How much does a soccer player earn on average in MLS?

Major League Soccer, whose 2023 season kicked off on Saturday, has become an increasingly attractive destination for players because of the pay on offer.

When it comes to salaries, MLS now beats out other leagues in the CONCACAF and CONMEBOL regions - a state of affairs that has opened the doors of the US’ top men’s soccer league to a host of elite performers. Rather than seeing MLS as somewhere to bring their playing days to a close, they now consider it a stage on which they can develop their professional careers.

Average salary in MLS just under $500,000

According to the MLS Players’ Association’s most recent update on league salaries, published in May 2022, the average basic wage for a senior-roster non-designated player is $438,728 a year.

Per the MLSPA - the league’s players’ union - pay packets increased by 10.3% in 2022. Average salaries are expected to continue to rise in 2023, so the body is likely to publish new earnings figures in the coming months.

Insigne the league’s top earner

At the end of the 2022 MLS season, Toronto FC’s Lorenzo Insigne led the list of the highest-paid players in the division, with a salary of $6m per year. The Italian is also the joint-most valuable MLS star, with a market worth estimated at €15m. He has the same valuation as Austin FC’s Sebastián Driussi, New York City FC’s Talles Magno and Atlanta United’s Thiago Almada.

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Dream start for St Louis as 2023 season begins

On matchday one of the 2023 campaign, expansion team St Louis City SC grabbed the headlines with a 3-2 road victory over Austin FC on their MLS debut. João Klauss’ late winner at Q2 Stadium secured a dream start for the Missouri side, whose arrival in MLS takes the league’s total number of teams to 29.

Saturday’s matchday-one MLS results in full

Remaining matchday-one fixtures: