What is the average AFL salary? A look at how it compares to national earnings

What is the average AFL salary?

The phrase "average AFL salary" often comes up when comparing professional sport earnings to everyday Australian wages. But unlike the national average weekly earnings published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, there is no single official figure for the average AFL salary that appears in standard government datasets. The search results from the ABS, Fair Work Ombudsman, and Fair Work Commission do not include AFL-specific pay data. This article explains how you can still benchmark an AFL salary against the national line using the Salary Index, and what that means for gross pay, superannuation, and tax.

The national earnings benchmark

The ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026 sets the national full-time adult ordinary time earnings at $2,083.70 per week. Annualised, that is $108,352. This is the index base of 100. Any salary above that figure scores above 100; anything below scores below 100. For example, the national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week, annualised to $52,255, giving an index of 48.2. How the index works explains the calculation in more detail.

Where does the average AFL salary sit?

Because AFL players are not covered by a modern award, their pay is not listed in the Fair Work Ombudsman pay guides or the Fair Work Commission Modern Awards Pay Database. Instead, player salaries are determined by enterprise agreements between the AFL and the AFL Players' Association. The average AFL salary is often reported in the media or in the AFL's annual report, but those figures were not part of the provided search results. For the purpose of this article, we can use a hypothetical figure to illustrate the index.

Suppose the average AFL salary were $400,000 per year. That would give an index of 369 ($400,000 ÷ $108,352 × 100). That means the player earns about 3.7 times the national average full-time worker. To put that in perspective, the highest-paying industry in the ABS data is Mining at index 154.7, and the lowest is Accommodation and Food Services at 72.5. An AFL player on $400,000 is far above even the highest industry average.

Gross pay, super, and tax for an AFL player

AFL players are employees and receive superannuation guarantee contributions. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee rate is 12% of ordinary time earnings, up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830. For a player earning $400,000, the employer must contribute 12% on the first $270,830, which is $32,499.60. The remaining $129,170 of salary does not attract compulsory super, though some clubs may negotiate additional contributions.

Tax on a $400,000 gross salary in 2026–27 (resident, with tax-free threshold, excluding Medicare levy surcharge and HELP) is calculated as:

• Nil on first $18,200
• 15% on $18,201 to $45,000 = $4,020
• 30% on $45,001 to $135,000 = $27,000
• 37% on $135,001 to $190,000 = $20,350
• 45% on $190,001 to $400,000 = $94,500 Total tax = $145,870. Plus Medicare levy 2% on all taxable income = $8,000. Total tax and Medicare = $153,870. Estimated take-home pay = $246,130. This is before any salary sacrifice arrangements, which are common in professional sport.

Why the average AFL salary matters for the index

The Salary Index is designed to let you compare any gross annual salary to the national line. Even though we don't have a confirmed average AFL salary from the provided sources, you can plug in any figure you see in the media or from the AFLPA. For example, if the average were $350,000, the index would be 323. If it were $450,000, the index would be 415. The index gives a quick sense of how far above or below the national benchmark a salary sits.

How AFL salaries compare across states

AFL clubs are based in several states, and the cost of living varies. The state indexes from the ABS data show that the ACT has the highest average earnings (index 109.9) and Tasmania the lowest (88.6). An AFL player in Melbourne (Victoria, index 98) or Adelaide (South Australia, index 94.6) would have a salary that far exceeds the local average, but the index comparison is still based on the national line. For more on state differences, see states.

The role of awards and enterprise agreements

Unlike most workers, AFL players are not covered by a modern award. The Fair Work Ombudsman's pay guides list minimum rates for award-covered employees, but professional sport has its own industrial framework. Enterprise agreements often include minimum payments for rookies and senior players, plus match payments and bonuses. These agreements are not publicly searchable in the same way as award rates.

Summary

The average AFL salary is not a figure you will find in the ABS Average Weekly Earnings or Fair Work databases. But using the Salary Index, you can benchmark any reported average against the national line of 100. A hypothetical $400,000 salary gives an index of 369, well above any industry average. After tax and super, the take-home amount is still substantial. For more on how different industries compare, see industries.