AFL Players Salary List: How It Compares to Australia's Minimum Wage

AFL Players Salary List: Understanding the Pay Floor

When Australians search for an "afl players salary list", they often want to know how much professional footballers earn and how that compares to the legal minimum wage. This guide explains the difference between the national minimum wage set by the Fair Work Commission and the much higher salaries paid under the AFL Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

The National Minimum Wage: The Legal Floor

From 1 July 2026, the national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 for a 38-hour week. Casual employees receive a 25% loading, bringing the casual rate to $33.05 per hour. These rates apply to adult employees in the national system who are not covered by an award or enterprise agreement.

It is important to note that the Fair Work Commission sets the national minimum wage, while the Fair Work Ombudsman explains and enforces it. Junior employees, apprentices, trainees, and workers with disability may be paid less under special minimum wages. For example, a 16-year-old award-free junior earns $12.51 per hour (47.3% of the adult rate).

Most private-sector employees are in the national system, but some state public sector and local government employees are covered by state awards. A modern award or enterprise agreement can require a higher rate than the national minimum.

AFL Player Salaries: A Different League

AFL players are not covered by the national minimum wage or any modern award. Instead, their pay is governed by the AFL and AFLW Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), which runs until 31 December 2027. The CBA sets a total player payments (TPP) limit for each club, as well as additional services agreement limits. Clubs must spend at least 95% of the combined TPP and additional services limits each year.

According to the AFL's official figures for 2025, the average payment for a listed player was $505,961, up 10.2% from $459,173 in 2024. The total gross player payments across the competition reached $327.7 million. The number of million-dollar players more than doubled from 25 in 2024 to 58 in 2025. Two players earned $1.6 million, and 22 players earned more than $1.2 million.

The table below from the AFL shows the distribution of player earnings in 2025:

Earnings bracket	Number of players
$0–$200,000	107
$200,001–$400,000	187
$400,001–$600,000	163
$600,001–$800,000	94
$800,001–$1,000,000	54
$1,000,001–$1,200,000	36
$1,200,001–$1,400,000	16
$1,400,001–$1,600,000	4
$1,600,001+	2

Source:

Even the lowest-paid AFL players (those in the $0–$200,000 bracket) earn well above the national minimum wage. For example, a player on $100,000 per year earns about $1,923 per week, nearly double the national minimum.

Superannuation on Top

Like all Australian employees, AFL players receive the superannuation guarantee. From 1 July 2026, the rate is 12% of ordinary time earnings. This means a player earning $505,961 would receive an additional $60,715 in super contributions from their club. The super is paid on top of the salary figures reported in the AFL players salary list.

What This Means for You

If you are an employee covered by a modern award or enterprise agreement, your minimum pay is likely higher than the national minimum wage. Always check your award or agreement first. For award/agreement-free employees, the national minimum wage is the floor.

For more details on which pay floor applies to you, see our Which minimum wage applies guide. You can also browse Rate tables for current award and national minimum rates.

The AFL players salary list is a useful reference for understanding top-tier professional sports earnings, but it does not reflect the legal minimums that apply to most Australian workers. The national minimum wage remains the baseline for all employees in the national system, even if AFL players are far above it.

For the published floors, see the rate tables and how the figures work.