The price of pressure
Premier League managers are some of the most scrutinised figures in world football, and their salaries reflect the scale of the job. With broadcasting money, European qualification, commercial pressure and survival all carrying huge financial consequences, clubs are willing to pay heavily for the right person in the dugout.
For the 2026/27 season, the wage table tells a fascinating story. Some salaries reward proven success, some reflect the cost of luring elite coaches, and others show how promoted clubs are trying to stay competitive without breaking their wage structures.
Mikel Arteta leads the way at Arsenal
Mikel Arteta is the highest-paid manager in the Premier League, earning a reported £15 million per year at Arsenal.
That figure reflects Arsenal’s faith in a manager who has taken them from long-term rebuild to Premier League champions. After ending the club’s 22-year wait for the title and reaching the Champions League final, Arteta has become the benchmark for managerial value in England.
His current deal includes significant performance-related bonuses, and with his contract approaching renewal in 2027, there is every chance Arsenal may need to raise the bar again to keep him at the Emirates.
Glasner and Alonso join the elite bracket
Behind Arteta, Oliver Glasner and Xabi Alonso sit joint-second on £11.5 million per year.
Glasner’s move to Nottingham Forest is one of the most eye-catching appointments of the season. After winning the Conference League with Crystal Palace, he has been handed a huge salary by Forest as they look to build something more ambitious and stable.
Alonso, meanwhile, arrives at Chelsea with a major reputation. His salary reflects both his status and the expectation that he will be given more authority than previous head coaches at Stamford Bridge. After his impressive work at Bayer Leverkusen and high-profile spell at Real Madrid, Chelsea are paying for pedigree, ideas and control.
Manchester City start the post-Guardiola era with Maresca
Enzo Maresca is fourth on the list, earning £10 million per year at Manchester City.
Replacing Pep Guardiola is arguably the most difficult managerial job in world football. Maresca knows the club well from his previous time in the City system, but the pressure will be enormous. His salary shows that City view him as more than just a continuity appointment. He is being paid like a top-tier manager expected to keep the machine running.
The £8 million group: Iraola, Emery and De Zerbi
Three managers sit on £8 million per year: Andoni Iraola at Liverpool, Unai Emery at Aston Villa and Roberto De Zerbi at Tottenham Hotspur.
Iraola’s move to Liverpool is one of the biggest tactical stories of the season. After impressing at Bournemouth, he has been handed the Anfield job and a salary that reflects Liverpool’s belief in his high-energy football.
Emery’s wage at Aston Villa is a reward for sustained success. Having delivered Champions League qualification and European silverware, he has firmly re-established Villa as a serious force.
De Zerbi’s Tottenham salary reflects both risk and ambition. Spurs needed a major personality to steady the club after a difficult campaign, and De Zerbi’s reputation for bold, attacking football made him an expensive but exciting appointment.
Newcastle back youth with Jaissle
Matthias Jaissle earns £6 million per year at Newcastle United after replacing Eddie Howe.
The appointment marks a new era at St James’ Park. Jaissle is regarded as one of the most promising young managers in the game, and Newcastle have made a serious financial commitment to secure him. At 38, he has time on his side, but he also inherits big expectations following Howe’s transformative spell.
The £5 million managers: Moyes, Carrick and Lampard
Three British managers earn £5 million per year: David Moyes at Everton, Michael Carrick at Manchester United and Frank Lampard at Coventry City.
Moyes’ return to Everton has brought stability, and his salary reflects his experience and trusted Premier League track record.
Carrick’s deal at Manchester United looks modest by Old Trafford standards, but it gives him the chance to become the man who finally restores the club to title contention.
Lampard’s Coventry salary is perhaps the most striking of the three. After leading the club to promotion, he has been rewarded with a long-term deal and the backing to prove himself again in the Premier League.
Mid-table wages for Rose and Sage
Marco Rose at Bournemouth and Pierre Sage at Crystal Palace both earn £4 million per year.
Rose arrives with strong European experience from Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig and Red Bull Salzburg. Bournemouth are paying for a manager who can guide them through both domestic and European challenges.
Sage, meanwhile, takes over a Palace side riding the momentum of European success. His salary reflects his growing reputation in French football and the belief that he can build on the work done before him.
Promoted clubs show ambition
Among the promoted clubs, the wage picture is varied.
Sergej Jakirovic earns £3 million per year at Hull City, placing him above several more established Premier League names. After guiding Hull through the playoffs, he has earned the club’s trust and could yet be in line for a new deal.
Frank Lampard, as mentioned, is on £5 million at Coventry, showing just how strongly the club values his leadership after promotion.
Gary O’Neil earns £2 million at Ipswich Town, making him one of the joint-lowest-paid managers in the league. His brief is clear: keep Ipswich in the Premier League and rebuild his reputation as a survival specialist.
The lowest-paid managers still carry major responsibility
At the bottom of the wage table are Gary O’Neil, Daniel Farke and Regis Le Bris, all earning £2 million per year.
Farke has already delivered for Leeds, winning the Championship and then keeping them in the Premier League. If he builds on that, a pay rise may become inevitable.
Le Bris’ salary looks particularly modest given Sunderland’s impressive rise, including Premier League survival and European qualification. His stock is rising quickly, and Sunderland may need to move fast if they want to keep him long term.
O’Neil’s wage reflects Ipswich’s more cautious structure, but his job is no less important. Survival would make his salary look like excellent value.
Full Premier League Manager Salary Rankings 2026/27
- Mikel Arteta, Arsenal: £15 million
- Oliver Glasner, Nottingham Forest: £11.5 million
- Xabi Alonso, Chelsea: £11.5 million
- Enzo Maresca, Manchester City: £10 million
- Andoni Iraola, Liverpool: £8 million
- Unai Emery, Aston Villa: £8 million
- Roberto De Zerbi, Tottenham Hotspur: £8 million
- Matthias Jaissle, Newcastle United: £6 million
- David Moyes, Everton: £5 million
- Michael Carrick, Manchester United: £5 million
- Frank Lampard, Coventry City: £5 million
- Marco Rose, Bournemouth: £4 million
- Pierre Sage, Crystal Palace: £4 million
- Sergej Jakirovic, Hull City: £3 million
- Keith Andrews, Brentford: £2.6 million
- Alvaro Arbeloa, Fulham: £2.6 million
- Fabian Hurzeler, Brighton & Hove Albion: £2.5 million
- Regis Le Bris, Sunderland: £2 million
- Daniel Farke, Leeds United: £2 million
- Gary O’Neil, Ipswich Town: £2 million
What the wage table tells us
The 2026/27 Premier League managerial wage list shows a clear divide between proven elite coaches, high-potential appointments and survival-focused managers.
Arteta is out in front because Arsenal’s patience has paid off. Chelsea and Forest have spent big to land statement managers. City, Liverpool and Tottenham are funding major new eras. Meanwhile, clubs like Sunderland, Leeds and Ipswich are relying on lower-paid managers to deliver results that could be worth tens of millions.
In the Premier League, salary does not guarantee success. But it does show expectation. And this season, the pressure from the dugout will be as intense as anything happening on the pitch.
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