Premier League Referees Salary: How Much They Earn And Other Leagues Salaries

In the high-stakes environment of the Premier League, the pressure on match officials is immense, the financial landscape for these officials has shifted to reflect the increasing demands of the modern game, including the integration of complex VAR technologies. While players earn millions, the men and women in the middle have seen their own compensation packages grow, making top-tier refereeing a highly lucrative career for the elite few.

Detailing the current pay scales, comparison with other European giants, and the financial "bonuses" associated with the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup.

How much do Premier League referees get paid?

Premier League referees are employed by PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Limited) and are paid through a combination of a base retainer (salary) and match fees.

Role	Annual Base Salary	Match Fee (Per Game)
Elite Referee (Select Group 1)	£72,000 – £148,000	£1,500
Assistant Referee (Linesman)	£35,000 – £50,000	£850
VAR Official	Varies (often Select Group 1)	£850 – £1,000

Average Annual Total: A senior referee officiating 25–30 games per season can expect to earn between £170,000 and £180,000.

Highest Earners: Elite officials like Michael Oliver and Anthony Taylor, who also handle Champions League and international fixtures, can see their total annual compensation reach £250,000.

European Comparison: Who is the highest-paid?

Interestingly, despite the Premier League's wealth, England does not pay the highest refereeing salaries in Europe. That title belongs to Spain's La Liga.

League	Country	Estimated Top Annual Earnings
La Liga	Spain	£225,000+ (€265k)
Premier League	England	£180,000 – £250,000
Serie A	Italy	£140,000
Bundesliga	Germany	£125,000
Ligue 1	France	£120,000

Why the gap? La Liga referees receive a significantly higher base monthly salary (approx. €12,500) and match fees nearing €4,200, nearly triple the per-game rate of the Premier League.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Referee Salary

For those selected for the 2026 World Cup in North America, the financial rewards are even greater.

Selection Bonus: Referees typically receive a flat participation fee of $70,000 (~£55,000) just for being selected.

Match Fees:

Group Stage: $3,000 per match.
Knockout Rounds: $10,000 per match.

Assistant Referees: Earn a $25,000 base fee, with match fees of $2,500 (Groups) and $5,000 (Knockouts).

How to become a Premier League referee

The path to the professional game in 2026 remains a rigorous "climb up the ladder":

The FA Referee Course: Start at age 14+ with your local County FA.

Levels 7 to 5: Officiate grassroots and local league football to gain experience.

Level 4 (Supply League): Move into the semi-professional game (National League System).

Select Group 2: Officiate in the EFL Championship.

Select Group 1: The elite tier for Premier League and international duties.

Highest-Paid Referee in Football History

While active salaries are capped, legends like Mike Dean (retired 2022) were reportedly the first to break the £200,000 per year barrier. Currently, Szymon Marciniak (Poland) and Alireza Faghani (Australia) are considered among the highest-paid globally due to their constant involvement in high-revenue FIFA and UEFA finals.