How Much Do Football Coaches Get Paid?

Football coaches are a vital part of a club's infrastructure. They have a massive impact on how the team performs on the pitch, making sure they are well drilled on the training ground, and ensuring the manager has the correct preparation in place to do their job on a matchday.

For all of those reasons they are very valuable to clubs up and down the country- But what do they actually get paid?

Well, here's a look at what a football coach actually is and exactly how much they get paid for fulfilling their duties from the elite level of Premier League football to the lower tiers of the English pyramid.

What Is the Difference Between a Football Manager and a Coach?

Despite the two terms often being used interchangeably, the job titles of 'manager' and 'coach' have distinct differences in terms of the duties which they tackle.

The Role of a Coach

A coach is predominantly responsible for the On-field matters. This encompasses advising tactical decisions and taking charge of training sessions.

• Dreams of managing in England
• Challenges of coaching in Brazil
• Promotion to La Liga with Real Valladolid
• Adapting his game model

Watford's head coach @PapaPezzolano's long read... 🐝📜

Read our exclusive interview through the link below... 👇 pic.twitter.com/AYF4Uimm02

— Coaches' Voice (@CoachesVoice) August 4, 2025

They usually have a more intimate role in terms of player development and take on a more technical involvement looking to get the best out of the squad in-game.

This can include personal development plans for players and putting analysis of opponents into practice during training sessions.

The Role of a Manager

The role of a manager at a football club usually sees a wider scope and more comprehensive range of responsibilities. The manager can often act as a midpoint, overseeing the coaches and reporting to the board and higher-ups.

There is some crossover with the coaching side of things and the manager does have input in terms of the tactical direction of the team, but the role also has impacts on the overall strategic vison of the club and stands as a greater leadership role than that of a coach.

Can the Roles Crossover?

Traditionally, the distinct differences in duties between the two roles were a prominent feature in the sport, whereas in the modern day, the evolution of football has seen the two jobs become more aligned in their descriptions.

A lot of managers now refer to the title of 'head coach' instead and prefer to take a more hands on approach whilst also having a significant influence on the inner workings of their club.

Professional Football Coach Salary in the UK

Head Coach/Manager Salary

When looking at Head Coaches, a term which usually encompasses those who take on some of both roles' duties, there is a variety of salaries depending on the level of the English football pyramid they are employed in.

Premier League

In the Premier League the top clubs usually pay around £10m-20m per year for the services of their head coach. For example, Pep Guardiola at Manchester City reportedly takes home around £20m per year.

Pep Guardiola salary at Man city £20m. Last year the FA put just short of £18m into grassroots football
Just look at the state of Grassroots football to see if the FA can afford him #Englandjob pic.twitter.com/LsPsIo26L2

— SaveGrassRootsFooty (@savegrassroots) October 15, 2024

The amounts paid to head coaches at midtable clubs usually sits around the £2-6m mark and for those at the lower Premier League level or those who are inexperienced they make around £1m-2m per year.

Championship

In the second tier of English football Head coaches earn significantly less, although it can vary depending on the calibre of club and if they have Premier League experience.

The figures for those in the Championship most commonly ranges between £500k-£1.5m. There are exceptions to the rule such as Kieran McKenna at Ipswich who, despite likely having some sort of wage drop following relegation last season, reportedly earned around £5m last year on his current contract.

BREAKING: Kieran McKenna signs new contract at Ipswich 🚨 pic.twitter.com/OE2EToARNn

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) May 30, 2024

League One and League Two

Head coaches in League One typically earn around £100k-£300k per year whilst those in League Two sit at around £50k-£150k.

Similarly to the Championship, this can vary depending on the size of the club and possible relegations from higher divisions.

Assistant and First-team Coaches

Assistants and first-team coaches usually take on less responsibility than their more senior head coach counterparts and are often responsible for taking on more minor roles and help out with duties. Similarly to that of Head Coaches, the salaries vary heavily in these roles.

Premier League

In the Premier League, assistant and first-team coaches will usually earn a sum somewhere in the region of £300K-£1.5m. This depends on their seniority, time and success within football- The size and reputation of the club they work for also has an impact.

A local lad.

Graeme Jones loving every moment. 🖤🤍 pic.twitter.com/TAf3QUYmEb

— Newcastle United (@NUFC) March 20, 2025

Championship

In the Championship, the wages for assistant and first-team coaches are £150k-£400k which marks a distinctly large drop off in average from the payments for those at Premier League clubs.

League One and League Two

Assistant coaches in the lower leagues of professional football in England earn between £25k-£75k. This once again shows the disparity between elite level football and those in the lower remits.

Youth Football Coach Salary in the UK

Youth development is a massive part of the English football pyramid from the Premier League all the way to League Two and beyond.

Fair to say the youth academy coaches are earning their money......some unreal talent coming through 🙌 pic.twitter.com/UTv0uXQC38

— Gaz (@gazmat10) February 2, 2025

It is integral to the infrastructure of English football as a whole and the sustainability of each individual club, making the youth coaches an equally as important part of a club's staff.

In the Premier League, youth coaches who work at academies earn between £30k-£100k- This is a figure which depends on the stature of the club, the experience of the coach themselves and the age group that they coach.

Youth coaches residing in the lower divisions of English football make between £30k-£50k for the services they provide.