Thinking about becoming a referee? Angry at a decision and wondering how they can justify the money? Whatever your reasons for being interested in referees' salaries, here's what they earn and why. If you are considering becoming a referee, football coaching near me can help you strengthen your understanding of the game and its rules.
Key Takeaways
- Grassroots referees can earn around £20–£50 per match, with fees varying by competition and age group.⁹
- Level 3 referee pay has no single national rate because individual competitions determine match fees and expenses.⁶
- Premier League referees have been reported to earn around £180,000 a year on average, including salary and match fees.⁵
- La Liga referees can receive a fixed component approaching €200,000 plus around €5,000 per match.¹
- Main referees at the 2026 FIFA World Cup are reported to receive a $70,000 fixed tournament payment plus appointment fees.²
Referee Pay Comparison Table
Basically, there's no hard-and-fast rule for how much any given referee is earning. While we already know the factors, you can't really use them to exactly calculate how much they earn. Keep in mind that any figures we give you are merely estimates based on reported fees and the factors we know affect earning potential. That said, female referees and pay equality across genders still remain an issue.
| Level or role | Pay model | Current published or reported figure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grassroots referee | Match fee | Around £20–£50 per match | Varies by age group and competition |
| Level 3/3A referee | Competition-set match fees plus expenses | No universal national rate | Referee grade determines eligible appointments, not a fixed salary |
| Championship referee | Salary plus match fees | Around £120,000 plus match fees | Latest reported benchmark |
| Premier League referee | Salary plus match fees | Around £180,000 average annual earnings | Senior officials can earn more |
| Premier League assistant referee | Salary plus fees | Around £110,000 average annual earnings | Latest reported benchmark |
| Premier League VAR | Role-based appointment | Separate public fee not confirmed in the locked sources | Premier League matches use a VAR and assistant VAR |
| La Liga referee | Fixed component plus match fee | Nearly €200,000 fixed plus around €5,000 per match | Annual total can approach €300,000 |
| Serie A referee | Fixed compensation plus match fee | €4,000 per match | Fixed compensation also applies |
| Bundesliga referee | Base plus match fee | €80,000 base plus €6,000 per match | Seasonal total depends on appointments |
| UEFA Champions League official | UEFA competition payments and allowances | No simple current fee table in the locked UEFA regulations | UEFA covers specified travel costs and daily allowances |
| FIFA World Cup referee | Tournament payment plus match fees | Reported $70,000 fixed plus $3,000 group-stage or $10,000 knockout appointment | Reported 2026 World Cup compensation |
- Reports suggest female referees earn 10–15% less than male counterparts
- In 2022, referees in Spain’s women’s league went on strike over pay disparity
- Transparent salary data for female referees is limited across most leagues
- Lower visibility can restrict access to elite appointments and bonuses
Football Referee Pay Explained: Salary, Match Fees and Retainers
We don’t want to celebritise referees, but we want to humanise them.
Howard Webb, Chief Refereeing Officer, Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL)
While every football fan likes to think they know everything about refeereing, do you know how much referees get paid? The way officials are paid depends on several factors. Local refs may only be paid for the match, while higher levels have more complex pay structures. It can actually be quite lucrative once you referee at the highest levels.
Football referees can earn around £20–£50 per match at grassroots level, depending on the competition and age group.⁹ At professional level, earnings can rise into six figures, with Premier League referees reported to average around £180,000 a year when salary and match fees are combined.⁵
With so many different ways to be paid, let's not overly concern ourselves with the headline figures as they're not always representative. Look to the payment model before the actual salary. Then you'll have a better idea of a referee's level and how much they earn.
A football referee's earnings may combine a base salary or retainer with individual match fees, bonuses, expenses and allowances. This is why two sources can quote different figures for the same league, with one referring only to base pay and another estimating total annual earnings.
| Payment type | What it means | Common use |
|---|---|---|
| Annual salary or base pay | A fixed annual amount paid to contracted professional officials. | Professional domestic referees |
| Retainer | A fixed payment for belonging to a referee panel, often combined with match fees. | Professional and elite referee panels |
| Match fee | A payment for each individual match appointment. | Grassroots through elite football |
| Tournament fee | A fixed payment linked to selection for a tournament or competition. | FIFA and other international tournaments |
| Expenses and allowances | Payments or reimbursements for travel, accommodation, mileage or daily costs. | Domestic and international appointments |
| Bonuses | Additional payments linked to performance, status or particular appointments. | Some professional referee structures |
Average Football Referee Salary by Level
As they rise through the pyramid, officials will increase their earnings. Lower levels get paid per match, with professional officials receiving annual compensation. The levels don't necessarily come with a fixed rate since leagues and competitions set their own payment arrangements and referees definitely don't get paid more regardless how animated their hand signals are.
Grassroots and Amateur Referee Pay
Level 3 Referee Pay and Semi-Professional Matches
Professional Football Referee Salary
Premier League referees belong to the Select Group One (SG1), which consists of 21 full-time officials.
