The Pay in Football: UK v Aus

Now let’s talk about pay, because a lot of players wonder how the money in Non-League compares to what you get in the NPL.

From my experience, I’d say it’s relatively similar. When I signed my first semi-pro contract, I was 19, and I was getting paid about £75 a game - which works out to around $150 Australian dollars. At the time, I thought that was pretty good. For a young player just breaking in, it felt like a fair reward.

But here’s the thing: the pay in Non-League can really vary. It’s not as simple as saying “the higher the level, the higher the money.” Some clubs, even in the lower

divisions, are extremely wealthy. You could be at a Step 5 club earning £250 to £300 a week and have expenses also covered. At the same time, you might find players in higher leagues who are earning half of that.

It comes down to the size of the club, the backing they’ve got, and how much they’re willing to invest in players. So the structure isn’t uniform — it’s all over the place.

The NPL is similar. Some clubs pay quite well, others don’t. And just like in Non-League, you can’t always assume the higher league means better money.

So the key takeaway is this: yes, the pay is pretty comparable between the NPL and Non-League. But it ranges massively depending on the club. You can do really well if you’re in the right place, but equally, you might find yourself at a higher level where the money’s actually less.