What is the minimum wage for an AFL player?

AFL players are not covered by the national minimum wage or a modern award. Instead, their minimum pay and conditions are set by the AFL and AFLW Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) 2023–2027. The CBA establishes a Total Player Payments pool per club, but individual player salaries are negotiated. The CBA ensures that player payments are well above the national minimum wage.

How does the AFL salary compare to the national minimum wage?

AFL player salaries are significantly higher than the national minimum wage. For example, the national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for a full-time adult. In contrast, even the minimum AFL player salary under the CBA is many times that amount. The average full-time adult ordinary-time earnings in Australia (ABS May 2026) is $2,083.70 per week, and AFL salaries typically exceed that average.

AFL Salary and the National Minimum Wage: What You Need to Know

Q: Are AFL players entitled to superannuation?

Yes. Under the AFL CBA, clubs must make superannuation contributions on behalf of players. From 1 July 2026, the superannuation guarantee rate is 12% of ordinary time earnings, and employers must pay super at the same time as wages (payday super). The CBA also specifies that super is paid on top of the player's salary.

AFL players are covered by a collective bargaining agreement, not the national minimum wage, but the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour (from 1 July 2026) serves as a legal floor for all employees.

Understanding the AFL Salary in the Context of Australia’s Minimum Wage Floors

When people search for "afl salary", they often want to know how much AFL players earn and how that compares to the minimum wages that apply to most Australian workers. This article explains the different pay floors that exist in Australia and where AFL player salaries sit relative to them.

The Legal Minimum: The National Minimum Wage

The Fair Work Commission sets the national minimum wage each year. From 1 July 2026, the national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for a full-time adult employee (38 ordinary hours). This is the absolute legal floor for employees not covered by a modern award or enterprise agreement. However, not every worker receives this rate – junior employees, apprentices, trainees, and those on introductory award rates can be paid less.

AFL players are not award-free; they are covered by a specific enterprise agreement, so the national minimum wage does not directly apply to them. But it remains the benchmark for all other workers.

Award Rates: A Higher Floor for Most Industries

Most Australian employees are covered by a modern award, which sets minimum pay rates higher than the national minimum wage. From 1 July 2026, minimum award wages increased by 4.75%, with the lowest ongoing classification in any award set at least at $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week. Introductory rates (for the first six months) are at least $25.74 per hour or $978.10 per week.

AFL players are not covered by any modern award. Instead, their conditions are governed by the AFL and AFLW Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) 2023–2027, which is a type of enterprise agreement. Enterprise agreements can set pay rates that are higher than the relevant award, but they must still meet the base rate of the award if one applies. Since no award covers professional footballers, the CBA itself sets the minimum.

Negotiated Salaries Under the AFL CBA

The AFL CBA is a negotiated agreement between the AFL and the AFL Players’ Association. It covers all AFL and AFLW players and sets out minimum terms and conditions, including total player payments per club. Individual player salaries are then negotiated between the player and their club, subject to the club’s total player payment cap.

The CBA does not publish individual player salaries, but it is well known that even the minimum AFL salary is far above the national minimum wage. For context, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reported that in May 2026, full-time adult ordinary-time earnings averaged $2,083.70 per week. AFL player salaries typically exceed this average.

Superannuation: An Employer Payment on Top

When discussing any salary in Australia, it is important to remember that superannuation is an additional employer cost. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee rate is 12% of ordinary time earnings, and employers must pay super at the same time as wages (payday super). For AFL players, clubs make super contributions on top of the player’s salary as required by the CBA.

How to Check Your Own Pay Floor

If you are not an AFL player and want to know which minimum wage applies to you, start by checking if you are covered by a modern award. Use the Fair Work Ombudsman’s Pay and Conditions Tool or consult our Which minimum wage applies guide. If you are award-free, the national minimum wage is your floor. For detailed rates, see our Rate tables.

Remember, the figures on this site are for orientation only and do not constitute legal or tax advice. Always refer to the Fair Work Ombudsman or the Fair Work Commission for authoritative information.

Summary

The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour.
Modern award minimums are higher, but AFL players are not covered by awards.
AFL player salaries are set by the AFL CBA and are well above both the national minimum and average earnings.
Superannuation of 12% is paid on top of salaries.

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