Skip to content
topics.

MLB average salary hits record $5.34M

sportsApr 9, 2026227

Major League Baseball's average salary rose 3.4% on opening day to a record $5.34 million, according to an Associated Press study. The New York Mets led all teams in opening-day payroll, again topping MLB spending. Rising salaries reflect growing revenue and intensified competition for top players. That matters because higher payrolls reshape roster construction, ticket pricing, and labor negotiations.

Key Highlights

MLB average salary rose 3.4% to a record $5.34 million.
New York Mets led the league in opening-day payroll spending.
Higher salaries reshape roster construction, ticket pricing, and labor negotiations.
3 sources
apnews.comAP study: MLB average salary hits a record $5.34M as the Mets lead spending againlocal10.comAP study: MLB average salary hits a record $5.34M as the Mets lead spending againwralsportsfan.comAP study: MLB average salary hits a record $5.34M as the Mets lead spending again :: WRALSportsFan.com

Related

Pittsburgh Penguins clinch Stanley Cup Playoffs berthsportsEight new MLB City Connect 2.0 uniforms unveiledsportsMLB average salary hits record $5.34MsportsCole Caufield scores 50th goal, first Hab to reach 50 since 1990sports