How Much Does an NFL Practice Squad Player Make?

If you’re wondering how much an NFL practice squad player makes, you’re not alone. Many football fans are curious about the financial compensation for these athletes.

We’ve got the scoop on what practice squad players earn, and how it compares to the salaries of other NFL players. Read on to learn more.

NFL Practice Squad Player Salaries

The salary for NFL practice squad players depends on a few factors such as the player’s experience, the length of the season, and whether or not the player is on the active roster. The average salary for an NFL practice squad player is $6,900 per week, but it can range from $5,200 to $8,500 per week.

Minimum Salary

An NFL practice squad player’s salary depends on how many years of experience he has in the league. A player with no prior NFL experience will earn a minimum salary of $6,900 per week during the regular season. A player with one year of NFL experience will earn a minimum salary of $8,200 per week during the regular season. A player with two years of NFL experience will earn a minimum salary of $8,400 per week during the regular season, and a player with three or more years of NFL experience will earn a minimum salary of $9,000 per week during the regular season.

Per-Game Salary

An NFL practice squad player’s salary depends on how many games he plays in a season. For example, if a player is on the practice squad for all 16 regular-season games, he’ll make $6,900 for the season. That comes out to $427.50 per game.

Seasonal Salary

An NFL practice squad player’s salary varies depending on the number of years he has been in the league. A first-year player will make a minimum of $6,900 per week while a veteran with eight or more years of experience will make $8,000 per week.

How Practice Squad Players are Paid

Although NFL practice squad players don’t play in the games, they do receive a paycheck for their hard work. So, how much do these players make? According to Business Insider, NFL practice squad players make a minimum of $8,000 per week. That’s a pretty good paycheck for not playing in the games!

Direct Deposit

Players on NFL practice squads are paid a minimum of $8,000 per week during the 17-week regular season. While it’s common for practice squad players to make more than the minimum salary, veteran players with NFL experience can make up to $30,000 per week.

Players are paid bi-weekly via direct deposit and they also receive a per diem allowance for food and other expenses. Practice squad players are not eligible for health insurance or other benefits afforded to active NFL players.

Check

While it may not be the NFL’s glamorous “starters” or “reserves,” the practice squad serves an important purpose for teams across the league. Made up of 10 players who practice with the team but don’t suit up on Sundays, practice squad members provide much-needed depth and development opportunities for young, raw talent.

So, how much does an NFL practice squad player make? According to the most recent collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and NFLPA, practice squad players are paid a minimum of $8,000 per week. That comes out to a base salary of $136,000 over the course of a 17-week regular season.

Of course, that’s just the minimum salary for practice squad players. Many teams choose to pay their practice squad players more — sometimes significantly more — than the league minimum. In fact, it’s not uncommon for veteran NFL practice squad players to earn salaries in excess of $100,000 per year.

So while they may not be earning starter-level money, there’s no doubt that NFL practice squad players are still being compensated handsomely for their efforts.

Cash

An NFL practice squad player is paid a weekly salary that is determined by the team he is on. As of 2019, the minimum salary for a practice squad player is $8,000 per week, or $136,000 per year. However, many practice squad players make significantly more than this. The average salary for a practice squad player is around $20,000 per week, or $320,000 per year.

When Practice Squad Players are Paid

An NFL practice squad player’s salary depends on how long he’s been in the league. A player can be on a practice squad for a maximum of three seasons. For each season, a player earns a base salary of $6,900, and he receives an additional $1,300 for each preseason game in which he participates.

Twice a Month

An NFL practice squad player’s salary depends on how many years he has been in the league. A first-year practice squad player will make a minimum of $6,900 per week, while a second-year player will make $7,600 per week. Players with three or more years of experience will make $8,200 per week. In addition to their base salary, practice squad players also receive bonuses for each game they are on the active roster.

Once a Week

Practice squad players are paid a minimum of $8,000 per week during the NFL regular season, which runs from September to December. However, practice squad players may be paid more than $8,000 per week if their team chooses to do so.

For example, in 2019, the Los Angeles Rams signed linebacker Justin Lawler to their practice squad. Lawler had spent the 2018 season on the Rams’ practice squad, so he was familiar with the team’s system. The Rams liked what they saw from Lawler in training camp and exhibition games, so they decided to keep him around and pay him a salary of $27,000 per week – more than three times the practice squad minimum.

The upside for practice squad players is that they can earn a significant amount of money while learning from some of the best coaches in the business and working with NFL-caliber teammates. The downside is that they’re one injuries away from being cut and out of a job.

On Game Day

An NFL practice squad player receives $8,000 per week during the NFL regular season. If a practice squad player is called up to the 53-man roster, he will receive a pro-rated portion of his signing bonus and salary for that week. For example, if a player is signed halfway through the season, he will receive half of his signing bonus and half of his salary for that week.

How Practice Squad Players’ Salaries are Taxed

Players on an NFL practice squad earn a salary of $8,400 per week during the 17-week regular season, which is a fraction of what starters make.

Federal Income Tax

Practice squad players are exempt from federal income taxes on the first $102,000 of their annual salary, which is the same amount that every other NFL player receives. So, if a practice squad player makes the league minimum salary of $6,000 per week during the 17-week regular season, he will earn a total of $102,000 and will not have to pay any federal taxes on that income.

State Income Tax

Players on an NFL practice squad are not exempt from state income taxes. For example, a player on the practice squad who lives in Texas will pay state income taxes on his salary to the state of Texas. The amount of tax will vary depending on the player’s salary and tax bracket, but it is important to remember that these taxes must be paid.

FICA

Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) is a U.S. federal payroll (or employment) tax levied on both employees and employers to fund Social Security and Medicare—federal programs that provide benefits for retirees, the disabled, and children of deceased workers. Employers are required to withhold FICA taxes from their employees’ wages and to pay a matching amount themselves.

For 2019, the employee’s share of the Social Security tax is 6.2% of wages up to $132,900 (the wage base is increased annually if needed to keep pace with inflation). The employee’s share of the Medicare tax is 1.45% of all wages; there is no wage base limit for Medicare tax. Together, the worker’s FICA taxes total 7.65% of wages up to $132,900 plus 1.45% of all wages above that amount; this applies only to 2019 since tax rates may change from year to year.

The employer also pays FICA taxes at the same rates as the employee; thus, the total FICA tax rate for 2019 is 15.3% (7.65% for Social Security plus 1.45% for Medicare).