image via @premierleague/ X

How Much Are Premier League Referees Getting Paid? Chief Howard Webb Breaks down the Salary Reports!

image via @premierleague/ X

Chief Refereeing Officer Howard Webb has revealed Premier League match officials receive an average annual salary of £240,000, as of 2025. In what was a detailed breakdown, the PGMOL chief addressed that these wages are twice that of what EFL referees earn.

Webb’s meeting with the 72 EFL clubs outlined the costs of paying match officials. He also revealed the average overall cost, including the Professional Game Match Officials Ltd.’s (PGMOL) national insurance and pension contributions.

🚨 Referees' boss Howard Webb has told EFL clubs that Premier League match officials are earning an average of £240,000-a-year.

(Source: @MailSport) pic.twitter.com/Bh8tInfrY1
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) March 26, 2025

As per these reports by the Daily Mail, the Premier League referee’s annual salary includes match fees and bonuses as well. This cost ranges between £170,000 and £180,000. Moreover, the top-notch referees’ earnings go as high as £250,000 per year.

The referees who also officiate the higher games from UEFA and FIFA competitions see their pay increased. Referees like Michael Oliver and Anthony Taylor would be regular appearances in this category.

This revelation of the annual pay of the Premier League referees has sparked discussions among pundits and commentators. Ex-Tottenham midfielder Jamie O’Hara expressed his disappointment looking at figures as he said:

“We’re paying referees 250 grand a year!? To let VAR do it and still get it wrong. 240 grand a year to be a referee is a lot of dough, by the way; you can’t sit here and say that’s not a lot of money. It’s 20 grand a month to be a bang-average ref; do me a favour.”

As much unimpressed O’Hara is left after looking at these reports, the difference between EFL and the Premier League referees’ earnings is surprising. Referees and assistants in the Championship make about £120,000 and £110,000, respectively.

ALSO READ: Real Madrid Players Receive Special Reward from Florentino Perez After Champions League Win over Atletico Madrid

League One and League Two development group officials get about £30,000. It has also been reported that the PGMOL’s operating cost has become twice what it was eight years ago.

PGMOL is also expecting to demand increased funding to prevent the deficits over the next five years. Moreover, plans to merge select groups and implement ‘managed exits’ to improve performance and ensure sustainability are also underway.

Premier League

Mayur Dedwal

soccer

I’m a Sports Content Writer with expertise in football. Being a decade old football enthusiast and part-time coach, I try to bring to life to the articles in a statistical manner. Being around all kinds of sports updates and able to put in my perspective’s to the happenings in the world of football are few of the many things i like in doing what i do. You can find me playing Sunday leagues or Xbox on weekends!