Record-setting attendance numbers for the MLS last year speak volumes to the league’s growing popularity. Increasing revenue and more expansion lead to higher player salaries.
LA Galaxy’s Riqui Puig is the highest-paid MLS midfielder, earning $4 million annually.
The 25-year-old began his career playing for Barcelona. He’s the youngest player in the top 10 and the only one who has yet to play 100 career matches in the MLS.
Scottish international Stuart Armstrong is second with a $2.5 million salary. Armstrong signed a three-year contract with the Whitecaps last September, transferring from English second division side Sheffield Wednesday.
Third is Marcel Hartel of St. Louis City, who earns $1.8 million annually. He started his career in Germany, playing for multiple Bundesliga clubs before coming to St. Louis in 2024.
Despite growth in club values, midfielder salaries have decreased since last year.
Only the top two highest-paid midfielders earn over $2 million a year.
Ranking The Highest-Paid Midfielders in Major League Soccer
Here is the entire list of the highest-paid MLS midfielders. The list was compiled using data from Capology.
- Updated: March 7th, 2025
| Rank | Player | Team | Total Compensation |
| 1 | Riqui Puig | LA Galaxy | $4 million |
| 2 | Stuart Armstrong | Vancouver Whitecaps | $2.5 million |
| 3 | Marcel Hartel | St. Louis City | $1.8 million |
| 4 | Diogo Gonçalves | Real Salt Lake | $1.65 million |
| 5 | Robin Lod | Minnesota United | $1.5 million |
| 6 | Carlos Gruezo | San Jose Earthquakes | $1.46 million |
| 7 | Nemanja Radoja | Sporting KC | $1.44 million |
| 8 | Cristian Roldán | Seattle Sounders | $1.42 million |
| T-9 | Darlington Nagbe | Columbus Crew | $1.4 million |
| T-9 | João Paulo | Seattle Sounders | $1.4 million |
| 11 | Kellyn Acosta | Chicago Fire | $1.39 million |
| 12 | Obinna Nwobodo | FC Cincinnati | $1.31 million |
| T-13 | Eduard Löwen | St. Louis City | $1.2 million |
| T-13 | Julian Gressel | Inter Miami | $1.09 million |
| 15 | Andrés Cubas | Vancouver Whitecaps | $1.05 million |
| 16 | Felipe Carballo | NY Red Bulls | $1.02 million |
| 17 | Keaton Parks | NYC FC | $900,000 |
| 18 | Pablo Ruiz | Real Salt Lake | $825,000 |
| T-19 | Marco Delgado | LA Galaxy | $800,000 |
| T-19 | Alhassan Yusuf | NE Revolution | $800,000 |
| 21 | Jonathan Osorio | Toronto FC | $788,036 |
| T-22 | Ashley Westwood | Charlotte FC | $750,000 |
| T-22 | Sebastian Lletget | FC Dallas | $750,000 |
| 24 | Artur | Houston Dynamo | $700,000 |
| 25 | Matti Peltola | DC United | $681,818 |
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