How Much Premier League Referees Get Paid
When Premier League referees step onto the pitch, they face relentless pressure. Every decision is scrutinized by fans, pundits, and millions watching worldwide. Mistakes often make headlines, and criticism floods social media within minutes. Yet despite the stress and abuse, refereeing remains one of the most coveted jobs in football officiating, partly because of the pay. Referees at England’s top level are now full-time professionals with six-figure salaries, bonuses, and Champions League opportunities. Here’s a detailed look at how much Premier League referees really earn, how it compares to Europe’s other top leagues, and what it takes to reach that level.
The Job and the Pressure
Being a Premier League referee is a tough gig. Make a mistake and you can expect headlines and a torrent of social media abuse. Yet many still choose the path, and one reason is the pay. Top-flight officials earn solid salaries and match fees for operating at the sport’s highest level.
From Part-Time to Professional
In 2001, PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Limited) made refereeing a full-time profession in England with a basic £35,000 salary. The change was dramatic. As ex-referee Keith Hackett recalled, “You had several guys who were always eating fast food suddenly eating at Michelin-starred restaurants.”
Salaries and Match Fees
Top-flight referees now receive a base salary tied to seniority and experience. Figures range from £72,000 to £148,000, with match fees around £1,116 and performance bonuses on top. The average total package sits between £170,000 and £180,000 per year. Senior names like Anthony Taylor and Michael Oliver can reach about £250,000, while the most junior Select Group 1 officials are near £125,000.
Read also: The 10 Best Bargain Transfers in Football History — Ranked
Notable Example: Mike Dean
Mike Dean reportedly earned £200,000 annually as an active referee before retiring from on-field duties after 2021/22. He began in humble work, a chicken abattoir, before becoming the competition’s highest-paid official and later moving into media.
Who’s in the Middle?
PGMOL promoted six names to a supplementary list serving both the Premier League and EFL: Lewis Smith, Farai Hallam, Adam Herczeg, Tom Kirk, Ruebyn Ricardo, Ben Toner (only Smith had a top-flight league match at time of writing). Sam Barrott stepped up to Select Group 1 for 2024/25. The division’s youngest-ever referee remains Michael Oliver, who debuted as a Premier League referee at 25 in August 2010.
Champions League Assignments
UEFA fees vary by match tier. Indicative rates (approx):
- Third Tier: Referee $1,000 (£794), Assistant $350 (£278)
- Second Tier: Referee $2,000 (£1,588), Assistant $550 (£437)
- First Tier: Referee $3,000 (£2,382), Assistant $750 (£595)
- Elite Development: Referee $6,500 (£5,161), Assistant $2,000 (£1,588), Fourth $800 (£635)
- Elite: Referee $10,000 (£7,940), Assistant $3,000 (£2,382), Fourth $1,000 (£794)
Read also: Top 20 Best F1 Drivers Ever (Ranked by Grand Prix Wins)
How the Big Five Leagues Compare
Base pay across Europe’s top leagues (lowest to highest bands reported):
- Bundesliga (Germany): £52,977 – £70,067
- Ligue 1 (France): £66,716 – £67,058
- Premier League (England): £72,000 – £148,000
- Serie A (Italy): £76,954 – £77,345
- La Liga (Spain): £124,256 flat for all referees
Former Spanish referee Eduardo Iturralde Gonzalez noted: “We have only been the best paid for six years… Now referees live and think about refereeing 24 hours a day.”
How to Become a Premier League Referee
Step 1: Complete The FA Referees Course with your County FA (age 14+). Start at Level 7 (Youth Referee for 14/15).
Step 2: Seek promotion through Levels 7, 6, 5, 4 with training, laws exams, and match observations. Typically spend at least one season per level; fast-track possible between 6 and 4.
Step 3: From Level 4 upward (3, 2B, 2A), promotions rely on merit tables (club/observer marks) and interviews for 2A → EFL and beyond.
Level map (top to base):
- Level 1: National List (EFL and Premier League)
- Level 2a: Panel Select (National League Premier)
- Level 2b: Panel (National League North/South)
- Level 3: Contributory
- Level 4: Supply
- Level 5: Senior County
- Level 6: County
- Level 7: Junior
- Level 8: Youth (under 16)
- Level 9: Trainee
Why the Money Matters
High pay reflects the scrutiny, fitness demands, and constant travel. It also supports full professional preparation, nutrition, analysis, and training, needed to keep pace with the Premier League. While players earn far more, officials are no longer part-timers in an elite, billion-pound industry.
Read also: FIFA World Ranking: The 50 Best National Teams – Ranked
