The Numbers

So how did I come up with the magic number of a $2.5 million difference when comparing a 20-year career of an NFL official and an NCAA Division 1 official? From various sources, including ESPN [1], we can use what was offered to the NFL officials in the recent CBA negotiations.

A rookie NFL official in 2011 who was still working in 2018--his eighth year--would average approximately $121,000 per year or about $960,000 in eight years. A 10-year veteran official in 2011 who was still an official in 2018--his eighteenth year-- would average approximately $170,000 per year, or about $1,360,000 in eight years. Being conservative, the yearly salary would be at least $165,000 if there was no raise from 2018 and years 19 and 20 would be at least $200,000 each if no raise. Thus, the total revenues over a 20-year NFL career would be $2,885,000. Of course, they have been offered a pension plan starting at $16,000 per year. Using this and being conservative, the next 20 years would bring in another $320,000.

Now compare those numbers to those of a career Pac-10/12 official based on figures known: that there has been an average of a $600 per year increase over the last eight years and this year being at $14,400 over a 12-game season would total $132,000 over the next eight years or about $400,000 over 20 years. And there is no pension plan in sight for collegiate officials.

Of course, also working in the Pac-12 conference are six active NFL officials and one former official who are assistant supervisors; it was revealed that these men were paid over $10,000 each last season. Over the next 20 years, they will make more than half of what the game officials make, if the supervisors do not get a raise.

It's all about the Big Money at the end of the officiating rainbow and who has the opportunity to grab it.