NRL Salary and the National Average
If you are wondering how an NRL player’s pay stacks up against the typical Australian full‑time worker, the short answer is that the ABS does not publish a specific average for professional rugby league players. Player salaries are set by individual club contracts and the NRL Collective Bargaining Agreement, not by an award or the national minimum wage. However, you can use the benchmarks on this site to get a clear picture of where any given NRL salary sits.
The National Full‑Time Average
The most widely used benchmark is the full‑time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026. That figure is $2,083.70 per week, which works out to $108,352 per year (multiplied by 52). This is the line on this site. If an NRL player earns more than that, they are above the national average; if less, they are below. Most first‑grade NRL contracts are well above this line, but development players or those on minimum NRL wages may be closer to it.
Medians: A Different View
The average can be pulled up by very high earners. The median gives a better sense of the middle. For full‑time employees, the median weekly earnings in August 2025 were $1,741 per week (about $90,532 per year). For all employees (including part‑time), the median was $1,425 per week (about $74,100 per year). These medians are from the ABS Employee Earnings survey. An NRL salary above $90,000 would be above the full‑time median; above $74,000 would be above the all‑employees median.
The Minimum Wage Floor
The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week, which is about $52,255 per year on a 38‑hour week. This is the legal minimum for employees not covered by an award or agreement. NRL players are covered by their own agreement, which sets a higher minimum. For context, even the lowest NRL contract is typically above this floor.
State‑by‑State Averages
NRL clubs are based in several states and territories. The full‑time average weekly ordinary time earnings vary by location. Here are the annualised figures from the ABS for May 2026:
- 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
If an NRL player is based in Sydney (NSW) or Brisbane (Qld), their salary can be compared to the state average. See the States and territories page for more detail.
How to Use This Site for an NRL Salary
If you have a specific NRL salary figure in mind, you can enter it into the tool on this page. The tool will show:
- The weekly equivalent (divide by 52)
- The hourly equivalent (divide by 52 and then by 38)
- The distance above or below the national full‑time average of $108,352
For example, a reported average NRL first‑grade salary of around $150,000 would be about $2,885 per week and $75.92 per hour, which is about $41,648 above the national average. A development player on $80,000 would be about $1,538 per week and $40.48 per hour, which is about $28,352 below the national average.
Where the Figures Come From
The national average and state averages are from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026 release. The medians are from the ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025 release. The minimum wage is from Fair Work, effective 1 July 2026. These are the most authoritative sources for Australian earnings. The ABS does not survey professional sports salaries separately, so NRL figures are not included in these averages.
Tax and Take‑Home Pay
If you want to estimate take‑home pay from an NRL salary, the 2026–27 resident tax rates are:
- Nil on the first $18,200
- 15% on income from $18,201 to $45,000
- 30% on income from $45,001 to $135,000
- 37% on income from $135,001 to $190,000
- 45% on income above $190,000
Plus a 2% Medicare levy (before any reductions). For a $150,000 salary, the tax would be roughly $38,000 plus Medicare, leaving about $109,000 after tax. Use the Guides for more on tax calculations.
Summary
While the exact average NRL salary is not published by the ABS or Fair Work, you can use the national full‑time average of $108,352 as a benchmark. Most NRL players earn above that, but the range is wide. To see where any salary sits, use the tool on this page or visit Place a salary on the line. For more on how the figures are set, see How the figures are set.