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If winning trophies seems elusive, there is still a chance to earn a substantial income through your MLS career.
The league’s financial appeal and the lucrative contracts it offers consistently attract superstars from the Americas and beyond. MLS player salaries and club payrolls have been made public through MLSplayers
As MLS continues to grow, salaries across the league are rising.
The average player salary increased by 11 percent compared to 2022, reaching just over $530,000. However, that number is dwarfed by the highest-paid players who are the league’s most glamorous attractions.
While the future holds the potential for young talent to become top earners, let’s focus on MLS’s currently highest paid players in 2023.
Contents
- 2023 MLS team annual salaries
- MLS 2023 Eastern Conference Salaries
- MLS Western Conference 2023 Salaries
- Top 20 highest paid MLS players in 2023
- Xherdan Shaqiri – Chicago Fire = $8,153,000
- Lorenzo Insigne – Toronto FC = $7,500,000
- Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez – L.A. Galaxy= $7,443,750
- Federico Bernardeschi – Toronto FC = $6,295,381
- Sebastian Driussi – Austin F.C. = $6,022,500
- Hector Herrera – Houston Dynamo = $5,246,875
- Douglas Costa – LA Galaxy = $4,508,333
- Louis Araujo – Atlanta United = $4,483,333
- Christian Benteke – D.C. United = $4,432,778
- Josef Martinez – Inter Miami = $4,391.667
- Lucas Zelarayán – Columbus crew = $3,800,000
- Carles Gil – Revolution in New England = $3,545,833
- Rodolfo Pizarro – Inter Miami = $3,350,000
- Carlos Vela – LAFC = $3,337,500
- Nicolas Lodeiro – Seattle Sounders = $3,256,667
- Raúl Ruidia – Seattle Sounders = $3,201,120
- Hany Mukhtar – Nashville SC = $3,188,750
- Jozy Altidore – Revolution in New England = $2,939,963
- Cucho Hernánde -Columbus Crew = $2,886,000
- Gustavo Bou – Revolution in New England = $2,675,000
2023 MLS team annual salaries
The league operates a complex payroll system that includes specific pay ranges for non-designated players.
Most of the team structure is created using a separate pool of funds.
Unlike its European counterpart where clubs like real MadridManchester City or Barcelona can significantly exceed the budgets in the league and create strong squads, teams in MLS do not have such huge financial advantages.
Clubs need to be careful and make smart decisions when it comes to spending in the transfer market, as opportunities to make a big splash are limited.
| Team | Average annual salary | Annual payroll |
|---|---|---|
| F.C. Toronto | $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 |
| L.A. Galaxy | $581,250 | $14,544,000 |
| F.C. Chicago Fire | $573,800 | $18,284,000 |
| Louis City SC | $458,400 | $8,718,000 |
| Atlanta United FC | $452,500 | $9,507,000 |
| portland wood | $421,250 | $11,780,000 |
| F.C. Los Angeles | $387,250 | $9,294,000 |
| Columbus Crew SC | $385,388 | $10,405,500 |
| New York FC | $384,500 | $9,588,000 |
| Sporting Finals | $369,250 | $9,971,000 |
| Seattle Sounders FC | $367,500 | $9,178,500 |
| Revolution in New England | $366,500 | $9,529,000 |
| Orlando City SC | $339,925 | $8,838,000 |
| Charlotte FC | $314,600 | $5,978,000 |
| Earthquakes in San Jose | $288,050 | $8,642,000 |
| A 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 |
| FC Minnesota United | $238,560 | $5,750,000 |
| Colorado Rapids | $230,925 | $6,235,000 |
| Montreal hit | $230,250 | $6,645,000 |
| F.C. Dallas | $225,750 | $5,192,000 |
