If winning trophies seems elusive, there is still a chance to earn a sizable income by pursuing a career in MLS.
The league’s financial appeal and the lucrative contracts it offers have consistently attracted superstars from the Americas and beyond. The salaries of MLS players and club payrolls were made public via MLSplayers
As MLS continues to experience growth, salaries across the league are on the rise.
The average player salary has increased by 11 percent compared to 2022, reaching slightly over $530,000. However, this figure is overshadowed by the highest-paid players who serve as the league’s most glamorous attractions.
While the future holds potential for young talents to become top earners, let’s focus on the current highest-paid MLS players in 2023.
- MLS Team Annual Salaries 2023
- MLS Eastern Conference Salaries 2023
- MLS Western Conference Salaries 2023
- Top 20 Highest-Paid MLS Players In 2023
- Xherdan Shaqiri – Chicago Fire = ,153,000
- Lorenzo Insigne – Toronto FC = ,500,000
- Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez – LA Galaxy= ,443,750
- Federico Bernardeschi – Toronto FC = ,295,381
- Sebastián Driussi – Austin FC = ,022,500
- Héctor Herrera – Houston Dynamo = ,246,875
- Douglas Costa – LA Galaxy = ,508,333
- Luiz Araújo – Atlanta United = ,483,333
- Christian Benteke – DC United = ,432,778
- Josef Martínez – Inter Miami = ,391,667
- Lucas Zelarayán – Columbus Crew = ,800,000
- Carles Gil -New England Revolution = ,545,833
- Rodolfo Pizarro – Inter Miami = ,350,000
- Carlos Vela – LAFC = $3,337,500
- Nicolás Lodeiro – Seattle Sounders = ,256,667
- Raúl Ruidía – Seattle Sounders = ,201,120
- Hany Mukhtar – Nashville SC = ,188,750
- Jozy Altidore – New England Revolution = ,939,963
- Cucho Hernánde -Columbus Crew = ,886,000
- Gustavo Bou – New England Revolution = ,675,000
MLS Team Annual Salaries 2023
The league operates under a complex wage system that includes specific salary brackets for non-designated players.
The majority of a team’s structure is assembled using a separate pool of funds.
Unlike their European counterpart, where clubs like Real Madrid, Manchester City, or Barcelona can hugely outspend low moneybags in the league and create forceful squads, teams in MLS don’t have such huge financial advantages.
The clubs must exercise caution and make wise decisions when it comes to spending in the transfer market, as there are limited opportunities to make a big splash.
| Team | Average Annual Salary | Yearly Wage Bill |
|---|---|---|
| Toronto FC | $928,477 | $26,925,850 |
| Houston Dynamo | $757,700 | $14,265,000 |
| FC Cincinnati | $685,600 | $12,335,000 |
| Austin FC | $619,700 | $13,267,000 |
| LA Galaxy | $581,250 | $14,544,000 |
| Chicago Fire FC | $573,800 | $18,284,000 |
| St. Louis City SC | $458,400 | $8,718,000 |
| Atlanta United FC | $452,500 | $9,507,000 |
| Portland Timbers | $421,250 | $11,780,000 |
| Los Angeles FC | $387,250 | $9,294,000 |
| Columbus Crew SC | $385,388 | $10,405,500 |
| New York City FC | $384,500 | $9,588,000 |
| Sporting KC | $369,250 | $9,971,000 |
| Seattle Sounders FC | $367,500 | $9,178,500 |
| New England Revolution | $366,500 | $9,529,000 |
| Orlando City SC | $339,925 | $8,838,000 |
| Charlotte FC | $314,600 | $5,978,000 |
| San Jose Earthquakes | $288,050 | $8,642,000 |
| Real Salt Lake | $287,800 | $8,634,000 |
| Philadelphia Union | $261,200 | $6,525,000 |
| New York Red Bulls | $242,250 | $6,783,000 |
| Inter Miami CF | $240,000 | $6,487,000 |
| Minnesota United FC | $238,560 | $5,750,000 |
| Colorado Rapids | $230,925 | $6,235,000 |
| Montreal Impact | $230,250 | $6,645,000 |
