Jul 11, 2025 - Sports

Real Salt Lake is one of the lowest-paid teams in the MLS

Erin Alberty

Table showing MLS teams' total guaranteed compensation as an annualized average for the 2025 season. Inter Miami has the highest total at $46.8 million, followed by Toronto FC at $34.1 million and Atlanta at $27.6 million. — Data: MLS Players Association; Note: Includes base salary, agent's fees and bonuses annualized over the term of each player's contract, including option years; Table: Axios Visuals

Real Salt Lake's total guaranteed compensation for its players in 2025 is $13.4 million, ranking 28th out of 30 franchises, per the MLS Players Association's salary guide.

The big picture: RSL was ahead of only St. Louis City's payroll last year — when City was just a year old.

This year, St. Louis far surpassed RSL, but Philly and Montreal fell behind.

Stunning stat: RSL's $13.4 million is about $7 million less than what soccer superstar Lionel Messi makes as the league's highest-paid player, per the MLS Players Association's latest salary guide.

Zoom in: Here's what RSL's highest-paid players make.

A bar chart showing the highest-paid Real Salt Lake players by guaranteed compensation as of May 2025. Diogo Gonçalves is the highest-paid player, earning $1.8m, followed by Justen Glad at $1.3m. — Data: MLS Players Association. Chart: Axios Visuals

Add Axios on Google

Real Salt Lake is one of the lowest-paid teams in the MLS

More Salt Lake City stories