How the average AFL salary fits into Australia's earnings landscape
The average AFL salary is a figure that often sparks curiosity, but it is not one you will find in the official earnings data published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics or Fair Work. The ABS measures earnings across the entire workforce, and professional sport is a very small industry. The AFL Players' Association releases its own estimates, but those are not part of the standard datasets used on this site. Instead, we can place the average AFL salary in context by comparing it to the national full-time average, the median, and the minimum wage, and by explaining how awards and states can move a figure off the national line.
The national full-time average
The benchmark used on this site is the ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026. For full-time adult ordinary-time earnings, the national average is $2,083.70 per week. Multiplied by 52, that is about $108,352 per year. This is the line against which all salaries are measured. The average AFL salary, if we had a precise figure, would almost certainly sit well above this line. For comparison, the full-time median (the middle point of all full-time earnings) is about $90,532 per year, and the all-employees median is about $74,100. These medians come from the ABS Employee Earnings survey, August 2025.
Why the average AFL salary is not in the official data
The ABS collects earnings data through surveys of employers and employees. Industries like professional sport are not separately identified in the published tables because the sample sizes are too small to release reliable estimates. The AFL is a single employer (the league) with 18 clubs, and player salaries are governed by a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the AFL and the AFL Players' Association. That CBA sets minimum salaries, total player payments, and salary caps. The average AFL salary is therefore a figure reported by the league or the players' union, not by the ABS. If you want the most current number, you would need to check the AFLPA's annual report or the AFL's media releases.
How awards and the minimum wage set a floor
While the average AFL salary is not an award wage, it is useful to understand how the broader wage system works. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week on a 38-hour week, which is about $52,255 per year. Award minimums rose by 4.75% from that date. AFL players are not covered by a modern award; they are covered by the CBA, which sets a minimum salary well above the national minimum. For example, the AFL CBA typically sets a minimum rookie salary around $80,000–$100,000, which is above the all-employees median. This shows how a specific industry agreement can lift pay far above the legal floor.
State variations and the AFL
The average AFL salary does not vary by state in the same way that general earnings do. The CBA applies nationally, so a player at the Sydney Swans earns the same base as a player at the West Coast Eagles, subject to the same salary cap rules. However, the cost of living and state taxes can affect take-home pay. For instance, the Australian Capital Territory has the highest state full-time average at $119,090, while Tasmania has the lowest at $96,008. An AFL player in Tasmania might have a lower cost of living than one in Sydney, but their salary is set by the same national agreement. The state averages reflect the mix of industries and occupations in each state, not the AFL.
Putting it all together
If you are an AFL player or someone comparing your salary to the national line, you can place a salary on the line to see how it compares to the full-time average. You can also explore states and territories to see how average earnings differ around the country. And if you want to understand how the figures are set, including the role of awards and collective agreements, see How the figures are set. The average AFL salary is a reminder that not all pay is captured by the ABS, and that industry-specific agreements can create earnings well above the national average.