Hollie Davidson is now one of the biggest names in rugby refereeing, but getting there came at a price.

The Scottish official walked away from a well-paid banking job to become a full-time referee.

It wasn't a cheap decision, either.

Davidson took a pay cut of more than 50% to chase her dream, swapping a steady income for a career in rugby.

But with Davidson now taking charge of some of the sport's biggest matches, how much is she earning?

How much does Hollie Davidson earn?

Hollie Davidson's exact salary has never been made public, but her earnings could now be substantial.

The Scottish official has held a professional refereeing contract since 2017. She also takes charge of major international matches.

So, what could she earn in a year?

Previous reports on rugby referee salaries suggest experienced officials can receive between £1,200 and £2,200 per match.

Fees of around £5,000 have also been reported for men's Six Nations fixtures. However, those figures are not confirmed payments to Davidson.

There is no public evidence that she receives the same fee.

How the £50,000–£80,000 estimate works

One possible annual earnings model would look like this:

• Professional contract: £40,000–£55,000
• 15 paid match appointments: £1,200–£1,500 per game
• Potential annual total: £58,000–£77,500

That would put her earnings somewhere around £50,000 to £80,000 a year.

However, this is an illustrative calculation, not a verified breakdown of Davidson's pay. The contract figures are assumptions, and it is not known whether she receives match fees on top of her salary.

For comparison, historical French refereeing figures have placed professional officials' base salaries at around £44,000, with additional match payments.

Davidson's Scottish Rugby contract could be structured very differently.

The bottom line? Davidson could now be earning considerably more than when she first picked up the whistle.

But until her contract details become public, the £50,000–£80,000 figure remains an estimate rather than a confirmed salary.

Hollie Davidson took a huge pay cut

Before becoming a referee, Davidson worked for American banking giant JP Morgan.

She had studied economic history at the University of Edinburgh and spent two years working in finance.

But in 2017, she decided to walk away.

Speaking to The Irish Times, Davidson revealed she had taken a salary cut of more than 50%.

Her family and friends struggled to believe the decision.

Even her boss was disappointed to lose her, although he backed her decision to chase a rare opportunity.

Nine years later, the gamble has paid off.

Davidson has refereed two Women's Rugby World Cup finals and made history in the men's game.

In February 2026, she became the first woman to referee a men's Six Nations match when Ireland hosted Italy in Dublin.

It was another landmark moment for an official who has continued to break new ground.

10 interesting facts about Hollie Davidson

1. She grew up in Aberdeenshire

Davidson was born on 19 September 1992 and grew up in Aboyne, a village west of Aberdeen.

2. She nearly played for Scotland

Davidson represented Scotland at Under-20 level and was selected for the senior squad.

However, a serious shoulder injury ended her hopes of winning a full international cap.

3. She was a scrum-half

Before picking up the whistle, Davidson played at number nine.

She has described herself as a lively and vocal player.

4. She studied economic history

Davidson graduated from the University of Edinburgh before starting her career at JP Morgan.

5. She started refereeing in 2015

Her journey began with a women's refereeing course run by Scottish Rugby.

Just two years later, she became a full-time official.

6. Her first men's international was chaotic

Davidson took charge of Portugal against Italy in 2022.

The match featured four yellow cards and two penalty tries.

7. She has refereed two World Cup finals

Davidson took charge of the Women's Rugby World Cup finals in 2022 and 2025.

It is an achievement few referees can match.

8. She made All Blacks history

In November 2025, Davidson became the first woman to referee a Test involving New Zealand's men's team.

The match saw the All Blacks face Wales in Cardiff.

9. She is already in the Hall of Fame

Davidson was inducted into Scottish Rugby's Hall of Fame in 2025.

It was another major honour for the Scottish official.

10. She has another huge ambition

Despite her many achievements, Davidson still has one major goal.

She hopes to referee at the 2027 Men's Rugby World Cup in Australia.