| FC Dallas | $225,750 | $5,192,000 |
| DC United | $219,400 | $5,924,500 |
| Vancouver Whitecaps FC | $187,300 | $5,432,000 |
| Nashville SC | $168,300 | $5,050,000 |
MLS Eastern Conference Salaries 2023
| Team | Average Salary (Annual) |
|---|---|
| Toronto FC | $928,477 |
| FC Cincinnati | $685,600 |
| Chicago Fire FC | $573,800 |
| Atlanta United | $452,500 |
| Los Angeles FC | $387,250 |
| New York City FC | $384,500 |
| New England Revolution | $366,500 |
| Orlando City SC | $339,925 |
| Charlotte FC | $314,600 |
| Philadelphia Union | $261,200 |
| New York Red Bulls | $242,250 |
| Inter Miami CF | $240,000 |
| Montreal Impact | $230,250 |
| DC United | $219,400 |
MLS Western Conference Salaries 2023
| Team | Average Salary (Annual) |
|---|---|
| Houston Dynamo | $757,700 |
| Austin FC | $619,700 |
| LA Galaxy | $581,250 |
| St. Louis City SC | $458,400 |
| Portland Timbers | $421,250 |
| Columbus Crew | $385,388 |
| Sporting KC | $369,250 |
| Seattle Sounders FC | $367,500 |
| San Jose Earthquakes | $288,050 |
| Real Salt Lake | $287,800 |
| Minnesota United FC | $238,560 |
| Colorado Rapids | $230,925 |
| FC Dallas | $225,750 |
| Vancouver Whitecaps | $187,300 |
| Nashville SC | $168,300 |
Top 20 Highest-Paid MLS Players In 2023
Xherdan Shaqiri – Chicago Fire = ,153,000
- Age: 31
- Nationality: Switzerland
- Arrived from: Olympiquie Lyonnais (France), 2022
Lorenzo Insigne – Toronto FC = ,500,000
- Age: 31
- Nationality: Italy
- Arrived from: Napoli (Italy), 2022
Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez – LA Galaxy= ,443,750
- Age: 34
- Nationality: Mexico
- Arrived from: Sevilla (Spain), 2020
Federico Bernardeschi – Toronto FC = ,295,381
- Age: 29
- Nationality: Italy
- Arrived from: Juventus (Italy), 2022
Sebastián Driussi – Austin FC = ,022,500
- Age: 27
- Nationality: Argentina
- Arrived from: Zenit St. Petersburg (Russia), 2021
Héctor Herrera – Houston Dynamo = ,246,875
- Age: 33
- Nationality: Mexico
- Arrived from: Atlético Madrid (Spain), 2022
Douglas Costa – LA Galaxy = ,508,333
- Age: 32
- Nationality: Brazil
- Arrived from: Juventus (Italy), 2022
Luiz Araújo – Atlanta United = ,483,333
- Age: 26
- Nationality: Brazil
- Arrived from: Lille (France), 2021
Christian Benteke – DC United = ,432,778
- Age: 32
- Nationality: Belgium
- Arrived from: Crystal Palace (England), in 2022
Josef Martínez – Inter Miami = ,391,667
- Age: 29
- Nationality: Venezuela
- Arrived from: Torino (Italy), 2017
Lucas Zelarayán – Columbus Crew = ,800,000
- Age: 31
- Nationality: Armenia (via Argentina)
- Arrived from: Tigres (Mexico), 2020
Carles Gil -New England Revolution = ,545,833
- Age: 30
- Nationality: Spain
- Arrived from: Deportivo La Coruña (Spain), 2019
Rodolfo Pizarro – Inter Miami = ,350,000
- Age: 29
- Nationality: Mexico
- Arrived from: Monterrey (Mexico), 2020
Carlos Vela – LAFC = $3,337,500
- Age: 34
- Nationality: Mexico
- Arrived from: Real Sociedad (Spain), 2018
Nicolás Lodeiro – Seattle Sounders = ,256,667
- Age: 34
- Nationality: Uruguay
- Arrived from: Boca Juniors (Argentina), 2016
Raúl Ruidía – Seattle Sounders = ,201,120
- Age: 32
- Nationality: Peru
- Arrived from: Morelia (Mexico), 2018
Hany Mukhtar – Nashville SC = ,188,750
- Age: 28
- Nationality: Germany
- Arrived from: Brøndby
Jozy Altidore – New England Revolution = ,939,963
- Age: 33
- Nationality: United States
- Arrived from: Toronto FC, 2022
Cucho Hernánde -Columbus Crew = ,886,000
- Age: 24
- Nationality: Colombia
- Arrived from: Watford (England), 2022
Gustavo Bou – New England Revolution = ,675,000
- Age: 33
- Nationality: Argentina
- Arrived from: Club Tijuana (Mexico), 49
