Marketed as the ‘most competitive league in the world’, the Championship has unrivalled riches for a second tier. Teams in the promotion race are fighting for the biggest payout in football, and its 46-game season is gruelling.
Championship finances have been a hot topic in recent years. Let’s take a deeper dive with a look at the salaries in the second tier of English football.
Average Championship Salary
The average Championship salary continues to rise. Some teams pay their players an average of over £30,000 per week, with Leicester City averaging £44,000 per week in 2023-24.
At the other end of the spectrum, the league’s lower-budget clubs pay under £5,000 per week in wages. The average league-wide salary fluctuates drastically from season to season as a result. There is a massive range of spending power in the Championship from recently relegated teams to minnows who have just made their way into the second tier from League One.
This trend is replicated for Championship managers. Some will be earning less than their League One counterparts, while those at the top of the league might have larger salaries than several Premier League bosses.
Wage bills have been a hot topic in the Championship over the last few years. Teams have tried to spend their way to promotion with varied success. Some have reached the promised land and the associated riches, while others have sent themselves into financial strife.
Championship Salaries Compared to Premier League
With over 50 Premier League players earning more than £150,000 per week in 2023-24, the majority of topflight footballers earn more in a month than many Championship players do in a year.
Of course, there are exceptions.
Jamie Vardy, for instance, was the Championship’s top earner in 2023-24 and was on a salary most Premier League players would be happy with. Some players loaned from Premier League clubs will be on big bucks, too (much of which will be paid by the parent club).
Per Capology, 18 Championship players were earning £60,000 or more per week in 2023-24. Just five players are in this category in 2024-25.
Impact of Parachute Payments
Introduced in 2006-07 to soften the financial impact of relegation, parachute payments were initially split over four seasons. The amount of money has increased over the years in line with the riches in the Premier League. In 2016-17, the decision was made to make these payments over three seasons.
Teams who spend a lone season in the topflight receive only two seasons of parachute payments.
While this money has helped to stabilise relegated teams, it also gives them a marked advantage over their Championship rivals. They are getting tens of millions for several years, which allows them to maintain much higher payrolls.
Numerous teams have earned promotion one or two seasons after relegation in the last decade. Parachute payments have had an adverse impact on the competitiveness of the Championship, but they are likely here to stay.
What is the average Championship salary?
Exact figures for an average Championship salary are not publicly available. Most guestimates are between the £10,000 and £30,000 mark per week.
Who is the highest-paid Championship player?
Mason Holgate and Patrick Bamford are the highest-paid Championship players in 2024-25, according to Capology.
They are both on £70,000 per week. Holgate is spending the season on loan at West Brom from Everton. Bamford is on a permanent contract with Leeds.
How much does the average Premier League player earn?
In 2023-24, it was reported the average Premier League player earned roughly £60,000 per week. Player salaries continue to rise, though, with the majority of players at the ‘Big Six’ earning over £100,000 per week.
Who are the highest-paid footballers in the world?
Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema are thought to be two of the highest-paid footballers in the world. Kylian Mbappe is bound to be up there after his move from PSG to Real Madrid.
Who are the top paid football managers?
According to L’Equipe, Diego Simeone is the highest-paid manager in world football. This has been the case for a prolonged period, partly due to Simeone’s loyalty to Atletico Madrid.
Pep Guardiola is the highest earner in the Premier League. Carlo Ancelotti is also on a massive salary at Real Madrid.
