How Much Do Punters Make in the NFL?

How much do punters make in the NFL? Here’s a breakdown of the average salary and earnings of NFL punters.

Introduction

In the National Football League (NFL), punters are among the lowest-paid players. The average salary for a punter is just over $2 million, with the highest-paid player making just over $4 million. However, there are a few punters who make significantly more than the average player. For example, in 2017, Pat McAfee retired from the NFL after making $14 million in his career.

How Much Do Punters Make in the NFL?

Punters in the NFL make an average salary of $1.07 million, with a signing bonus of $50,000. The median annual salary for an NFL punter is $86,000, while the bottom 10 percent of earners make an average of $48,000 per year. How do these salaries compare to other NFL positions?

The Average Salary of an NFL Punter

The average salary of an NFL punter is $1,542,854 per year, according to Spotrac.com. The median salary for all NFL punters is $1,368,333. The lowest-paid 10 percent of NFL punters make less than $605,000 per year, while the highest-paid 10 percent earn more than $2,941,667 per year.

The Highest-Paid Punters in the NFL

In the NFL, punters are among the lowest-paid players. The average salary for a punter is $1.78 million per year, which ranks 31st among all players in the league.

However, there are a few punters who are able to command much higher salaries. These are the highest-paid punters in the NFL:

1. Matt Bryan – $5 million per year
2. Sam Koch – $4 million per year
3. Thomas Morstead – $3.5 million per year
4. Jordan Gay – $3 million per year
5. Brandon Fields – $2.75 million per year

The Lowest-Paid Punters in the NFL

While salaries for NFL players have been on the rise in recent years, punters have largely been left behind. In 2007, the average punter in the NFL made $817,000 per year. By 2017, that number had risen to just $965,000. In comparison, the average salary for all players in the NFL has increased from $1.3 million to $2.1 million over that same time period.

As a result, many punters are now among the lowest-paid players in the NFL. In fact, there are only four positions that have a lower average salary than punters: kickers ($859,000), long snappers ($819,000), wide receivers ($806,000) and running backs ($730,000).

So why are punters so underpaid? There are a few reasons. First of all, there is less demand for punters than there is for other positions. There are only 32 starting jobs available in the NFL (one for each team), and most teams don’t place a high priority on the position.

Second, the job of a punter is relatively easy compared to other positions. Unlike quarterbacks or running backs, punters don’t have to worry about being tackled by opposing players. And unlike kickers, they don’t have to be as accurate (within reason) as long as they can consistently put the ball inside the opponent’s 20-yard line.

Finally, there is a belief among some coaches and general managers that any player can be taught to punt well enough to be serviceable. As a result, they often view punters as replaceable and aren’t willing to invest much money in them.

How Do Punters’ Salaries Compare to Other NFL Positions?

Punters are often overlooked in the NFL, but they play a crucial role in the game. They make an average of $2 million per year, which is more than double the average salary of an NFL player. Punters also have the potential to make a lot more money than other players in the league.

The Average Salary of an NFL Player

The average salary of an NFL player is $2.7 million, according to a 2018 report from the National Football League Players Association. This figure includes all players, from rookies to veteran stars. However, not all players make the same amount of money. In fact, there is a significant difference in earnings between the highest-paid and lowest-paid players in the league.

The average salaries for specific positions in the NFL vary widely. For instance, the median salary for quarterbacks is $4 million per year, while the median salary for punters is just $1 million per year. That means that half of all punters in the NFL make less than $1 million per year, while half of all quarterbacks make more than $4 million per year.

So, how do punters’ salaries compare to other positions in the NFL? While they may not make as much money as some other positions, punters are still well-compensated relative to most people in other professions.

The Highest-Paid NFL Players

In the National Football League, the average career lasts just 3.3 years. For players who make it to a fourth season, their average earnings are $2 million. The top 25% of NFL players make an average of $4 million per year, while the bottom 25% earn an average of $1 million per year.

The highest-paid NFL player in 2020 is Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, who will earn $35 million in salary and bonuses. The second highest-paid player is Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who will earn $33.5 million in salary and bonuses. Texans defensive end J.J. Watt is the third highest-paid player, with earnings of $15.5 million.

Punters are not typically among the highest-paid players in the NFL. In 2020, the highest-paid punter is Cleveland Browns punter Jamie Gillan, who will earn $1.85 million in salary and bonuses. The second highest-paid punter is New England Patriots punter Ryan Allen, who will earn $1.8 million in salary and bonuses.

The Lowest-Paid NFL Players

Punters and kickers are often considered the lowest-paid players in the NFL, but that doesn’t mean they’re making peanuts. The average salary for a punter is $1.07 million, while the average salary for a kicker is $1.03 million. That’s not chump change by any stretch of the imagination.

Still, it’s worth noting that punters and kickers are paid significantly less than other positions in the NFL. For instance, the average salary for a quarterback is $5 million, while the average salary for a running back is $2.7 million. Even those who play less glamorous positions such as offensive linemen make more than punters and kickers, with an average salary of $2.13 million.

So why are punters and kickers paid so relatively little? It’s likely due to the fact that their jobs aren’t overly demanding physically and they can be easily replaced if they don’t perform well. In other words, teams feel they can get by with paying a lower wage to these players since they aren’t essential to the team’s success on the field.

Conclusion

In conclusion, NFL punters make a pretty decent salary. The median salary for an NFL punter is $823,000, and the top punters in the league make upwards of $3 million per year. While it’s not the highest-paying position in the NFL, it’s certainly not the lowest, either. If you’re good at your craft, you can certainly make a nice living as an NFL punter.