AFL players salary list: Where it sits against the Australian full-time average
Professional AFL players are among the highest-paid athletes in Australia, and the latest figures show their earnings have surged well beyond the national full-time average. This guide breaks down the AFL players salary list and compares it to the benchmarks used on this site.
The national full-time average
This site uses the ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026 as its line. The national full-time adult ordinary-time average is $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 per year (multiplied by 52). That figure is the baseline for all comparisons on Place a salary on the line.
AFL player salaries in 2025
According to data published by the AFL, the average payment for a listed player in 2025 was $505,961 – nearly five times the national full-time average. That represented a 10.2% increase from $459,173 in 2024. The total gross player payments across the competition reached $327,652,493.
The number of million-dollar players exploded: 58 players were paid more than $1 million in 2025, more than double the 25 in 2024. For the first time, two players earned $1.6 million, and 22 players earned above $1.2 million. The AFL noted that clubs now average more than three million-dollar players per club, with expectations that within two years every club will have five such players on average.
At the other end of the scale, 107 players earned between $0 and $200,000, and 187 earned between $200,001 and $400,000. The distribution shows a wide spread, but the average is heavily skewed by the top earners.
How AFL pay compares to other benchmarks
- Full-time median: The ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025, reported a full-time median of about $90,532 per year. The average AFL player earns more than 5.5 times that median.
- All-employees median: About $74,100 per year. AFL players on average earn nearly seven times that.
- National minimum wage: From 1 July 2026, the national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week, or about $52,255 per year on a 38-hour week. The average AFL player earns almost ten times the minimum wage.
- Award minimums: Award wages rose by 4.75% from 1 July 2026, but even the highest award rates (e.g., for some trades) remain well below $100,000, let alone $500,000.
State-by-state comparison
The national full-time average varies by state, as shown on States and territories. For context:
- New South Wales: $109,658
- Victoria: $106,137
- Queensland: $106,064
- South Australia: $102,450
- Western Australia: $115,825
- Tasmania: $96,008
- Northern Territory: $103,173
- Australian Capital Territory: $119,090
Even in the highest-paying state (ACT at $119,090), the average AFL salary of $505,961 is more than four times higher. In Tasmania, the lowest state average, an AFL player earns more than five times the typical full-time worker.
Gender pay context
The ABS reports that men's full-time ordinary-time average is about $113,412 per year, and women's about $100,594. The AFL is a men's competition (the AFLW has separate, lower pay scales). The average male full-time worker earns $113,412, while the average AFL player earns $505,961 – about 4.5 times that.
How the figures are set
AFL player salaries are governed by a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the AFL and the AFL Players' Association. The CBA sets the total player payments pool and minimum salaries. Clubs then allocate salaries within a salary cap. The figures in the AFL players salary list reflect actual payments in a given year, not necessarily the average value of contracts, as clubs can front-end or back-end deals. For more on how salary benchmarks are determined, see How the figures are set.
Industry context
AFL players fall under the "Sports and physical recreation" industry, but their earnings are far above typical industry medians. For comparison, the Industry medians page shows that the median for professional, scientific and technical services is around $100,000, while for retail trade it is around $60,000. AFL players are outliers even among professional athletes.
Tax considerations
For the 2026–27 financial year, resident tax rates are:
- Nil up to $18,200
- 15% from $18,201 to $45,000
- 30% from $45,001 to $135,000
- 37% from $135,001 to $190,000
- 45% above $190,000 Plus a 2% Medicare levy (with possible reductions).
An AFL player earning $505,961 would fall into the top bracket, paying 45% on income above $190,000 plus the Medicare levy. After tax, their take-home pay would still be well above the national average.
Summary
The AFL players salary list shows that professional AFL footballers earn far more than the typical Australian full-time worker. The average of $505,961 is nearly five times the national full-time average of $108,352. Even the lowest-paid listed players (those earning $0–$200,000) can be above the national median. For anyone wondering how their own salary compares, you can Place a salary on the line to see where it sits against the national average, state averages, and other benchmarks.
For further reading, see Guides on understanding salary comparisons and the About this site page for methodology.