As one of the biggest sports leagues in the United States, with TV viewers reaching into the millions, Major League Baseball can afford to pay its players handsomely. The average salary for a player in the MLB stood at million U.S. dollars in 2026. This marked around a twofold increase on the average salary in 2006.
Highs and lows of MLB salaries
While the stars of every MLB team take home millions every year, there is still a minimum player salary in place to ensure that all players are compensated for their efforts. The 2026 MLB minimum player salary was set at U.S. dollars, a significant increase on the minimum of U.S. dollars in 2003.
The league’s top earners
The highest earner in the MLB in 2026 was Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers. The five-time All-Star took home an annual base salary of million U.S. dollars in the 2026 season. Widely regarded as the greatest player of his generation, Ohtani's salary comes as no surprise.