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NRL player salary: how it compares to the national average

NRL player salaries vary widely, from a minimum Top 30 fee of $140,000 to star contracts exceeding $1 million, placing most well above the national full-time average of $108,352.

This sits on the Australian full-time average.

Week, hour, and a tax sketch

$2,084 a week · $54.83 an hour if spread over 38 hours

About $83,159 after resident income tax and a 2% Medicare levy.

2026–27 resident rates and a 2% Medicare levy. Not a tax assessment.Open the full line

NRL player salary: how it compares to the national average

NRL player salaries are set within a strict salary cap system, but individual earnings vary enormously. This guide compares NRL pay to the Australian full-time average, explains the cap structure, and shows what a player might take home after tax.

The NRL salary cap in 2026

For the 2026 season, each club's Top 30 salary cap is $11.55 million, plus a $300,000 veteran and developed player allowance and a $100,000 motor vehicle allowance, making a total of $11.95 million. Clubs must spend at least 97.5% of the cap. If a club spends the full $11.95 million across 30 players, the average salary is about $398,333. However, most clubs have a spread from the minimum to a few star players earning $1 million or more.

Minimum and supplementary salaries

The minimum Top 30 fee in 2026 is $140,000, up from $120,000 in 2023 and increasing by $5,000 each year to $145,000 in 2027. Players on the supplementary list (outside the Top 30) earn a flat $80,000 per year. These figures are before tax and do not include benefits such as cars, accommodation, or education fees that can be provided outside the cap.

How NRL pay compares to the national average

The national full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings are $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 per year (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). Even the minimum Top 30 salary of $140,000 is about 29% above that average. A supplementary list player on $80,000 is below the full-time average but still above the national minimum wage of $52,255. Star players earning $500,000 or more are several times the average.

For context, the full-time median earnings are about $90,532 per year, and the all-employees median is about $74,100 (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025). The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $52,255 per year on a 38-hour week.

Take-home pay after tax

Using 2026–27 resident tax rates (nil up to $18,200; 15% to $45,000; 30% to $135,000; 37% to $190,000; 45% above that) plus the 2% Medicare levy, here are approximate annual take-home amounts:

  • $80,000 (supplementary list): about $63,500
  • $140,000 (minimum Top 30): about $102,000
  • $398,333 (average if cap fully spent): about $261,000
  • $1,000,000 (star player): about $578,000

These are rough estimates and do not account for deductions, HELP repayments, or the Medicare levy surcharge.

State comparisons

NRL clubs are based in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory, and New Zealand (not covered by Australian tax). The full-time average weekly earnings in these states (ABS, May 2026) are:

  • New South Wales: $109,658 per year
  • Victoria: $106,137
  • Queensland: $106,064
  • Australian Capital Territory: $119,090

A player on the minimum Top 30 salary of $140,000 earns more than the state average in every NRL state. Even a supplementary list player on $80,000 is below the state averages but still above the national minimum.

Where to find more

Key points to remember

  • The NRL salary cap for 2026 is $11.95 million for 30 players, implying an average of about $398,333 if fully spent.
  • Minimum Top 30 salary in 2026 is $140,000; supplementary list players earn $80,000.
  • The national full-time average is $108,352 per year; the full-time median is $90,532.
  • After tax, a player on $140,000 takes home about $102,000; a player on $400,000 takes home about $262,000.
  • NRL player salaries are not published individually, so these are estimates based on the cap and minimums.

Questions

What is the average NRL player salary?

The NRL does not publish an average player salary. However, the 2026 Top 30 salary cap is $11.95 million (including allowances) for 30 players per club. If a club spends the full cap, the average for those 30 players is about $398,333. Actual averages vary by club and include players on supplementary lists earning $80,000 per year.

How does an NRL player's salary compare to the national average?

The national full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings are $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 per year (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). Even the minimum NRL Top 30 salary of $140,000 in 2026 is about 29% above that average. Star players earning $500,000 or more are several times the national average. After tax, a player on $140,000 would take home roughly $102,000, while a player on $400,000 would take home about $262,000 (using 2026–27 tax rates plus Medicare levy).

What is the minimum salary for an NRL player?

Under the 2023–2027 collective bargaining agreement, the minimum Top 30 fee is $120,000 in 2023, rising by $5,000 each year to $145,000 in 2027. For 2026, the minimum is $140,000. Players on the supplementary list (outside the Top 30) are entitled to $80,000 per year. These figures are before tax and do not include additional benefits like motor vehicles or accommodation that may be provided outside the salary cap.

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