Premier League Referees Salaries

There’s no doubt that Premier League referees are among the best-paid officials in European football. But how much exactly do they make?

1 year ago

We might not love them inside the pitch, but we all admire their private lives away from the public eye. They can be a little controversial. Sometimes, outright biased. But they are still an important part of the beautiful game. Surprisingly, Premier League referees aren’t the best-paid officials in European football. They’re not even in the top 3. Or the top 4. So, where do they rank among their European counterparts? Find out below;

How are Premier League Referees Paid?

Premier League referees are paid monthly and annual salaries besides the match fee for domestic and European fixtures. They also get a small fee for officiating as VAR referees.
You would sympathize with referees for the number of expletives they receive throughout the 90 minutes of a football match. The occasional death threats from a set of enraged football fans over the decisions made inside the pitch. And in the worst case scenarios, physical assaults on them or their loved ones.
But for all its downsides, refereeing is also one of the most lucrative jobs in the football world. Here’s how much Premier League referees are paid as of 2023;

Premier League Referee Salaries

Per match officiated: £1140.
Monthly: £3246.
VAR: £878.
Every Champions League Match: £6147.
Average Annual Salary: £96634.

How Does Premier League Referee Salaries Compare to Other European Leagues

While Premier League referees are paid well enough to manage the hassles of a tiresome 38-game season, they don’t come close to their European counterparts in Italy, Spain, Germany, and France.
In fact, Premier League referees are among the lowest-paid officials in Europe, with salaries that don’t even match the lesser popular Italian Serie A or the French Ligue 1. That’s quite astonishing, considering how much money the Premier League makes throughout the season.
For context, here’s how much the La Liga referees are paid throughout the season;

La Liga Referee Salaries

Per match officiated: £3688.
Monthly: £10978.
VAR: £1844.
Every Champions League Match: £6147.
Average annual salary: £219619.

The figures show that La Liga referees are better paid than their English counterparts. This also makes them the best-paid group in Europe’s top 5 leagues as of 2023.

Bundesliga Referee Salaries

Per match officiated: £3159.
Monthly remuneration: £2194, £3511, or £5268.
VAR: £965.
Every Champions League Match: £6147.
Average annual salary: £109679.

Surprisingly, Bundesliga referees also earn more than their English counterparts, which is quite ironic considering the league’s quality and how much money the Premier League generates per season.