The Complete List of Bundesliga Club Payrolls – From Lowest to Highest
The Bundesliga has always been a league of contrasts, with financial giants competing alongside clubs that operate on far smaller budgets. Payroll figures not only highlight the spending power of each team but also reveal how money shapes competitiveness across the league.
In this ranking, we move from the smallest wage bills to the absolute powerhouse at the top — showing just how wide the financial gap has grown in German football.
18. St. Pauli – £171,635 per week / £8,925,000 per year
At the bottom of the Bundesliga, St. Pauli’s payroll highlights the financial gap in German football. Their spending power is limited, but the club remains a symbol of passion and identity.
17. Heidenheim – £237,837 per week / £12,367,500 per year
Heidenheim’s modest budget reflects their role as underdogs in the Bundesliga. Despite their smaller financial setup, they continue to compete with determination.
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16. Union Berlin – £268,404 per week / £13,957,000 per year
Union Berlin have risen rapidly in recent years, yet their payroll remains relatively lean. Their success is built on efficiency and a united team spirit.
15. Köln – £272,163 per week / £14,152,500 per year
Köln’s spending power places them in the lower half of the table. They remain a traditional Bundesliga club, relying more on history and fan culture than financial dominance.
14. Augsburg – £304,692 per week / £15,844,000 per year
Augsburg’s payroll shows their ability to remain competitive on a small budget. They continue to punch above their financial weight in Germany’s top flight.
13. Freiburg – £352,587 per week / £18,334,500 per year
Freiburg are admired for their focus on youth development and smart recruitment. Their budget may be modest, but their results often exceed expectations.
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12. Hamburg – £362,211 per week / £18,887,000 per year
Hamburg, once a European giant, are now operating on a restrained payroll. Their ambition to climb back to the top contrasts with their current financial reality.
11. Mainz – £396,068 per week / £20,595,500 per year
Mainz show how stable management can keep a club competitive. Their payroll is moderate, but they continue to secure their Bundesliga status year after year.
10. Werder Bremen – £449,192 per week / £23,406,000 per year
Werder Bremen’s wage bill is firmly mid-table in size. They remain a respected name in German football, even if their financial firepower has diminished compared to past decades.
9. Mönchengladbach – £512,962 per week / £26,622,000 per year
Gladbach’s payroll reflects their ambitions to stay relevant at the top level. While they trail behind the giants, they continue to compete in both domestic and European competitions.
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8. Hoffenheim – £565,904 per week / £29,427,000 per year
Hoffenheim benefit from long-term backing and smart investments. Their wage structure keeps them competitive without overextending financially.
7. Eintracht Frankfurt – £598,759 per week / £31,135,500 per year
Frankfurt’s payroll has grown in line with their European success. They are firmly established as one of the Bundesliga’s most ambitious challengers outside the “big three.”
6. Stuttgart – £602,846 per week / £31,338,000 per year
Stuttgart’s wage bill shows steady financial growth. Their ability to perform well on this budget makes them a rising force in the Bundesliga.
5. Wolfsburg – £675,096 per week / £35,105,000 per year
Wolfsburg’s payroll reflects their consistent push for European football. Backed by strong sponsors, they have the means to compete with the league’s upper tier.
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4. Bayer Leverkusen – £809,971 per week / £42,066,500 per year
Leverkusen continue to invest heavily in their squad, balancing ambition with sustainable management. Their payroll places them firmly among the Bundesliga’s elite.
3. RB Leipzig – £1,224,817 per week / £63,690,500 per year
Leipzig are one of the Bundesliga’s modern powerhouses. Their ambitious payroll is a clear sign of their intent to consistently challenge Bayern and Dortmund.
2. Borussia Dortmund – £1,701,798 per week / £88,493,500 per year
Dortmund remain Bayern’s closest financial rival, though still some distance behind. Their focus on developing young talent makes their payroll an investment in future stars.
1. Bayern Munich – £4,007,423 per week / £208,386,000 per year
At the top of the list, Bayern Munich’s payroll dwarfs the rest of the league. Their unmatched financial muscle underpins their dominance both in Germany and across Europe.
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