BREAKING: Major League Baseball’s average salary growth has dramatically slowed to 1.4% in 2025, according to newly released figures from the players’ association. This increase sets a record average salary of $4,721,393, but marks the smallest rise since the average fell for four consecutive seasons before 2022.
The latest data reveals that the average salary saw a 2.9% increase in 2024, following more significant jumps of 7.2% in 2023 and 14.8% in 2022, which came after a 99-day lockout that resulted in a five-year collective bargaining agreement. After hitting a low of $3.68 million in 2021, a year post the pandemic-shortened season, MLB salaries have surged a remarkable 28.3% in the first four years of the current labor deal, averaging an impressive 7.1% percent annual growth.
As the current agreement approaches its expiration on December 1, speculation about another potential lockout looms large. The players’ association’s data is based on the salaries, earned bonuses, and prorated shares of signing bonuses for 1,046 players on active rosters and injured lists as of August 31.
While MLB has yet to finalize its average for 2025, its figures may slightly differ due to methodology. Typically, the average salary is higher on opening day but tends to decline throughout the season as higher-paid veterans are released and replaced by less seasoned players. Specifically, players with less than one year of major league service averaged $822,589, while those with one to two years averaged $1,179,192.
Among arbitration-eligible players, those with two to three years of service earned an average of $1,833,386. For players eligible for arbitration with three-plus years, the average salary was $3,273,039. This figure climbed to $8,019,748 for those with five-plus years, just shy of free-agent eligibility. Players with six to seven years of service averaged $9,649,380, peaking at $22,034,231 for those with 11 to 12 years, before settling at $13,703,052 for the six players boasting 15 or more years of major league experience.
This latest report underscores the ongoing financial dynamics within Major League Baseball, highlighting both the achievements and challenges faced by players as they navigate the complexities of their contracts. With the current collective bargaining agreement nearing its end, fans and players alike are left to wonder what the future holds for salaries and labor relations in the league. Stay tuned as this story develops.
