In the past two decades, refereeing in football has undergone significant changes, making the question of referee salaries more relevant than ever. The introduction of Video Assistant Referees (VAR) and the growing presence of women in officiating have brought new attention to the earnings of those who enforce the Laws of the Game. These shifts have not only impacted the way matches are officiated but also sparked fresh discussions about the compensation referees receive.
In this article, we dive deep into the evolving landscape of football refereeing, revealing insights beyond the typical salary figures. From high-profile matches to grassroots games, we explore the factors shaping referee pay, uncovering trends and issues that extend beyond the numbers in this chart.
| League Name/Event | Annual pay | Match fee | Championship matches |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premier League | Referees: £39 000 Assistants: £30 000 | Referees: £1 140 Assistants: £850 | Referees: £6 147 Assistants: |
| Bundesliga | Depends on their level €2 500 €4 000 €6 000 | Referees: €3 600 Assistants: €1 000 | Referees: €7 000 Assistants: |
| Champions League | N/A | N/A | Referees: from $1 000 to $10 000, depending on level Assistants: $350 to $3 000, depending on level |
| FIFA matches | N/A | N/A | Referees: $3 000 - $10 000 Assistants: $2 500 - $5 000 |
| A-League | No data | No data | No data |
| Female Referees | No data | No data | No data |
Salary of a Football Referee in the UK
At the risk of stating the obvious, football ranks among the world's favourite sports. Kids as young as four have a blast kicking the ball around the pitch. By the time they're seven or eight, they play in matches, participate in tournaments, and claim trophies.
As for every football match, these games require at least one ref and two assistants. Often, they are young, inexperienced, or both. They do not earn what a high-profile league referee might, or even a middle-profile league ref. They might earn £20-40, or nothing at all, other than experience.
As educational as it would be to report referee salaries at all levels, this article focuses on top-tier league salaries. This introduction serves to highlight that these officials come in different pay grades, across all leagues. And to inform you that we cite data from 2023, the latest numbers available to us.
Premier League Referee Salary
Most football fans don't give any thought to the salary for premier league referees - or any referees, for that matter. After all, it's the players who make the game... or is it?
Consider how often referees use their hand signals - red and yellow cards, to call out players' bad behaviour. Without those officials, rival players may well turn every match into a boxing event.
That establishes the need for officials, and their importance.
However, it doesn't explain the difference in earnings - often a gulf, rather than a gap. Big names in football rake in millions. Kevin de Bruyne (Man City) takes home more than £20 million, and Harry Kane rakes in £21 million (now that he's with Bayern Munich).
As of 2023, Alex Mighten is the lowest Premier League goalkeeper. He earns about £3,462 per week.
So, not every footballer has massive paydays, but they can work their way up. By contrast, the salary for football referee has a ceiling. Again, referencing 2023 data, the English Premier League referee salary hovers around £3 246 monthly, with £1 140 added for each game they officiate. Should they officiate a Champions League game, they will collect an additional £6 147.
Assistant Referees
Even lukewarm football fans know that refs cannot oversee the match alone. Assistants stand on opposite sidelines, at opposite ends of the pitch, to see what the game official isn't positioned to see. Also, Video Assistant referees (VARs) help officials make just calls. These assistants make £850/match; a touch over half of the referee's per-match compensation.
In all, a top-tier English Premier League - EPL referee salary, amounts to just under £100 000/year (£96 634). Keep in mind that the most famous football referees can enhance their pay packets with endorsements and other appearances. However, those worthies are far fewer than famous football players.
Bundesliga Referee Salary
The Premier League is pretty generous to their officials. However, the Bundesliga in Germany outspends their rivals to attract and retain top football talent.
After all, that's where Harry Kane went when his UK league salary topped out. Bundesliga doesn't just compensate their footballers well; their referees rank among the best paid in the sport.
Monthly base pay:
- €2 500
- €4 000
- €6 000
- depending on level
Per-game fee:
- referee: €3 600
- Assistant ref/VAR: €1 100
Champion's League:
- referees: €7 000
Bundesliga refs' annual compensation hovers at €125 000, excluding endorsements and other earnings. Where Premier League refs may officiate any number of games (typically, 20/year), Bundesliga caps their refs at 20 games.
A-League Referee Salary
For all of our searching and asking, every source we turned to was mum on Australian football referee compensation. At best, we found a generated response that set obviously artificial boundaries. Even researching individual names - Ben Abraham, and Adam Kersey, e.g., delivers little more than their record, if that.
