On Thursday, the MLS Players Association released their annual salary report as of May 1st. I’ve been kicking some numbers around and these are the takeaways from this release.
- Total player salaries went up 24.6% league-wide.
- All but NYCFC (no more Pirlo) and Orlando (no more Kaka) had increases in salary.
- Toronto FC has the highest payroll in the league.
- Minnesota United has the highest median salary in 2018 so far at $206,711.30 even though they rank 17th in total payroll.
- The Chicago Fire are fourth in total payroll, but 22nd in terms of median salary.
- The Montreal Impact’s wage bill has more than doubled from this point last year in terms of guaranteed compensation.
- Ignacio Piatti’s base salary is $500,000, but his guaranteed compensation is in excess of $4.7 million.
- No millionaires on DC, Dallas, or Houston.
- LAFC has the most players making under 100,000.
- Five players (Giovinco, Bradley, Vela, Schweinsteiger, and G. do Santos) make more than the entire payroll of the Houston Dynamo.
| Club | 2017 Total | 2018 Payroll | 2018 Median | 2018 Millionaires | 2018 Under 100K | 1-Year Difference |
| Atlanta United | $8,930,754.26 | $11,306,330.49 | $130,000.00 | 3 | 12 | 26.6% |
| Chicago Fire | $12,952,278.17 | $13,824,204.42 | $122,470.00 | 3 | 11 | 6.7% |
| Colorado Rapids | $8,040,619.75 | $11,001,331.46 | $138,310.50 | 2 | 11 | 36.8% |
| Columbus Crew | $6,747,544.99 | $6,971,083.47 | $145,000.00 | 1 | 11 | 3.3% |
| DC United | $5,272,447.94 | $6,744,419.63 | $138,618.80 | 0 | 7 | 27.9% |
| FC Dallas | $6,510,760.94 | $9,333,819.28 | $182,500.00 | 0 | 9 | 43.4% |
| Houston Dynamo | $5,025,066.65 | $5,673,471.63 | $165,000.00 | 0 | 9 | 12.9% |
| LA Galaxy | $12,117,892.11 | $17,502,008.30 | $175,000.00 | 5 | 9 | 44.4% |
| LAFC | $118,008.00 | $13,432,052.70 | $148,750.00 | 2 | 13 | N/A |
| Major League Soccer L.L.C | $3,139,367.63 | $147,254.00 | 1 | 3 | N/A | |
| Minnesota United | $5,322,864.55 | $8,152,682.50 | $206,711.30 | 1 | 8 | 53.2% |
| Montreal Impact | $5,215,855.89 | $11,888,540.59 | $150,000.00 | 1 | 13 | 127.9% |
| New England Revolution | $5,800,118.33 | $6,818,556.10 | $165,833.30 | 1 | 10 | 17.6% |
| New York City FC | $17,930,365.69 | $14,147,632.75 | $254,170.70 | 2 | 8 | -21.1% |
| New York Red Bulls | $6,895,186.17 | $7,689,313.94 | $115,935.00 | 1 | 12 | 11.5% |
| Orlando City SC | $13,219,199.70 | $8,981,657.52 | $164,000.00 | 2 | 12 | -32.1% |
| Philadelphia Union | $7,117,010.10 | $8,915,987.84 | $120,762.00 | 3 | 11 | 25.3% |
| Portland Timbers | $10,824,144.54 | $12,516,334.70 | $171,875.00 | 4 | 8 | 15.6% |
| Real Salt Lake | $7,734,355.44 | $8,975,665.56 | $187,125.00 | 2 | 8 | 16.0% |
| San Jose Earthquakes | $6,959,287.11 | $7,787,252.58 | $168,000.00 | 1 | 9 | 11.9% |
| Seattle Sounders FC | $10,372,300.48 | $11,376,125.37 | $191,000.00 | 4 | 11 | 9.7% |
| Sporting Kansas City | $6,730,358.76 | $9,176,166.46 | $178,833.40 | 1 | 11 | 36.3% |
| Toronto FC | $22,478,565.27 | $26,167,498.70 | $203,174.70 | 5 | 7 | 16.4% |
| Vancouver Whitecaps | $8,079,371.07 | $8,233,011.71 | $158,125.00 | 1 | 11 | 1.9% |
| League Totals | $200,394,355.91 | $249,754,515.33 | $153,541.70 | 45 | 234 | 24.6% |
MLS
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