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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteCardiff City reported £38.795 million in total staff costs for the year ended 31 May 2025, against revenue of £25.794 million. That put staff costs at 150.4% of revenue—the highest ratio among the clubs with figures in Salary Sport’s comparison of latest available accounts. The comparison is not a synchronized league table: some clubs’ published figures cover different reporting years.
Cardiff’s 2024/25 figures at a glance
| Measure | Cardiff figure | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Total staff costs | £38.795m | Payroll costs across staff, not only first-team players. |
| Wages and salaries | £34.669m | A separate line from total staff costs; social security costs were £4.126m. |
| Revenue | £25.794m | The revenue figure used in the comparison. |
| Staff costs as a share of revenue | 150.4% | Total staff costs divided by revenue. |
| Loss before tax | £35.088m | The reported pre-tax loss for the year. |
These are Cardiff’s figures for the financial year ended 31 May 2025, as compiled from the accounts by Salary Sport. A ratio above 100% means total staff costs exceeded revenue; it does not mean that every pound of the club’s spending was on wages.
How Cardiff compares with other Championship clubs
In Salary Sport’s table of latest available accounts, Cardiff’s 150.4% staff-cost-to-revenue ratio was the highest among clubs with a reported figure. The next-highest listed ratios were Charlton Athletic at 138.3% and Preston North End at 129.9%.
Read that ranking as a comparison of available account figures, not a precise comparison of the same season. The table identifies Cardiff and most peers with 2024/25 figures, but includes older years—for example, Preston North End 2023/24, Portsmouth 2021/22 and Norwich City 2019/20. Salary Sport says its page includes filed accounts for all 24 clubs, but supplies wage-to-revenue figures for 20. It therefore does not establish a ratio for every club or a fully like-for-like league ranking.
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Differences in reporting year and revenue or cost mix can affect the comparison. For a more meaningful club-to-club comparison, match the same financial year and entity, and check whether each figure covers player wages or all staff costs.
Why “wage bill” can mean different things
Total staff costs: £38.795m
Staff costs include the club’s wider payroll, such as players, coaches, academy staff and people working at the ground. This is the measure behind Cardiff’s 150.4% ratio.
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Wages and salaries: £34.669m
This is a distinct line in the accounts. Cardiff also reported £4.126m in social security costs, which brings the total staff-cost figure to £38.795m.
Player-related wages: £29.190m
Cover Wales, reporting on Cardiff City Football Club (Holdings) Limited’s filed group accounts for the year ended 31 May 2025, gives player-related wages of £29.190m. Against group turnover of £25.794m, that is about 113%. This player-related figure is narrower than all staff costs, so it should not be substituted for the £38.795m total staff-cost measure. The accounts do not disclose individual players’ pay.
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How the figures changed from 2023/24
Salary Sport’s series shows Cardiff’s total staff costs rising from £29.715m in 2023/24 to £38.795m in 2024/25. Over the same period, staff costs increased from 127.9% to 150.4% of revenue. Cover Wales reports player-related wages rising from £21.357m to £29.190m.
These are comparisons between financial years, not a current wage list for the squad. They also describe different accounting measures: the staff-cost series covers the wider payroll, while the player-related figure covers player wages.
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How Cardiff’s figures fit the Championship’s finances
The scale of Cardiff’s ratio sits within a division facing broad financial pressure, but it is not a league average. Deloitte’s Annual Review of Football Finance 2026 reports that Championship clubs together generated £942m in revenue in 2024/25, down £16m (2%) from the prior season. Aggregate pre-tax losses reached £355m, up 12%, and operating losses totalled £436m, up 5%.
For historical context, Cardiff’s official March 2025 update on its 2023/24 accounts reported an operating loss of £9.957m and a loss before tax of £11.661m. It also said player-related costs had risen by £5.712m year on year. Those figures cover the preceding reporting year and should not be used in place of Cardiff’s 2024/25 accounts.
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Quick Recap
What to check when comparing wage figures
- Reporting year: Confirm that the accounts cover the same period.
- Scope: Distinguish player-related wages from wages and salaries or total staff costs.
- Entity and revenue: Check whether figures refer to a group or club company and use comparable turnover or revenue definitions.
- Financial circumstances: Promotions, relegations and parachute payments can affect a club’s income and the context for a wage-to-revenue ratio.
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