Premier League referees now earn as much as £250,000 per year, according to figures shared by Howard Webb, chief refereeing officer at PGMOL, in a recent meeting with the 72 EFL clubs.
The figures reflect base salaries, bonuses, match fees, pension, and national insurance contributions, with total average costs reaching £240,000 per official.
Base pay varies by experience, ranging from £72,000 to £148,000. Additional income comes from performance-related bonuses and individual match fees.
The most senior referees, including Anthony Taylor and Arsenal sender-offer Michael Oliver, top out at around £250,000 annually, while newcomers in Select Group 1 take home closer to £125,000.
While the six-figure salaries mark a dramatic rise from the days when referees held other jobs midweek, they also reflect the extraordinary pressure, exposure, and commercial importance of top-flight officiating in the modern game.
As the demands intensify, so too does the expectation that referees remain unimpeachably neutral – not just in appearance, but in practice.
Maybe one day they will manage to meet those expectations.