XFL Salary 2023: What is the average income of an XFL player?

XFL players are paid employees just like those in other industries. While the pay scale differs in a big way from the NFL, players can make a living through both leagues. However, just how much does an XFL player make and how does it compare to salaries in the NFL?

According to the Pro Football Network, every player signs a minimum one-year deal. Every deal is broken down into a base salary, salary per game, and a bonus per win. As it stands for 2023, it appears that every player will be making the same salary. Before the regular season, however, there is a training camp.

Players earn $800 for every week of training camp that they make it through until they make the team. After accomplishing that, salaries increase. The base salary for each player is $59,000. There also appears to be a per-game payment of $5,000. For every win, players earn an extra $1,000.

The salary is about $5,000 more than the USFL, giving the XFL a competitive advantage in the labor market. In addition to cold hard cash, the league also gives each player $20,000 in added benefits ranging from healthcare to dental, vision insurance, housing, and meals.

In all, most players will not need to worry about money while employed by the league. Of course, these salaries still pale in comparison to those of the NFL.

How much more do NFL players make than XFL players?

Dallas Cowboys v Washington Football Team

The smallest paycheck a rostered NFL player can make is $750,000 per year in 2023, according to Spotrac. If an XFL player were to, hypothetically, leave the spring league for the NFL, their salary would jump by around 10 times just to reach the league's minimum salary.

Of course, that doesn't take into account how much the average player makes or even how much the stars make. If a quarterback were to leave the spring league, reach the NFL, and dominate enough to receive a Deshaun Watson-esque deal, their pay would jump to about $50 million per year.

On that scale, a player would jump from being essentially free for the league to costing as much as a big-name CEO during the course of the contract.

Who are the big-name players in the XFL in 2023?

Arizona Cardinals v Denver Broncos

All eight teams have drafted and have chosen their players. Kyle Sloter, Marquette King, Ben DiNucci, AJ McCarron are the most well-known names leading the charge. AAF and fans of the pre-pandemic league will also remember Luis Perez. Sloter was a pre-season phenom for the Denver Broncos.

Marquette King was a punter who spent several years with the Oakland Raiders. Ben DiNucci was a backup quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys last season. AJ McCarron also spent time on various teams over the last decade. XFL has given them a chance to take center stage in football.