Also called: NFL Referee, Line Judge, Back Judge
Officiates professional football games in the NFL.
NFL officials study rules and game film all week, travel to a stadium on Saturday, and work a crew meeting before Sunday's game. During the game every call is reviewed and graded. Most spent 15-20 years working up from high school and college games.
Estimate based on reported NFL officials' pay; it's technically part-time, and many officials have other careers.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 20 years after high school. Typically 10-20+ years officiating high school and college football; selected by the league.
Ways in: On-the-job training. Training cost: Under $15k.
Majors to look at: Physical Education, Sports Management.
Growing about average (about 3% over 10 years). Very few positions; about 120 NFL officials.
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. Replay and chip-in-ball tech check more calls; on-field officiating stays human, but some spots may automate.
Classes: Physical education, Speech, Psychology.
Official data: O*NET occupation 27-2023.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.