What is the average AFL salary?

The exact average AFL salary is not published by the Fair Work Ombudsman or ABS in the sources used for this guide. However, AFL players are covered by the AFL Players' Collective Bargaining Agreement, which sets minimum salaries far above the national minimum wage. For the most current figure, refer to the AFL or the AFL Players Association.

Does the minimum wage apply to AFL players?

Yes, AFL players are employees and are entitled to at least the national minimum wage, but their award or enterprise agreement (the AFL CBA) sets rates much higher. The national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour (as of July 2026) is the absolute floor.

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

The average AFL salary is significantly higher than the national minimum wage. For context, the ABS reports average weekly total earnings for all employees at $1,579.20 (May 2026), but AFL player salaries are typically well above that. Without a specific published average from official sources, a direct comparison is not possible here.

Average AFL Salary vs Minimum Wage: Understanding Your Pay Floor

The national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour from 1 July 2026, but the average AFL salary is a negotiated figure not set by minimum wage laws and is far higher.

Average AFL Salary and the Minimum Wage Floor

If you have searched for the "average AFL salary," you are likely comparing a high-profile professional sports wage with the legal pay floor that applies to most Australian workers. This guide separates the legal minimum from a survey average, an award rate, and a negotiated salary. It explains which pay floor applies to you and how a rate compares with it.

Legal Minimum vs Negotiated Salary

The average AFL salary is a negotiated figure under the AFL Players' Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), not a rate set by the Fair Work Commission or the Fair Work Ombudsman. The CBA is an enterprise agreement that covers AFL players and sets minimum payments well above the national minimum wage. In contrast, the national minimum wage is the legal floor for employees not covered by an award or registered agreement. As of 1 July 2026, that floor is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for an adult employee working 38 ordinary hours. Casual employees receive a 25% loading, bringing the casual rate to $33.05 per hour.

Most employees in Australia are covered by a modern award, which sets minimum pay rates higher than the national minimum wage. For example, the General Retail Industry Award or the Hospitality Industry Award have specific classifications with their own hourly rates. From 1 July 2026, modern award minimum wages increased by 4.75%, but the lowest ongoing classification in any award cannot fall below the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour. Introductory rates (limited to the first six months) must be at least $25.74 per hour or $978.10 per week.

Award Coverage for Most Workers

AFL players are an exception: they are covered by a specific enterprise agreement, not a typical modern award. For the vast majority of workers, the starting point is to check which award applies. The Fair Work Ombudsman provides a Pay and Conditions Tool to identify your award and classification. If you are award-free and agreement-free, the national minimum wage applies. However, junior employees (under 21), apprentices, trainees, and employees with a disability may be paid less than the adult rate. For award-free juniors, the rates are a percentage of the national minimum wage: for example, a 16-year-old receives 47.3% ($12.51 per hour) and a 20-year-old receives 97.7% ($25.84 per hour).

Award-Free Rates and the National Minimum Wage

For award-free adult employees, the national minimum wage is the floor. But remember: an enterprise agreement or modern award can require a higher rate. The Fair Work Commission sets the national minimum wage each year, and the Fair Work Ombudsman explains and enforces it. The rates from 1 July 2026 are $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week. The casual loading adds 25%, so casual award-free adults get $33.05 per hour. These figures are before tax and before superannuation.

Superannuation is On Top

When discussing any pay rate, superannuation is an employer payment on top of ordinary time earnings. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12% of ordinary time earnings, and employers must pay it at the same time as wages (payday super). So if you earn the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour, your employer must also contribute an additional 12% (about $3.17 per hour) into your super fund. This is not deducted from your pay.

How the Figures Work

The adult weekly national minimum is the published $1,004.90 figure. Multiplying $26.44 by 38 ordinary hours lands 18 cents lower because of rounding in the order. Casual weekly figures on this site are the published casual hourly rate times 38 ordinary hours, with no penalty rates. These national rates apply to national-system employees who are award-free and agreement-free. Most private-sector employees are in the national system. Some state public sector and local government employees, and some Western Australian sole traders and partnerships in the state system, are covered by state awards instead.

For more detail on which minimum wage applies to you, see our Which minimum wage applies guide. For a full list of current rates, visit our Rate tables.

Key Takeaways

The average AFL salary is a negotiated figure under a CBA, not a legal minimum.
The national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour (adult, award-free) from 1 July 2026.
Most workers are covered by an award with higher rates.
Superannuation of 12% is paid on top by the employer.
Juniors, apprentices, and trainees may receive less than the adult rate.

This site provides orientation only. It is not a pay determination, tax advice, or legal advice. Always check your specific award or agreement for the correct rate.

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