| D.C. United | $219,400 | $5,924,500 |
| FC Vancouver Whitecaps | $187,300 | $5,432,000 |
| Nashville SC | $168,300 | $5,050,000 |
MLS 2023 Eastern Conference Salaries
| Team | Average salary (annual) |
|---|---|
| F.C. Toronto | $928,477 |
| FC Cincinnati | $685,600 |
| F.C. Chicago Fire | $573,800 |
| Atlanta United | $452,500 |
| F.C. Los Angeles | $387,250 |
| New York FC | $384,500 |
| Revolution in New England | $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 hit | $230,250 |
| D.C. United | $219,400 |
MLS Western Conference 2023 Salaries
| Team | Average salary (annual) |
|---|---|
| Houston Dynamo | $757,700 |
| Austin FC | $619,700 |
| L.A. Galaxy | $581,250 |
| Louis City SC | $458,400 |
| portland wood | $421,250 |
| Columbus crew | $385,388 |
| Sporting Finals | $369,250 |
| Seattle Sounders FC | $367,500 |
| Earthquakes in San Jose | $288,050 |
| A real salt lake | $287,800 |
| FC Minnesota United | $238,560 |
| Colorado Rapids | $230,925 |
| F.C. 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
- Came with: Olympia Lyonnais (France), 2022
Lorenzo Insigne – Toronto FC = 500,000
- Age: 31
- Nationality: Italy
- Came with: Naples (Italy), 2022
Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez – L.A. Galaxy= 443750
- Age: 34
- Nationality: Mexico
- He has arrived With: Seville (Spain), 2020
Federico Bernardeschi – Toronto FC = 295381
- Age: 29
- Nationality: Italy
- He has arrived With: Juventus (Italy), 2022
Sebastian Driussi – Austin F.C. = 022 500
- Age: 27
- Nationality: Argentina
- He has arrived With: Zenit Saint Petersburg (Russia), 2021
Hector Herrera – Houston Dynamo = 246.875
- Age: 33
- Nationality: Mexico
- He has arrived With: Atlético Madrid (Spain), 2022
Douglas Costa – L.A. Galaxy = 508333
- Age: 32
- Nationality: Brazil
- He has arrived With: Juventus (Italy), 2022
Louis Araujo – Atlanta United = 483333
- Age: 26
- Nationality: Brazil
- He has arrived With: Lille (France), 2021
Christian Benteke – D.C. United = 432.778
- Age: 32
- Nationality: Belgium
- He has arrived With: Crystal Palace (England), in 2022
Josef Martinez – Inter Miami = 391.667
- Age: 29
- Nationality: Venezuela
- He has arrived With: Turin (Italy), 2017
Lucas Zelarayán – the Columbus crew = 800,000
- Age: 31
- Nationality: Armenia (via Argentina)
- He has arrived With: Tigers (Mexico), 2020
Carles Gil – Revolution in New England = ,545,833
- Age: thirty
- Nationality: Spain
- He has arrived With: Deportivo La Coruña (Spain), 2019
Rodolfo Pizarro – Inter Miami = 350,000
- Age: 29
- Nationality: Mexico
- He has arrived With: Monterrey (Mexico), 2020
Carlos Vela – LAFC = $3,337,500
- Age: 34
- Nationality: Mexico
- He has arrived With: Real Sociedad (Spain), 2018
Nicolas Lodeiro – Seattle Sounders = 256667
- Age: 34
- Nationality: Uruguay
- He has arrived With: Boca Juniors (Argentina), 2016
Raúl Ruidia – Seattle Sounders = 201120
- Age: 32
- Nationality: Peru
- He has arrived With: Morelia (Mexico), 2018
Hany Mukhtar – Nashville SC = 188750
- Age: 28
- Nationality: Germany
- He has arrived With: Brondby
Jozy Altidore – Revolution in New England = 939 963
- Age: 33
- Nationality: United States
- He has arrived With: FC Toronto, 2022
Cucho Hernánde -Columbus Crew = 886,000
- Age: 24
- Nationality: Columbia
- He has arrived With: Watford (England), 2022
Gustavo Bou – Revolution in New England = 675,000
- Age: 33
- Nationality: Argentina
- He has arrived With: Tijuana Club (Mexico), 49th
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