EFL Championship: What is the average salary in England's second-tier?

The English Football League Championshipis the top tier of the English Football League (EFL) and the second-highest overall in England after the Premier League. It is also referred to as the Championship, after being renamed in the 2004-05 season.The Football League First Division (1992-2004) and the Football League Second Division (1892-1992) were the former names of the leaguewherea total of 24 clubs compete.

The top two teams in the Championship are promoted to the Premier League automatically next season. Teams who finish thirdto the sixth position in the regular season compete in playoff competition, with the winner earning promotion to the Premier League, while the Championship’s three lowest-placed teams are relegated to League One.

The EFL Championship trophy is awarded to the Championship winners and is the same trophy that was given to the old First Division champions previous to the Premier League’s inception in 1992. Welsh teams alsocompete in the division, much as in other competitive English football leagues, rendering it a cross-border league.

Preston North End players pass the ball against Birmingham City. (Getty)

What is the average salary in theEFL Championship?

In 2006, the annual EFL Championship salarywas around £150,000 a year. That averages out at about £3,000 a week, which is still a large amount as compared to the average British worker. After 15years, the overall salary has risen dramatically, with players now earning almost £29,000-per-week on average.

Paying a premium salary to the occasional player isn’t a concern, but having the whole roster on a generous deal can be expensive in the long run. If you try to achieve short-term success, this is definitely not the right approach. According to reports, Stoke City has nine players on their payroll who raise £50,000 or more a week.

According to statistics, the highest-paid player in the English second leaguemakes £68,000 a week on a monthly basis. This is almost £40,000 a week more than the current Championship salary and unquestionably more than the earnings of many Premier League players. The estimated averagesalary ofa club’s top earner is £1.51 million a year, which translates to a monthly salary of £125,797, according to a Daily Mail surveyin 2020.