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The average NHL referee salary figure is between $165,000 and $360,000 per year.
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Referees officiating non-professional hockey typically earn less than $50 per game.
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NHL linesman earn slightly less than NHL referees, with the average NHL linesman earning between $110,000 and $235,000 per year.
The National Hockey League is fast and furious at the best of times, with players putting their bodies on the line in a bid to claim Stanley Cup glory.
NHL betting odds are often competitive and that is also the case when it comes to NHL referee salary figures, with officials earning a lucrative pay packet.
How Much Do NHL Refs Make?
NHL referee salaries have increased over the years, with the 1993 strike helping to boost the financial status of NHL officials in the modern era.
While NHL ref wages cannot compete with NHL player salaries, officials are well paid and in line with professional referees in other leading sports.
NHL Referee Salary Figures:
The average NHL referee salary works out at between $165,000 and $400,000 per year. The total figure is based on officiating experience, which works out at around $1,500 to $3,000 per game.
With so much at stake in each match, referees need to cope under pressure and punters will consider the officiating appointments and how they may impact sports betting odds ahead of each contest.
NHL Linesmen Salary Figures:
The role of an NHL linesman is to stand at the blueline and make calls related to that area of the ice, such as icing and offside.
In addition, linesmen also have one other major responsibility – to break up fights between NHL players.
Pay for linesmen is much lower than the average NHL referee salary, though officials still earn in the region of $110,000 to $235,000.
How To Become An NHL Referee:
Working your way through the ranks to become an NHL referee is difficult, with years of hard work and dedication required to climb the professional levels.
Most referees have played ice hockey in the lower echelons of the sport, making a switch to refereeing in spare time or pursuing a full time referee career to gain more experience.
Professional NHL referees must cope with intense training camps to improve fitness levels in order to keep up with the rigorous speed of ice hockey.
Knowing all about ice hockey betting tips will not help you become an NHL referee but it can boost general knowledge and skillset of top flight hockey.
NHL Referee Salary vs NHL Player Salary:
The minimum salary for a National Hockey League player is around $750,000 in 2021, with the highest paid NHL player earning close to $16 million per year.
Auston Matthews is the highest earning NHL player in 2021, with the Toronto Maple Leafs star signing a deal worth $15.9 million.
NHL legend Jaromir Jagr leads the way with the most money earned throughout his career, with $135 million accrued in NHL player salaries in his 24 years in the league.
As is the case in most major sports, ice hockey player earnings are much higher than the average NHL referee salary.
NHL Referee Salary vs NBA Referee Salary:
NHL referee salary numbers are in line with officiating figures in other major US sports, including but not limited to baseball, basketball and soccer.
As stated in our NBA referee salary guide, the average NBA official earns between $180,000 and $550,000 per year.
While a hefty salary compared to NHL referee earnings, the NBA referee wage is some way below the minimum NBA player salary.
Although the average NHL referee salary is slightly lower than the NBA total, the numbers work out on a ‘per game’ basis – with officials earning a similar rate of pay.
*Credit for the main photo belongs to Derik Hamilton / AP Photo*
FIRST PUBLISHED: 31st January 2021
