2006 MLS Salaries Released

[Easy Mac]

Go ahead, feel good that you make more than your average MLS player... unless he happens to be named Clint Mathis

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/mls/longterm/2006/mls.salaries.html

[Young Drachma]

Or good ol' Freddy Adu.

[sterlingice]

Wow- being a MLS player isn't quite as lucrative or glamorous as I would have thought. The league minimum is roughly the same as minimum wage at 40 hours a week.

SI

[Young Drachma]

Yeah, there are minor league baseball players pulling more dough than these guys. No wonder the league has survived for so long.

[st.cronin]

Yeah, there are minor league baseball players pulling more dough than these guys. No wonder the league has survived for so long.

lol

[Vinatieri for Prez]

Not surprising actually when you look at attendance/revenue for the league. However, don't forget that a lot of these guys have other jobs, especially in the offseason -- so they're doing ok.

[FBPro]

It would be great to see the minimum jump up a bit, sadly the US is so slow to follow the sport.

[moriarty]

Clint Demspey, Tyler Twellman ... these boys need a raise or a new agent.

I knew the MLS didn't pay that much, but guys on the team making 11K per year? How can that even be? Do they get sponsorship kickbacks on the side or something?

[kcchief19]

Not surprising actually when you look at attendance/revenue for the league. However, don't forget that a lot of these guys have other jobs, especially in the offseason -- so they're doing ok.
Like working at Home Depot?

[Ramzavail]

woah what...

D Wynne, Marvell $47,500 $150,000

The 80's Padres OF?

[Easy Mac]

woah what...

D Wynne, Marvell $47,500 $150,000

The 80's Padres OF?

His son, actually.

[Ramzavail]

wow nice, he's probably making more than dad.

[Easy Mac]

wow nice, he's probably making more than dad.

Marvell Sr.'s salaries with Padres:
Salaries
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2"> <tbody><tr><td>1986</td><td>San Diego Padres</td><td align="right">$205,000</td></tr> <tr><td>1987</td><td>San Diego Padres</td><td align="right">$240,000</td></tr> <tr><td>1988</td><td>San Diego Padres</td><td align="right">$255,000</td></tr> <tr><td>1989</td><td>San Diego Padres</td><td align="right">$350,000</td></tr> <tr><td>1990</td><td>Chicago Cubs</td><td align="right">$525,000</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2">Career <small>(may be incomplete)</small></td><td align="right">$1,575,000</td></tr></tbody> </table>

[Ramzavail]

its close...

[pennywisesb]

At least we know that most of these guys play for the love of the game versus greed. I can't believe the league minimum is so low......

[Young Drachma]

I think MLS average age is probably pretty young and also, these kids are playing for a shot to leave the US and play overseas. Here, they can develop and make more money and play in front of decent crowds versus struggling overseas in the 2nd division someplace.

[cthomer5000]

No wonder the league has survived for so long.

While this may have been joking, I think this is the truth. I think everyone involved in the MLS realizes the first step is simply survival. They're now at the point where they might start turning a profit here and there (I know the Galaxy were the first team to ever show a profit in a year). Soccer is going to be a long, uphill climb in the US, but i think it can succeed if the league keeps it's tortoise-like pace going.

[Young Drachma]

While this may have been joking, I think this is the truth. I think everyone involved in the MLS realizes the first step is simply survival. They're now at the point where they might start turning a profit here and there (I know the Galaxy were the first team to ever show a profit in a year). Soccer is going to be a long, uphill climb in the US, but i think it can succeed if the league keeps it's tortoise-like pace going.

Nah, I was actually serious. For basically exactly what you said. They've survived where other leagues have failed, based on what we saw in those numbers. You're dead on.