What is the NRLW salary and how does it compare to the national average?
Understand the NRLW salary, how it compares to Australia's national average weekly earnings, and how to use the Salary Index to evaluate job offers.
No precise NRLW salary figure is available in public sources; the index benchmark for full-time adult ordinary-time earnings is $108,352 per year (index 100).
What is the NRLW salary?
The term NRLW salary refers to the pay that players earn in the National Rugby League Women's competition. Unlike a standard hourly wage, NRLW salaries are typically set through a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the league and the players' union. This means there isn't a single published figure that applies to every player – pay varies by experience, role, and the terms of the CBA.
When you see a job advertisement for an NRLW player, the salary listed may be a base amount, and it might be expressed as an annual figure. To understand where that figure sits against the national line, you can use the Salary Index.
How the Salary Index helps compare NRLW salary
The Salary Index sets 100 as the full-time adult ordinary-time earnings reported by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. As of May 2026, that benchmark is $2,083.70 per week, or $108,352 per year. Any salary can be converted to an index number by dividing the annual gross salary by $108,352 and multiplying by 100.
For example, if an NRLW contract offers $80,000 per year, the index is 74. That is below the national average for full-time workers. If the contract is $120,000, the index is 111, which is above the national average. You can then compare that index to industry or state benchmarks.
Where NRLW salary fits in the pay landscape
The Fair Work Ombudsman explains that most employees are covered by a modern award or enterprise agreement. Professional athletes often fall under an enterprise agreement rather than a standard award. The NRLW CBA sets minimum and maximum pay rates, and these are likely higher than the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour (index 48.2).
To give context, the average weekly earnings for all employees in Australia is $1,579.20 per week (index 75.8). The average for full-time adults is $2,083.70 (index 100). For women, full-time average weekly ordinary time earnings are $1,934.50 (index 92.8). An NRLW salary that matches that would be around $100,594 per year.
Reading a job ad for NRLW
When you read a job ad for an NRLW player, look for the annual salary or match payment rates. If the ad says "$70,000 per year", that is below the national average. If it says "$150,000 per year", that is well above. You can also check how it compares to other industries. For example, the health care and social assistance industry has an index of 97.8, while mining is 154.7. NRLW salaries likely fall somewhere between those extremes.
What about tax and super?
NRLW salaries are subject to PAYG withholding and the superannuation guarantee. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12% of ordinary time earnings, up to a maximum contribution base of $270,830. For a $100,000 salary, that means $12,000 in super. The resident tax rates for 2026–27 start at nil for the first $18,200, then 15% up to $45,000, 30% to $135,000, 37% to $190,000, and 45% above that. Medicare levy is 2%. Take-home pay will be lower than the gross figure.
Using the index for offers
If you have multiple NRLW offers, convert each to an index number. Then compare them to the state average where you would be based. For example, if you are in New South Wales, the state index is 101.2 (annualised $109,658). An offer of $100,000 (index 92.3) is below the NSW average. An offer of $120,000 (index 110.8) is above it.
Conclusion
While the exact NRLW salary is not publicly available in the provided sources, you can use the Salary Index to evaluate any figure you see. The national benchmark is $108,352 per year. Use the index to see how an NRLW offer compares to the average worker, to women's average earnings, and to the state where you would live. For more detail on how the index works, see how the index works.
Related topics
Questions people ask
What is the NRLW salary?
The NRLW salary is the pay for players in the National Rugby League Women's competition. It is not a single fixed amount; it is determined by a collective bargaining agreement or an award. The exact figures are not publicly listed in the provided government sources, but they are likely above the national minimum wage.
How does the NRLW salary compare to the national average?
Without a specific figure, you can use the Salary Index. The national benchmark for full-time adult ordinary-time earnings is $108,352 per year (index 100). If an NRLW salary is, say, $80,000, its index would be 74. If it's $120,000, the index would be 111. Compare that to industry or state indices for context.
Is the NRLW salary covered by a modern award?
Professional sport is often covered by an enterprise agreement rather than a modern award. The Fair Work Ombudsman advises checking the applicable agreement for minimum pay rates. The NRLW collective bargaining agreement would set the minimum and maximum pay for players.