees do it. Ice skating is a sport that requires precision like no other, which makes it even more difficult for NHL referees. The days are so tough that referees have to maintain balance on the ice, be precise, listen to the crowd, and often break up fights between angry players.
And since it’s a very tough job, being one is even harder. In the NHL, the total number of referees, linesmen, and part-time referees is less than 80. Of those, only 33 are full-time referees. Furthermore, of those 33, only 6 have more than 25 years of experience.
NHL Referee Salary
A NHL referee gets a decent annual salary, but compared to other professions, it is much lower. If we talk about full-time NHL referees, they earn between $207,032 and $360,000. At the same time, if we talk about NHL linemen, their salary or earnings range from $137,000 to $235,000.
If he is an experienced lineman, he can earn up to $228,000. In leagues below the NHL, such as the AHL, referees can earn between $75,000 and $100,000. And in the same league, linesmen earn between $50,000 and $60,000.
Highest NHL Referee Salary
When we talk about the highest NHL referee salaries of all time, there are some famous names. Frank Udvari was the one who received the highest annual salary in 1966, which was $22,600. If we convert that $22,600 to 2014 dollars, that’s about $170,000.
The best and most prominent referees now earn up to $300,000. Another name that comes to mind when I talk about it is referee Vern Buffey. He was the one who earned almost $13,000 the same year as Frank Udvari.
As for fees for various games in general, in 1968 they were $220 for a regular game. And if we’re talking about a playoff game, it cost around $500. In a minor league like the AHL, the price of playoff games was $125. And in regular games it was $100.
NHL playoff referee salaries
Officially, NHL referees do not receive a salary. But if we are talking about salaries paid through bonuses, this is quite enough. Even in the playoffs, salaries are not annual, but are based on games played by the referees.
In these cases, referees receive approximately $18,000 per match after sharing the entire bonus. And at the same time, NHL linesmen make around $12,000. The Olympics are the games that should also be considered when it comes to earning the most salaries.
At the Olympics, it is not officially known how much NHL referees earn. But according to market news, referees can earn up to $18,000 per match. And linesmen for the same match earn $12,000.