MLS Player Salaries: A Comprehensive Guide

The MLS is composed of a variety of clubs and teams, each one with its own average salary for players. Toronto FC stands out as the club that currently offers the highest salaries in the MLS, while Nashville SC offers the lowest salaries in the league. Below, you can find a breakdown of the average player salary for all the teams in the MLS.

The Major League Soccer (MLS) offers competitive salaries to its players. Depending on experience and performance, players can earn an average salary of $100,000 – $3 million. However, it is important to note that the MLS has a salary cap of $4.24 million per team.

Toronto FC stands out as the club that currently offers the highest salaries in the MLS, while Nashville SC offers the lowest salaries.

TeamAverage Annual SalaryYearly Wage Bill
Toronto FC$928,477$26,925,850
Houston Dynamo$757,700$14,265,000
FC Cincinnati$685,600$12,335,000
Austin FC$619,700$13,267,000
LA Galaxy$581,250$14,544,000
Chicago Fire FC$573,800$18,284,000
St. Louis City SC$458,400$8,718,000
Atlanta United FC$452,500$9,507,000
Portland Timbers$421,250$11,780,000
Los Angeles FC$387,250$9,294,000
Columbus Crew SC$385,388$10,405,500
New York City FC$384,500$9,588,000
Sporting KC$369,250$9,971,000
Seattle Sounders FC$367,500$9,178,500
New England Revolution$366,500$9,529,000
Orlando City SC$339,925$8,838,000
Charlotte FC$314,600$5,978,000
San Jose Earthquakes$288,050$8,642,000
Real Salt Lake$287,800$8,634,000
Philadelphia Union$261,200$6,525,000
New York Red Bulls$242,250$6,783,000
Inter Miami CF$240,000$6,487,000
Minnesota United FC$238,560$5,750,000
Colorado Rapids$230,925$6,235,000
Montreal Impact$230,250$6,645,000
FC Dallas$225,750$5,192,000
DC United$219,400$5,924,500
Vancouver Whitecaps FC$187,300$5,432,000
Nashville SC$168,300$5,050,000
Click on a team name to read more about each player’s salary in that specific MLS team.

Player Salaries – Western & Eastern Conference

Here are the player salaries in the MLS, divided and ranked by the conference.

Western Conference

TeamAverage Salary (Annual)
1. Houston Dynamo$757,700
2. Austin FC$619,700
3. LA Galaxy$581,250
4. St. Louis City SC$458,400
5. Portland Timbers$421,250
6. Colombus Crew$385,388
7. Sporting KC$369,250
8. Seattle Sounders FC$367,500
9. San Jose Earthquakes$288,050
10. Real Salt Lake$287,800
11. Minnesota United FC$238,560
12. Colorado Rapids$230,925
13. FC Dallas$225,750
14. Vancouver Whitecaps$187,300
15. Nashville SC$168,300

Eastern Conference

TeamAverage Salary (Annual)
1. Toronto FC$928,477
2. FC Cincinnati$685,600
3. Chicago Fire FC$573,800
4. Atlanta United$452,500
5. Los Angeles FC$387,250
6. New York City FC$384,500
7. New England Revolution$366,500
8. Orlando City SC$339,925
9. Charlotte FC$314,600
10. Philadelphia Union$261,200
11. New York Red Bulls$242,250
12. Inter Miami CF$240,000
13. Montreal Impact$230,250
14. DC United$219,400

Highest-Paid MLS Players

The pay gap in the MLS is huge; the average MLS player salary is $386,668. You’ll find the 5 highest-paid players in the MLS.

5. Gonzalo Higuain – $5,800,000

Gonzalo Higuain MLS Salary
Club: Inter Miami CF

4. Michael Bradley – $6,500,000

Michael Bradley MLS Salary
Club: Toronto FC

3. Javier Hernandez – $7,250,000

Javier Hernandez MLS Salary
Club: LA Galaxy

2. Xherdan Shaqiri – $8,150,000

Xherdan Shaqiri MLS Salary
Club: Chicago Fire FC

1. Lorenzo Insigne – $14,000,000

Lorenzo Insigne MLS Salary
Club: Toronto FC

The Major League Soccer, more commonly known as the MLS, is the premier soccer league in North America. It is composed of a variety of clubs and teams, each offering its own average salary for players. While the MLS has a salary cap of $4.24 million per team, salaries can range from $100,000 to $3 million depending on experience and performance.

The MLS is a great opportunity for aspiring soccer players to make a living out of their passion and to make their dreams come true. With Major League Soccer increasing in popularity year after year, the competition for teams and players is getting more and more fierce.

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