The life of a Minor League Baseball player traditionally has not been a cushy one. They work for peanuts, are in motels or on buses three months out of the year, and constantly worry about getting demoted.
But Minor League salaries and benefits have gotten much better in the last few years, since 23,000 players won a $185 million class-action settlement against MLB in 2022, leading to a new collective bargaining agreement.
While they still don’t earn anywhere in the ballpark of their big league colleagues, they do make a living wage—at least during the half of the year when they’re on the field.
Read on for an explanation of how much players make, plus a breakdown of player salaries by level and experience.
Minor League Player Salary Overview
According to the Minor League Basic Agreement, which falls under the MLB collective bargaining agreement, there’s a strict pay scale clubs must adhere to. Chances are, the guy next to you in the clubhouse is making what you do, down to the penny. Plus, because clubs must provide housing and meals, your lifestyles will likely look similar, too.
The good news is that minor leaguers receive much better compensation than they used to. The bad news is that it’s still not very much compared to Major League players, and they can’t rely on a paycheck between the final game and the start of the next season.
As of 2025, a player in Rookie ball pulled in $700 a week during the 16-week season, $650 for spring training and offseason camps, and $255 for any mandated offsite training. That works out to a minimum annual salary of $20,430 per year, by Baseball America’s count.
Although the spring training and offseason rates stay consistent from Rookie ball through Triple-A, the season salary does rise as players progress through the organization. (The season lengths increase as well.) Single-A players make $870 a week ($26,840 annually). High-A gets them $920 ($27,940). Double-A is worth $1,020 ($30,905). And salaries hit $1,225 per week in Triple-A. Players at that level earn a minimum annual salary of $36,590.
All players, regardless of level, receive free housing and transportation to the ballpark, plus two meals per day—one before the game and one after—plus a $31.50 per diem for expenses. They also keep health insurance several months after their release and retain the rights to their name, image, and likeness (NIL).
While none of that may sound like a huge deal, it’s a lot more than what players made before their first-ever collective bargaining agreement was signed in 2023. As recently as 2019, Rookie-level players made just $290 a week, Triple-A players pulled in $502, and nobody got paid for spring training, received guaranteed free housing and meals, or kept their NIL rights.
There’s a slight caveat to this: All the above salaries apply to “first-year contracts”—the initial minor league contract a player signs. Initial contracts last for six or seven seasons, depending on the player’s age at signing. Those who have been on an MiLB roster for longer but haven’t found their footing in the Majors (think: Crash Davis in Bull Durham) can sign non-first-year contracts that can go up to $8,400 per week with total compensation (including bonuses) up to $100,000, according to the Basic Agreement.
If a player has a Major League contract but finds himself on an MiLB club, his Major League salary stays in place.
Minor League Salary Levels by Experience
Salary:
- Starting Weekly Salary (Season)
- Rookie: $700
- A: $870
- High A: $920
- AA: $1,020
- AAA: $1,225
- Starting Weekly Salary (Spring Training): $650
- Offseason Training:
- Onsite: $650
- Offsite: $255
- Over 6-7 Years’ Experience: Up to $8,400
Benefits:
- Housing/utilities: Provided
- Transportation for work: Provided
- Meals: Two free meals per day
- Per diem: $31.50
Highest-Paid Minor League Baseball Players
The collective bargaining agreement caps Minor Leaguers at $100,000 per season and requires that Major Leaguers get paid at least $760,000. Thus, by definition, the highest-paid MiLB players are pros who have been sent down to the minors to rehab or find their rhythm. Some never make it back, earning Major League pay for Minor League play.
Evan White, for instance, signed a 6-year, $24M deal with the Mariners in 2019 and got called up in 2020. After appearing in 84 games across two big league seasons, he headed back to the minors to finish out his contract.
Minor League Baseball Player FAQs
- What do Minor Leaguers do in the offseason?
Since players have roughly six months when they don’t report to their clubs, many choose to supplement their incomes by working part-time jobs. Others try to hone their skills by playing winter ball in the Dominican Republic, Mexico, or elsewhere.
- What is player housing like?
After losing a class-action suit brought by minor leaguers, MLB owners agreed to start providing player housing in 2022. Every club must now pay for furnished housing within commuting distance of players’ home ballparks. These are typically apartments or rental homes, but under certain circumstances, may be host families or hotel rooms. At the Double-A and Triple-A levels, players must have their own bedrooms. (Rookie and Single-A players can be two to a room.) Players with spouses and/or children receive special accommodations.
- Do umpires also progress through the minor leagues?
Yes. After attending a Major League Umpire Camp, prospective umps can receive an offer to work MiLB games. They go through the Umpire Development Process and try to work their way up to the Majors. Just like players, they can skip levels if they perform well.
- Can any player get sent back to the minors?
Yes and no. According to the CBA, Major Leaguers can be taken off their team’s 40-man roster and designated for assignment, provided they first clear waivers. They still get paid the Major League rate. Players can only be sent to the minors without consent once. And players with more than five seasons under their belt must consent to the move. Otherwise, they become free agents.
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