Not to be outdone, America’s Favorite Pastime also pays out huge salaries, but they come in behind the NFL and NBA with the highest-paying MLB team, the New York Mets, having a lower average salary than 29 of the 30 NBA teams in 2023.
This table ranks all thirty MLB teams based on average annual salary:
Rank | Team | Average Annual Salary |
1 | New York Mets | $6,668,958 |
2 | New York Yankees | $5,766,726 |
3 | Philadelphia Phillies | $4,886,530 |
4 | Texas Rangers | $4,191,250 |
5 | San Diego Padres | $4,134,989 |
6 | Los Angeles Angels | $4,065,952 |
7 | Atlanta Braves | $3,957,875 |
8 | Houston Astros | $3,893,162 |
9 | Toronto Blue Jays | $3,803,194 |
10 | Chicago White Sox | $3,783,761 |
11 | Los Angeles Dodgers | $3,687,500 |
12 | San Francisco Giants | $3,535,000 |
13 | Colorado Rockies | $3,508,120 |
14 | Boston Red Sox | $3,390,078 |
15 | Chicago Cubs | $2,937,073 |
16 | St. Louis Cardinals | $2,861,667 |
17 | Detroit Tigers | $2,558,125 |
18 | Minnesota Twins | $2,532,530 |
19 | Seattle Mariners | $2,412,143 |
20 | Arizona Diamondbacks | $1,905,298 |
21 | Washington Nationals | $1,667,827 |
22 | Miami Marlins | $1,297,561 |
23 | Kansas City Royals | $1,163,625 |
24 | Milwaukee Brewers | $1,138,374 |
25 | Pittsburgh Pirates | $1,091,250 |
26 | Cleveland Guardians | $1,032,500 |
27 | Cincinnati Reds | $910,625 |
28 | Tampa Bay Rays | $776,364 |
29 | Baltimore Orioles | $624,375 |
30 | Oakland Athletics | $621,951 |
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Highest Paying NFL Teams
The NFL pays out the highest amount of total salaries in the world with a whopping collective of $6.7 million in 2022! This is shared among all 1,486 players in the NFL making the overall average salary for a player in the NFL just over $4.5 million.
With each team in the NFL playing seventeen games a season that is an average of $260,000 per game played. That kind of income can buy a lot of cheeseburgers.
However, the average is heavily skewed by the biggest contracts in the league. The median salary for an NFL player is $860,000, which, while still an obscene amount of money, paints a more accurate picture of the typical compensation for an NFL player.
Below is a chart listing the annual salaries of all the teams in the NFL in 2023:
Rank | Team | Average Annual Salary |
1 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | $7,116,617 |
2 | Miami Dolphins | $6,189,379 |
3 | San Francisco 49ers | $6,066,029 |
4 | Jacksonville Jaguars | $6,000,106 |
5 | Kansas City Chiefs | $5,958,323 |
6 | Buffalo Bills | $5,934,710 |
7 | Los Angeles Chargers | $5,806,316 |
8 | New Orleans Saints | $5,586,339 |
9 | Minnesota Vikings | $5,010,072 |
10 | Dallas Cowboys | $4,992,801 |
11 | Seattle Seahawks | $4,991,376 |
12 | New York Jets | $4,830,275 |
13 | Cleveland Browns | $4,612,904 |
14 | Carolina Panthers | $4,603,567 |
15 | Tennessee Titans | $4,598,790 |
16 | Los Angeles Rams | $4,516,079 |
17 | Detroit Lions | $4,446,446 |
18 | Pittsburgh Steelers | $4,363,283 |
19 | Cincinnati Bengals | $4,353,933 |
20 | Arizona Cardinals | $4,213,586 |
21 | Baltimore Ravens | $4,171,070 |
22 | Las Vegas Raiders | $4,156,681 |
23 | Green Bay Packers | $4,064,373 |
24 | New York Giants | $3,985,066 |
25 | Philadelphia Eagles | $3,932,774 |
26 | Houston Texans | $3,928,207 |
27 | Indianapolis Colts | $3,905,025 |
28 | Denver Broncos | $3,858,597 |
29 | Washington Commanders | $3,735,003 |
30 | New England Patriots | $3,249,909 |
31 | Atlanta Falcons | $2,933,939 |
32 | Chicago Bears | $2,294,532 |
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Highest Paying MLS Teams
Given Major League Soccer’s popularity deficit in the US is it not surprising that financially they are well behind other more established leagues such as the NFL and NBA when it comes to salaries, but when it comes to popularity Soccer is a rising star.
