Premier League bosses’ pay packets ranked (20–11): bargains, big bets and brutal pressure
Money talks in the Premier League, and it’s shouting from the dugouts. Results rule, owners are ruthless, and the managers know they’re only ever a bad month away from the sack. But for all the turmoil, the salaries are eye-watering. Before we get into the numbers, if you’re tracking the market buzz around the gaffers, our guide to the best betting sites is a handy companion — and let’s be honest, these wages set the tone for a season lived under the cosh.
Here’s the rundown of the managers from 20th to 11th in the Premier League wage league — reported figures, and a snapshot of where the power and pressure really sit.
20) Keith Andrews (Brentford) — £1.3m per year
Thrown the keys after Thomas Frank’s exit, Andrews has gone from set-piece specialist to head honcho in a heartbeat. Losing Bryan Mbeumo and Christian Nørgaard right off the bat is a brutal first assignment, and the Bees’ dark-horse sheen will be tested. At £1.3m, he’s the division’s bargain-bin boss — now he needs to prove he’s more than a stopgap.
19) Fabian Hürzeler (Brighton) — £1.5m per year
At 31, the youngest permanent gaffer in Premier League history has already shown he can steer a project, delivering eighth in his debut campaign. Spurs were sniffing around before they turned to Thomas Frank, and Brighton doubled down with smart summer business. Four points from four this time round isn’t champagne stuff, but the raw materials and ideas are there — £1.5m feels like a bet on upside.
18) Andoni Iraola (Bournemouth) — £1.5m per year
One win in his first 10 had Cherries fans twitchy, then the switch flicked and Bournemouth surged, finishing ninth in 23/24. The club doesn’t splash on managers or transfers, so Iraola’s on the modest ticket — but the football and results suggest value. If the trajectory continues, expect that number to edge north.
17) Scott Parker (Burnley) — £1.6m per year
Sir Alex once tipped him as one to watch, and a 100-point romp out of the Championship validated the shout. The step up is never gentle; just one win from the first four in the top flight shows the learning curve. Still, at £1.6m, Burnley are paying for potential and calm hands at the wheel — survival could trigger a richer deal.
16) Vítor Pereira (Wolves) — £2m per year
He arrived, steadied the nerves and kept Wolves clear of real trouble, but this season’s start — zero points from four — has the sirens blaring again. Even so, talk of an extension to 2028 suggests the hierarchy see a longer-term play. On £2m, he’s in that awkward middle ground: well paid, but never far from the chop if results don’t turn.
15) Daniel Farke (Leeds United) — £2m per year
Critics don’t always love his approach, but the scoreboard sure did in the Championship — another 100-point masterclass and promotion banked. The brief now? Stay up, stabilise, and build. At £2m, Leeds have a steady operator on a sensible wage; May 2026 will tell us whether it’s a platform or a pause.
14) Régis Le Bris (Sunderland) — £2m per year
Up in a year, a bold summer window, and seven points from the first four — the Black Cats are purring under Le Bris. With Granit Xhaka wearing the armband, there’s an edge of steel to the style. £2m feels a snip if this momentum holds; the Stadium of Light finally has a plan and a personality.
13) Ange Postecoglou (Nottingham Forest) — £3m per year
The Europa League winner with Spurs left north London on a sour note in 2025, but Forest moved quickly after Nuno’s shock exit. Early days have been sticky — a Carabao Cup shootout defeat to Swansea hardly helps — yet at £3m they’ve hired a culture-builder. Expect bumps, but don’t underestimate the reset he brings.
12) Graham Potter (West Ham United) — £3.2m per year
His Brighton glow dimmed at Chelsea, and he’s still trying to rewire his reputation in east London. Appointed in January 2025, a points-per-game under one at the time of writing won’t silence the doubters. £3.2m is solid pay for a project coach; the question is whether West Ham have the patience to see the project through.
11) Oliver Glasner (Crystal Palace) — £4m per year
Palace were drifting under Roy Hodgson; Glasner walked in, raised standards and finished with a flourish — plus an FA Cup triumph to put a ribbon on it. On a two-year deal worth £4m per season, he’s the priciest of this batch and with good reason. Keep this tune going and the big guns will come calling.
The moral of the money? The wage table doesn’t always mirror the league table, but it tells you where the bets are being placed. From cut-price punts to rising stars and battle-hardened operators, the gulf from £1.3m to £4m is the cost of ambition. The top ten? That’s where the cheques — and the egos — really swell.