And nothing about Australian referees' pay scale. Now calling Australian football fans, friends and referees! If you can help up update our stats, let us know in the comments. Thanks!
Champions League Referee Salary
Talk about a referee salary in Champions League events, and you're talking serious money.
These are the events that everyone wants to become a referee for. Perhaps not for the big payday - or, maybe not just for the payday. Still, refereeing these matches make for a nice bank account cushion.
Match referee
- Elite: $10 000
- Elite Dev.: $6 500
- First: $3 000
- Second: $2 000
- Third: $1 000
Asst ref/VAR:
- Elite: $3 000
- Elite Dev.: $2 000
- First: $750
- Second: $550
- Third: $350
Fourth Umpire:
- Elite: $1 000
- Elite Dev.: $800
- First: 0
- Second: 0
- Third: 0
UEFA considers an official elite if they have between 5-7 years experience officiating top-tier events. An 'Elite Development' (elite dev.) ref should have at least five years in; a 'Third' might just have begun their Championship referee experience.
UEFA Referee Salary
The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) oversees the major European elite football clubs. Those include La Liga (Spain), Serie A (Italy), Ligue 1 (France), and Germany's Bundesliga, among many others. This body oversees match and tournament coordination. It does not set any salaries.
The typical international football referee salary runs fairly close to the Bundesliga's standards. Naturally, wealthier clubs can afford to compensate their officials more. Some leagues do not cap the number of events their referees serve at. Otherwise, what some assume are UEFA salaries are actually Champions League official salaries.
FIFA Referee Salary
If a spectator gives any attention to match officials, it is during Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) contests. Passions run high on the pitch, with so much at stake. Footballers - and fans, aren't above shoving and shouting, and that's when the referees take centre stage.
These refs know everything there is to know about refereeing, and their wage vouchers show it. They have the experience to call the most high-profile events, and the endurance to see those contests through.
The game referee
- Group-stage game; $3 000
- Playoffs and/or finals: $10 000
- Total possible fee: $300 000
Asst ref
- Group-stage: $2 500
- Playoffs/finals: $5 000
- Total possible fee: $150 000
Fourth Official
- Group-stage: $2 500
- Playoffs and/or finals: $5 000
- Total possible fee: $150 000
VAR
- Group-stage: $3 000
- Playoffs and/or finals: $5 000
- Total possible fee: $175 000
Besides the per-game fee, FIFA compensates referees an additional $70 000 base salary. In 2018, this governing body decided on that higher compensation level, as well as affording assistant referees a base salary. VARs, for all the difference they've made to officiating football, have yet to benefit from such generosity.
Salary for Female Referees
Pay disparity between footballers and referees is one football talking point. Pay disparity between male and female referees, in all leagues, is another, far more important one. Several news outlets reported on Spain's Women's League matches being delayed (in 2022).
It was because all the referees went on strike. They earned €320 to male referees' €4 200/per match payout. After the club owners' initial bluster, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) gave in. The matches went on, as scheduled, the next weekend.
Researching this article, we found lots of certified sources for referee salaries across all leagues (see below). We found none that detailed female referees' salaries, specifically. However, we found four credible sources that all said the same thing. Women referees make 10-15% less than their male counterparts.
Female footballers' struggles for equal pay has garnered lots of publicity, over the years. The sports world is mum about equal pay for female referees. Even the top female referees reportedly do not earn as much as their male counterparts. Nor do they have the visibility they need to land lucrative endorsement deals.
Salary for Female Assistant Referees
If the pay situation is so dire for female referees, imagine the kettle of fish female assistant referees stew in. They're just as passionate about the game, but earn far less. Yet even today, fans, commentators, and players speculate on their ability to referee (and worse!).
Female refs, in general, are occasionally censored out of the televised matches they referee, due to cultural norms about women's appearance. That denies them the exposure they need to move ahead in the ranks, which would pave their way to higher earnings.
Sources
- Salary breakdown: https://onefootball.com/fr/news/how-much-do-football-referees-get-paid-in-the-premier-league-la-liga-serie-a-37119452
- UEFA salaries: https://goalballlive.com/uefa-champions-league-referee-salary/
- FIFA salaries: https://thesportsgrail.com/fifa-world-cup-2022-full-referees-and-match-officials-salary-list/
- Women's salaries: https://wifitalents.com/statistic/football-referee-salary/ ; https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/how-much-premier-league-referees-20470088
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