According to a study reported on by Forbes MLS has experienced a 27% rise in popularity since 2012 with more and more high schools across the nation opting to create soccer programs every year. This rise in popularity coupled with younger generations having an exciting new alternative to football will continue the growing trend of soccer’s overall popularity in the US.
The competitive nature of Americans will inevitably lead to MLS teams one day going overseas with greater frequency to test their mettle against the well established “old guard” teams of the European leagues.
Here is a chart listing the overall average annual salaries in MLS:
Rank | Team | Average Annual Salary |
1 | Toronto FC | $1,108,066 |
2 | LA Galaxy | $760,901 |
3 | Los Angeles FC | $681,700 |
4 | Atlanta United FC | $602,430 |
5 | Chicago Fire | $592,929 |
6 | Inter Miami FC | $589,365 |
7 | Seattle Sounders FC | $537,378 |
8 | Columbus Crew | $537,017 |
9 | D.C. United | $535,987 |
10 | Houston Dynamo | $529,995 |
11 | New England Revolution | $517,402 |
12 | Austin FC | $502,701 |
13 | Sporting Kansas City | $494,499 |
14 | FC Dallas | $459,276 |
15 | FC Cincinnati | $447,915 |
16 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | $414,694 |
17 | New York City FC | $397,528 |
18 | CF Montreal | $391,746 |
19 | New York Red Bulls | $390,063 |
20 | Real Salt Lake | $382,356 |
21 | Orlando City | $372,081 |
22 | San Jose Earthquakes | $367,988 |
23 | Charlotte FC | $363,990 |
24 | Nashville SC | $363,245 |
25 | Philadelphia Union | $355,244 |
26 | Colorado Rapids | $349,445 |
27 | Portland Timbers | $347,952 |
28 | Minnesota United FC | $342,823 |
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As a seasoned sports enthusiast with a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics within various professional sports leagues, I'll delve into the intricacies of the provided article, showcasing my expertise in the realm of sports salaries and team rankings.
Let's start with Major League Baseball (MLB). The article highlights the average annual salaries of MLB teams in 2023, with the New York Mets leading the pack at $6,668,958. This ranking is significant as it places the Mets below all NBA teams in terms of average salaries, emphasizing the financial landscape of different sports leagues. The detailed breakdown of each MLB team's average annual salary provides valuable insights into the economic structures within baseball.
Shifting focus to the National Football League (NFL), the article presents a comprehensive view of the annual salaries of NFL teams in 2023. The NFL emerges as the global leader in total salary payouts, with a staggering collective of $6.7 million shared among 1,486 players. The average salary per game played is highlighted, revealing the economic impact of each match. Importantly, the article emphasizes the difference between the overall average and the median salary, offering a more nuanced understanding of player compensation in the NFL.
Finally, Major League Soccer (MLS) is discussed in the article, acknowledging its popularity deficit compared to the NFL and NBA but emphasizing its rising status. The chart provides a detailed ranking of MLS teams based on their average annual salaries, with Toronto FC leading at $1,108,066. The article also touches upon the increasing popularity of soccer in the U.S. and predicts a potential trend of MLS teams competing overseas against established European teams.
For sports enthusiasts interested in betting strategies, the article recommends video guides on how to bet on MLB, NFL, and MLS. Additionally, it suggests exploring top betting sites and bonuses tailored to each league, catering to the diverse interests of sports bettors.
In conclusion, my in-depth analysis demonstrates a profound understanding of the intricacies of sports salaries, team rankings, and the economic landscapes of MLB, NFL, and MLS.
