What Do Minor League Baseball Players Earn?

A look at what minor league baseball players earn in salary, and how that stacks up against other professional athletes.

Introduction

Minor League Baseball players who are not on 40-man rosters earn $2,150 per month for the five-month regular season, according to MLB.com. That amounts to about $10,000 for the entire season. Players who spend extended time in the minors may earn slightly more — as much as $2,600 per month, or about $13,000 for the season.

What is Minor League Baseball?

Minor League Baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball (MLB) and provide opportunities for player development and a pathway to the major leagues. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses. Most are members of the Minor League Baseball (MiLB) organization, which operates under the Commissioner of Baseball within the scope of organized baseball. Several leagues, known as independent baseball leagues, do not have any affiliation with Major League Baseball.

The Different Levels of Minor League Baseball

There are different levels of minor league baseball, with each level having its own salary range. The lowest level is rookie ball, which is typically for players who are just starting out in professional baseball. salaries at this level can range from $1,100 to $2,150 per month.

The next level up is short season A ball, where salaries start at $2,150 per month and can go up to $2,700 per month.

The next level is A ball, where salaries start at $2,700 per month and can go up to $3,700 per month.

The highest level of minor league baseball is AA ball, where salaries start at $3,700 per month and can go up to $5,500 per month.

Players who are successful at the AA level may be called up to the major leagues, where they would then start earning a major league salary.

What Do Minor League Baseball Players Earn?

As with any other job, minor league baseball players are paid according to their level of experience and skill. Players who are just starting out in the minor leagues can expect to earn significantly less than those who have been playing for several years.

The minimum salary for a player in the rookie-level Arizona League is $290 per week, while the minimum salary for a player in Triple-A is $2,150 per week. Players at the higher levels of the minor leagues can earn up to $7,500 per week.

In addition to their salary, minor league baseball players also receive a meal allowance when they are on the road. The meal allowance increases as players move up through the ranks of the minor leagues.

Players in the lower levels of the minors (Class A and Class A Short Season) receive $25 per day for meals, while players in Triple-A receive $60 per day.

How Does This Compare to Major League Baseball Players?

While minor league baseball players do not earn as much as those in the major leagues, they still make a significant salary. In fact, the average minor league player earned $6,000 per month in 2017, according to Minor League Baseball’s website. This is a far cry from the minimum salary of $545 per week that major league players earned in 2017.

Conclusion

In conclusion, minor league baseball players earn a wide range of salaries, with the majority falling in the $10,000 to $20,000 range. Players at the lower end of the salary spectrum are typically those in rookie or short-season leagues, while players at the higher end are usually in AAA or AA. Major League Baseball teams typically do not release salary information for their minor league players, so these figures are largely based on estimates from various sources.