A-League Salary: Legal Minimum and Award Coverage for Professional Footballers
The national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour, but A-League player salaries are set by professional football awards or enterprise agreements, which are not specified in this reference.
A-League Salary and the Australian Pay Floor
When people search for a league salary, they often want to know how much professional footballers in the A‑League earn. This site does not have a specific figure for A‑League player pay, but we can explain the legal minimum that applies and how the salary is typically set.
The National Minimum Wage as a Backstop
The Fair Work Commission sets the national minimum wage. From 1 July 2026, the adult rate is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for a 38‑hour week. A casual employee gets $33.05 per hour. This is the absolute floor for any national‑system employee who is not covered by a modern award or enterprise agreement. However, most A‑League players are covered by the Professional Footballers Award 2020 or a club‑specific enterprise agreement. These instruments require a higher minimum rate than the national minimum. The Fair Work Ombudsman explains and enforces the rules, but does not set the rate.
Award Coverage versus Award‑Free
A‑League players are not award‑free. They fall under the Professional Footballers Award, which has its own classification structure and minimum rates. That award’s rates are higher than the national minimum. If you are an A‑League player, your salary must at least meet the award minimum for your classification. An enterprise agreement can set an even higher rate. Our Rate tables show the national minimum and award backstop rates, but not the specific award rates for footballers. For that, you would need to consult the award itself.
Superannuation on Top
When discussing any salary, remember that superannuation is an employer payment on top. The super guarantee is 12% of ordinary time earnings. So if an A‑League player’s base salary is $X, the employer must also pay 12% into a super fund. This applies to all employees, including those under awards or agreements.
What About Juniors, Apprentices, and Trainees?
The national minimum wage rates for award‑free juniors are lower (e.g., $9.73 per hour for under 16). But A‑League players are adults and covered by an award, so those junior percentages do not apply. Apprentice and trainee rates for award‑free employees follow the Miscellaneous Award, not the junior percentages. Again, this is not relevant to professional footballers.
How the Figures Work
Our reference uses the national minimum wage as published by the Fair Work Commission. The weekly figure is $1,004.90 for a 38‑hour week. Multiplying $26.44 by 38 gives a slightly different number due to rounding; the official weekly rate is the one to use. Casual weekly figures are the casual hourly rate times 38, with no penalty rates added. For more detail, see How the figures work.
Which Minimum Wage Applies?
If you are an A‑League player, the Professional Footballers Award or your enterprise agreement sets your minimum. If you are not covered by any award or agreement, the national minimum wage applies. Most private‑sector employees are in the national system, but some state public sector and local government employees may be in a state system. To check your coverage, see Which minimum wage applies.
Summary
A‑League salaries are not listed in our reference. The legal floor is $26.44 per hour, but professional footballers are covered by higher‑paying awards or agreements. Always check the specific award or agreement for the correct minimum. Super is paid on top at 12%.
Questions people ask next
What is the legal minimum wage for an A-League player?
The legal minimum wage for any national-system employee who is award-free and agreement-free is $26.44 per hour (adult) from 1 July 2026. However, A-League players are almost always covered by a modern award (such as the Professional Footballers Award) or an enterprise agreement, which sets a higher minimum rate. The precise floor for A-League players is not in our reference; you would need to check the applicable award or agreement.
Does the A-League salary include superannuation?
Yes, superannuation is an employer payment on top of the salary. The super guarantee is 12% of ordinary time earnings. So if an A-League player earns a base salary, the employer must also contribute super to a complying fund. This applies regardless of whether the salary is set by an award or an agreement.
How does the A-League salary compare to the national minimum wage?
A-League salaries are typically much higher than the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour. However, because A-League players are covered by specific industrial instruments, the national minimum wage acts only as a backstop. The actual salary is determined by the Professional Footballers Award or a club’s enterprise agreement, which can set rates well above the minimum. Our reference does not contain a specific market rate for A-League players.
Related guides
- Average a league salary: how the national minimum wage compares to typical earnings
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- Understanding Your Salary: Award Coverage vs Award-Free Rates in Australia
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- What's the salary? Understanding your weekly pay packet in Australia
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