Average AFL player salary vs the national full-time average
If you have ever wondered how the pay of an elite Australian rules footballer compares to the typical Australian worker, the numbers are striking. The average AFL player salary in 2024 was $459,173 per year, according to data released by the AFL. That is more than four times the national full-time adult average of $108,352 (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026).
Breaking it down: weekly and hourly
The national full-time average of $108,352 works out to about $2,084 per week (based on a 38-hour week). An AFL player on the average salary of $459,173 would earn roughly $8,830 per week – again, about four times the typical full-time worker. On an hourly basis, assuming a standard 38-hour week (though AFL players often work far more than that in training and games), that is about $232 per hour. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, so an average AFL player earns nearly nine times the minimum wage.
How the average is calculated
The AFL's average salary figure comes from total gross player payments divided by the number of listed players. In 2024, total player payments across all clubs were $296.3 million, with 668 listed players, giving an average of $459,173. For players who actually played at least one AFL game, the average was higher at $493,592. The league also reported that 25 players earned over $1 million in 2024, up from 19 in 2023. How the figures are set
Where AFL salaries sit in the broader pay landscape
To put AFL pay in perspective, consider the national medians. The full-time adult median is about $90,532 per year, and the all-employees median is about $74,100 (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025). Even the lowest-paid AFL players – those on the rookie minimum – earn well above these medians. The AFL's minimum salary in 2024 was around $100,000 for senior listed players, already above the full-time median.
State and territory comparisons
AFL players are mostly based in Melbourne, but clubs exist in every mainland state. The average AFL salary of $459,173 dwarfs the state full-time averages: 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), and the Australian Capital Territory ($119,090). Even in the highest-paying state, WA, the average AFL player earns about four times the state average.
Gender pay gap in the AFL
It is important to note that the AFL figures above are for the men's competition. The AFL Women's (AFLW) competition has a separate pay structure, with significantly lower average salaries. The AFLW average salary in 2024 was around $50,000, though it has been increasing with each new collective bargaining agreement. The ABS gender pay gap measures from the ABS shows that across the whole economy, women's full-time average ordinary time earnings are about $100,594, compared to men's $113,412. The AFL men's average is far above both, but the comparison is not direct because the men's league is a professional elite sport.
Tax on an AFL salary
Using 2026–27 resident tax rates, an AFL player earning $459,173 would fall into the top bracket. Tax on that income would be roughly: nil on the first $18,200, 15% on the next $26,800, 30% on the next $90,000, 37% on the next $55,000, and 45% on the remaining $269,173. Plus the 2% Medicare levy. After tax, the player would take home about $280,000. That is still more than double the national full-time average before tax.
What this means for the average reader
If you are comparing your own salary to the average AFL player, remember that these are elite athletes with short careers, high injury risk, and intense public scrutiny. The average AFL career lasts only about five years. The national full-time average of $108,352 is a more relevant benchmark for most Australians. You can Place a salary on the line to see where your pay sits against the national average.
Sources and data
The national full-time adult ordinary-time average is $2,083.70 per week, or $108,352 per year (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). Full-time median $90,532, all-employees median $74,100 (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025). National minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour. AFL salary data from the AFL's 2024 annual report. About this site
Frequently asked questions
How does the average AFL player salary compare to the national full-time average? The average AFL player salary in 2024 was $459,173 per year, according to the AFL. That is about 4.2 times the national full-time adult average of $108,352 (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). Even the average for players who played at least one game ($493,592) is far above the typical Australian full-time worker.
What tax would an AFL player on the average salary pay? Using 2026–27 resident tax rates, an AFL player earning $459,173 would pay about $170,000 in income tax plus the 2% Medicare levy, leaving roughly $280,000 after tax. The top marginal rate of 45% applies above $190,000. This is a simplified estimate; actual tax depends on deductions and other factors.
How is the average AFL player salary determined? The AFL sets a Total Player Payments (TPP) cap each season, which is the maximum each club can spend on player salaries. In 2024 the TPP was $15.8 million per club. The average salary is the total gross player payments divided by the number of listed players. The AFL and AFL Players' Association negotiate the collective bargaining agreement that sets the TPP and minimum salaries.