Their annual salaries range from £73,000 to £148,000, depending on experience, with an additional match fee of around £1,100 per game.¹
Assistant referee salaries are approximately £60,000.
| Referee level | Typical competition | Pay model | Typical or current pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grassroots and amateur | Youth and local adult football | Per-match fee | Around £20–£50 per match |
| Level 3/3A | Semi-professional and Step 3–4 football | Competition-specific match fees plus expenses | No universal national rate |
| Professional | Championship and professional domestic football | Salary or retainer plus match fees | Championship benchmark around £120,000 plus match fees |
| Elite | Premier League and international football | Salary or retainer plus match and competition fees | Premier League average around £180,000 a year |
How Much Do Premier League Referees Get Paid?
Premier League referees are paid the most of referees in England. Earnings depend on their contract, experience, and match appointments. From June 2026, the organisation responsible for professional match officials became Professional Game Referees, or Pro Ref, replacing the former PGMO name.³ The most famous referees aren't necessarily the highest paid, as refereeing fame tends to come with bad decisions, not good ones.
Premier League Referee Salary and Match Fees
a year on average when salary and match fees are combined.⁵
Video Assistant Referee Pay in the Premier League
Referee
Controls the match on the pitch and makes the final on-field decisions.
Assistant Referee
Supports the referee from the touchline, including decisions involving offsides, substitutions and incidents outside the referee's view.
Video Assistant Referee
Reviews specified match-changing incidents using video footage and advises the on-field referee when a clear error may have occurred.
Referee Pay Across Major Football Leagues
Referee pay varies across Europe's top leagues so where you become a referee will affect your pay. The structure and pay can differ. Some leagues prefer fixed annual payments while others prefer match fees and individual appointments.
La Liga Referee Pay
Serie A Referee Pay
Bundesliga Referee Pay
| League | Country | Base or retainer | Referee match fee | VAR fee | Annual benchmark |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premier League | England | Salary or retainer | Not separately disclosed in the locked source | Separate fee not confirmed in the locked sources | Around £180,000 average annual earnings |
| La Liga | Spain | Nearly €200,000 fixed component | Around €5,000 | Around €2,500 | Can approach €300,000 a year |
| Serie A | Italy | Fixed compensation varies by status and experience | €4,000 | €1,700 | Top seasonal totals can exceed €180,000 |
| Bundesliga | Germany | €80,000 base | €6,000 | Not stated in the locked source | Varies with number of appointments |
UEFA, Champions League and FIFA Referee Pay
International matches change a referee's earnings. These tournaments have a pay structure. Since these are separate from domestic payments, referees can increase their total income.
UEFA appoints officials for its own competitions and covers specified travel costs and daily allowances under its competition regulations.¹⁰ It does not set what referees earn for working in domestic competitions such as the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A or Bundesliga.
UEFA Champions League Referee Pay
FIFA Referee Pay and World Cup Match Fees
fixed tournament payment before per-match fees are added.²
What Affects How Much a Football Referee Gets Paid?
Experience, level, role, and the number of matches can all affect a referee's salary. A referee's professional status will also affect earning potential. Add on the extras, and some referees can boost their earnings even more.
Do you think elite football referees are paid enough?
References
- Arés, Ruby. “Subida salarial para los árbitros.” AS, 30 July 2025. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026. https://as.com/futbol/subida-salarial-para-los-arbitros-n/
- Fatemi, Sahar. “How Much Does a World Cup Referee Make? Salary Details and More for 2026 FIFA Final Officials.” The Sporting News, 18 July 2026. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026. https://www.sportingnews.com/us/soccer/news/how-much-does-world-cup-referee-make-salary/eec1d5fe69c54bdb26eb187e
- The Football Association. “New Chapter for Professional Referees' Body.” The FA, 29 June 2026. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026. https://www.thefa.com/news/2026/jun/29/new-name-for-pgmo
- Lorenzen, Ralf. “Daniel Schlager: Ein Tag mit dem Bundesliga-Schiedsrichter.” ZDFheute, 11 Apr. 2025. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026. https://www.zdfheute.de/sport/bundesliga-fussball-schiedsrichter-ein-tag-mit-daniel-schlager-bei-bvb-mainz-05-100.html
- Middleton, Emma. “How Much Are Premier League Referees Paid?” BBC Sport, 28 Jan. 2025, updated 7 Apr. 2025. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cwy1wm0l92ro
- North West Counties Football League. Administration Guide: Season 2025/26: Advice, Directives & Protocols. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026. https://www.nwcfl.com/league_admin/rules/202526/2025-26%20Club%20Guidance.pdf
- Premier League. “Video Assistant Referees Explained.” Premier League. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026. https://www.premierleague.com/en/VAR
- Sacchi, Marco, and Matteo Spaziante. “Serie A, i compensi degli arbitri: da Guida a Maresca, la classifica dei più pagati del 2025/26.” Calcio e Finanza, 26 May 2026. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026. https://www.calcioefinanza.it/2026/05/26/classifica-guadagni-arbitri-serie-a-2025-2026-cifre/
- Staffordshire Girls & Ladies Football League. “What Are the Match Official Fees for This Season?” SGL League, updated 7 Aug. 2026. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026. https://sglleague.com/faq/what-are-the-referee-fees-for-this-season
- UEFA. “Article 65: Financial Rules – Whole Competition.” Regulations of the UEFA Champions League 2026/27, 1 Mar. 2026. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026. https://documents.uefa.com/r/Regulations-of-the-UEFA-Champions-League-2026/27/Article-65-Financial-rules-whole-competition-Online
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