MLB's Average Contract Salary Tops $5M For 1st Time In League History, Per Study

After a big offseason of spending for several MLB teams, the average player salary has hit a record high.

According to a study by the Associated Press, the average MLB salary in 2025 is $5.2 million.

This is an increase of 3.6 percent from 2024 when it was $4.7 million. Average player salaries have recovered well since declining in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The average salary in 2021 was at $3.7 million, so the total has gone up 33.7 percent in the past four years.

These numbers come after a star-studded free-agent class propelled teams to spend more than $5 billion in contracts this offseason. That figure also includes player extensions, arbitration deals and international free-agent signings.

Of that $5 billion total, the Mets accounted for more than 20 percent of it with just over $1 billion in financial commitments. Juan Soto's 15-year, $765 million contract takes up most of that figure.

By total cash earnings, which factors in signing bonuses, Soto is making $121.9 million from the Mets this season. Blake Snell of the Los Angeles Dodgers is the only other player earning more than $42 million ($64.8 million).

There are 16 players making at least $30 million and 66 players who are being paid at least $20 million.

The AP noted in its findings that the top 50 players are making 29 percent of total salaries, with the top 100 accounting for 48 percent. There were 35 players on Opening Day rosters making the league minimum of $760,000.