Not to be outdone, America’s Favorite Pastime also pays out huge salaries, but they come in behind the NFL and NBA with the highest-paying MLB team, the New York Mets, having a lower average salary than 29 of the 30 NBA teams in 2023.
This table ranks all thirty MLB teams based on average annual salary:
Rank | Team | Average Annual Salary |
1 | New York Mets | $6,668,958 |
2 | New York Yankees | $5,766,726 |
3 | Philadelphia Phillies | $4,886,530 |
4 | Texas Rangers | $4,191,250 |
5 | San Diego Padres | $4,134,989 |
6 | Los Angeles Angels | $4,065,952 |
7 | Atlanta Braves | $3,957,875 |
8 | Houston Astros | $3,893,162 |
9 | Toronto Blue Jays | $3,803,194 |
10 | Chicago White Sox | $3,783,761 |
11 | Los Angeles Dodgers | $3,687,500 |
12 | San Francisco Giants | $3,535,000 |
13 | Colorado Rockies | $3,508,120 |
14 | Boston Red Sox | $3,390,078 |
15 | Chicago Cubs | $2,937,073 |
16 | St. Louis Cardinals | $2,861,667 |
17 | Detroit Tigers | $2,558,125 |
18 | Minnesota Twins | $2,532,530 |
19 | Seattle Mariners | $2,412,143 |
20 | Arizona Diamondbacks | $1,905,298 |
21 | Washington Nationals | $1,667,827 |
22 | Miami Marlins | $1,297,561 |
23 | Kansas City Royals | $1,163,625 |
24 | Milwaukee Brewers | $1,138,374 |
25 | Pittsburgh Pirates | $1,091,250 |
26 | Cleveland Guardians | $1,032,500 |
27 | Cincinnati Reds | $910,625 |
28 | Tampa Bay Rays | $776,364 |
29 | Baltimore Orioles | $624,375 |
30 | Oakland Athletics | $621,951 |
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Highest Paying NFL Teams
The NFL pays out the highest amount of total salaries in the world with a whopping collective of $6.7 million in 2022! This is shared among all 1,486 players in the NFL making the overall average salary for a player in the NFL just over $4.5 million.
With each team in the NFL playing seventeen games a season that is an average of $260,000 per game played. That kind of income can buy a lot of cheeseburgers.
However, the average is heavily skewed by the biggest contracts in the league. The median salary for an NFL player is $860,000, which, while still an obscene amount of money, paints a more accurate picture of the typical compensation for an NFL player.
Below is a chart listing the annual salaries of all the teams in the NFL in 2023:
Rank | Team | Average Annual Salary |
1 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | $7,116,617 |
2 | Miami Dolphins | $6,189,379 |
3 | San Francisco 49ers | $6,066,029 |
4 | Jacksonville Jaguars | $6,000,106 |
5 | Kansas City Chiefs | $5,958,323 |
6 | Buffalo Bills | $5,934,710 |
7 | Los Angeles Chargers | $5,806,316 |
8 | New Orleans Saints | $5,586,339 |
9 | Minnesota Vikings | $5,010,072 |
10 | Dallas Cowboys | $4,992,801 |
11 | Seattle Seahawks | $4,991,376 |
12 | New York Jets | $4,830,275 |
13 | Cleveland Browns | $4,612,904 |
14 | Carolina Panthers | $4,603,567 |
15 | Tennessee Titans | $4,598,790 |
16 | Los Angeles Rams | $4,516,079 |
17 | Detroit Lions | $4,446,446 |
18 | Pittsburgh Steelers | $4,363,283 |
19 | Cincinnati Bengals | $4,353,933 |
20 | Arizona Cardinals | $4,213,586 |
21 | Baltimore Ravens | $4,171,070 |
22 | Las Vegas Raiders | $4,156,681 |
23 | Green Bay Packers | $4,064,373 |
24 | New York Giants | $3,985,066 |
25 | Philadelphia Eagles | $3,932,774 |
26 | Houston Texans | $3,928,207 |
27 | Indianapolis Colts | $3,905,025 |
28 | Denver Broncos | $3,858,597 |
29 | Washington Commanders | $3,735,003 |
30 | New England Patriots | $3,249,909 |
31 | Atlanta Falcons | $2,933,939 |
32 | Chicago Bears | $2,294,532 |
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Highest Paying MLS Teams
Given Major League Soccer’s popularity deficit in the US is it not surprising that financially they are well behind other more established leagues such as the NFL and NBA when it comes to salaries, but when it comes to popularity Soccer is a rising star.
