Major League Baseball has a minimum player salary in place to ensure that its athletes are fairly compensated for the work they do. The MLB minimum salary in 2026 stood at U.S. dollars annually, representing a steady increase each year over the last 15 years.
Money to be made in the MLB
MLB players are known to receive generous yearly salaries, in addition to performance incentives, such as prizes for games won. The average player salary in 2026 was over six times higher than the minimum salary, at around million U.S. dollars. This also represents more than double the average player salary from 2005, illustrating the rapid boom of money in baseball.
MLB's biggest earners
Certain positions in the MLB, such as first base or starting pitcher, are usually better paid due to the important roles they are considered to have in the game. The highest-paid player in the MLB in the 2026 season was Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani, who played a pivotal role in the Dodgers' World Series win in 2025.