All 24 EFL League One clubs' annual wage bill ranked from least to most | OneFootball

Which sides in League One are paying their players the most this season?

League One has provided many enthralling moments so far this season, with many sides hoping it is their time to achieve promotion to the Championship.

With Birmingham City and Wrexham now firmly out of the third-tier picture, it is anyone's guess as to which three sides will make the step-up through the pyramid and into the second-tier come the end of the season, with a cluster of ex-Premier League sides currently residing in a wide-open division.

However, that still doesn't take away from the fact that there is still a fairly sizeable gap when it comes to the finances that can be offered by all 24 sides, as those who have recently fallen on hard times and found themselves in League One are still able to offer greater pay packets in comparison to the majority of those who are newly-promoted or have consolidated their position over due course.

With that being said, Football League World has ranked each of the 24 teams based on the size of their current wage bill, with such financial data provided by ESTIMATED figures through Capology.

24 ? ? Exeter City

At the bottom of the divisional payroll list is Exeter City, with the Grecians said to be paying their squad members a combined £77,700 per week, which equates to £4,040,400 across the season as a whole.

Whilst figures for individual players aren't available as yet, it may come as little surprise that the reported top earner in this part of Devon is Northern Ireland international forward, Josh Magennis.

23 ? ? Doncaster Rovers

Next up are newly-promoted Doncaster Rovers, who have taken a major dip in form under Grant McCann after initially continuing the wave of momentum which saw them crowned as last season's League Two champions.

According to the aforementioned site, Rovers' players are being paid a combined figure of £79,300 per week and approximately £4.12m across the season, with summer recruit, Matty Pearson, said to be the top earner.

22 ? ? AFC Wimbledon

Next up are last season's fourth-tier play-off winners, AFC Wimbledon.

According to Capology, the South London side have a weekly payroll of £81,004 and a seasonal figure of £4.21m, which is the third-lowest in the division. However, the Dons are clearly punching above their weight at present under Johnnie Jackson with a rather impressive opening three months of the campaign.

Mansfield Town are up next, with the Stags now into their second successive season at third-tier level under the vastly experienced Nigel Clough.

The East Midlands side are believed to have a weekly wage bill of £86,173 and a season-wide figure of £4.48m at present, with the highest earner at Field Mill coming in the form of Birmingham City loanee, Tyler Roberts.

It may surprise some, but Barnsley are believed to have the fifth-lowest payroll in League One, despite only being relegated from the Championship three years ago.

In what is Conor Hourihane's first full season in full-time management, the Tykes' weekly payroll comes in at a figure of £86,500 and an annual sum of £4.49m, with Marc Roberts the highest-paid player in this part of South Yorkshire in his second spell at the club.

Northampton Town are in the thick of a third straight season in League One under Kevin Nolan, as they look to build on a 19th-place finish last season.

The Cobblers' weekly wage bill is said to come in at a figure of £94,092, with the ex-Newcastle United midfielder seeing Cameron McGeehan take home the greatest pay packet at Sixfields, taking home the bulk of a £4.89m figure across 46 games.

18 ? ? Port Vale

At a figure less than £500 per week more are newly-promoted Port Vale, who are currently struggling to assert themselves back in the division under Darren Moore.

The Staffordshire side's weekly payroll is £94,500 and they have an annual figure of £4.91m, with Belgian midfielder, Funso Ojo, the highest-paid player at Vale Park right now.

17 ? ? Lincoln City

Lincoln City have been a steady-performing side in League One for some time now, with Michael Skubala's side firmly in the play-off hunt at present.

The Imps' wage bill per week comes in at a figure of £98,500, with experienced centre-back, Sonny Bradley, topping the individual charts of a list which equates to £5.12m over the season.

16 ? ? Stevenage

Stevenage are the first side to surpass the £100,000 mark in terms of weekly wages on offer, with the Hertfordshire side's overall figure coming in at £107,392, alongside a seasonal number of £5.58m

'Boro' have started the season in fine form under Alex Revell, with the former striker's highest earner coming in the form of ex-Brentford centre-back, Charlie Goode.

15 ? ? Burton Albion

Despite being known as perennial relegation-battlers, Burton Albion's weekly payroll of £108,050 and season-long figure of £5.61m, in comparison to divisional rivals, would suggest otherwise.

The Brewers have enjoyed an upsurge of form under Gary Bowyer of late, with the highest earner at the Pirelli Stadium currently Charlie Webster, who has impressed massively since joining from Chelsea in 2024.