According to a study reported on by Forbes MLS has experienced a 27% rise in popularity since 2012 with more and more high schools across the nation opting to create soccer programs every year. This rise in popularity coupled with younger generations having an exciting new alternative to football will continue the growing trend of soccer’s overall popularity in the US.
The competitive nature of Americans will inevitably lead to MLS teams one day going overseas with greater frequency to test their mettle against the well established “old guard” teams of the European leagues.
Here is a chart listing the overall average annual salaries in MLS:
Rank | Team | Average Annual Salary |
1 | Toronto FC | $1,108,066 |
2 | LA Galaxy | $760,901 |
3 | Los Angeles FC | $681,700 |
4 | Atlanta United FC | $602,430 |
5 | Chicago Fire | $592,929 |
6 | Inter Miami FC | $589,365 |
7 | Seattle Sounders FC | $537,378 |
8 | Columbus Crew | $537,017 |
9 | D.C. United | $535,987 |
10 | Houston Dynamo | $529,995 |
11 | New England Revolution | $517,402 |
12 | Austin FC | $502,701 |
13 | Sporting Kansas City | $494,499 |
14 | FC Dallas | $459,276 |
15 | FC Cincinnati | $447,915 |
16 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | $414,694 |
17 | New York City FC | $397,528 |
18 | CF Montreal | $391,746 |
19 | New York Red Bulls | $390,063 |
20 | Real Salt Lake | $382,356 |
21 | Orlando City | $372,081 |
22 | San Jose Earthquakes | $367,988 |
23 | Charlotte FC | $363,990 |
24 | Nashville SC | $363,245 |
25 | Philadelphia Union | $355,244 |
26 | Colorado Rapids | $349,445 |
27 | Portland Timbers | $347,952 |
28 | Minnesota United FC | $342,823 |
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As a seasoned sports analyst and enthusiast with a proven track record of in-depth knowledge in the field, I can confidently provide insights into the intricate world of professional sports salaries, particularly in the realms of Major League Baseball (MLB), the National Football League (NFL), and Major League Soccer (MLS). My expertise extends beyond the mere numbers, encompassing the dynamics of player compensation, league popularity, and the implications for sports betting strategies.
Major League Baseball (MLB) Salaries: The provided table ranks all thirty MLB teams based on average annual salary in 2023. Notably, the New York Mets claim the top spot with an average annual salary of $6,668,958. It's interesting to observe that while MLB players command substantial salaries, the highest-paying MLB team falls behind the top earners in the NFL and NBA. The salary distribution across MLB teams reflects the economic disparities within the league, influencing team competitiveness and player recruitment strategies.
National Football League (NFL) Salaries: The NFL dominates the sports salary landscape, boasting a collective salary pool of $6.7 million in 2022, distributed among 1,486 players. The average NFL player earns just over $4.5 million annually, with each team playing seventeen games per season, translating to an average of $260,000 per game played. However, it's crucial to note that the median salary, a more representative figure, stands at $860,000. The provided chart lists the annual salaries of all NFL teams in 2023, with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers leading the pack at $7,116,617.
Major League Soccer (MLS) Salaries: While MLS may lag behind MLB, NFL, and NBA in financial terms, its rising popularity is evident. A 27% increase in popularity since 2012, coupled with the growth of soccer programs in high schools across the nation, suggests a promising future for MLS. The competitive nature of Americans may prompt MLS teams to venture overseas more frequently to challenge European powerhouses. The chart outlines the average annual salaries of MLS teams, with Toronto FC leading at $1,108,066.
For those seeking a strategic advantage in sports betting, comprehensive video guides on how to bet on MLB, NFL, and MLS are provided, along with recommendations for top betting sites and bonuses tailored to each sport. These resources aim to empower fans and bettors alike with valuable insights and information to enhance their sports betting experience.
