The average baseball salary on opening day, based on salary studies by the The Associated Press, and the percentage increase or decrease. Figures were obtained by The Associated Press from management and player sources and include salaries and pro-rated shares of signing bonuses. In some cases, parts of salaries that are deferred are discounted to reflect present-day values (a-adjusted for 25-man rosters from $1,073,579 figure for 28-man post-strike rosters but does not reflect 11.1% reduction due to 144-game regular season); b-reflects 30-man rosters and 63% reduction due to 60-game regular season; c-start of 26-man rosters.
Year
Average
Increase
1989
$512,804
NA
1990
578,930
12.9
1991
891,188
53.9
1992
1,084,208
21.7
1993
1,120,254
3.3
1994
1,188,679
6.1
a-1995
1,071,029
-9.9
1996
1,176,967
9.9
1997
1,383,578
17.6
1998
1,441,406
4.2
1999
1,720,050
19.3
2000
1,988,034
15.6
2001
2,264,403
13.9
2002
2,383,235
5.2
2003
2,555,476
7.2
2004
2,486,609
-2.7
2005
2,632,655
5.9
2006
2,866,544
8.9
2007
2,944,556
2.7
2008
3,154,845
7.1
2009
3,240,206
2.7
2010
3,297,828
1.8
2011
3,305,393
0.2
2012
3,439,370
4.1
2013
3,650,257
6.1
2014
3,949,068
8.2
2015
4,199,030
6.3
2016
4,381,980
4.4
2017
4,451,508
1.6
2018
4,411,580
-0.9
2019
4,375,486
-0.8
b-2020
1,295,942
NA
c-2021
4,167,164
NA
2022
4,415,275
6.0
2023
4,907,108
11.1
2024
4,979,820
1.5
2025
5,160,245
3.6
2026
5,335,966
3.4
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Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
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PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
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