MLB salary increase slowed to 1.4% in 2025, sets record at $4.7M

From the Associated Press. Excerpts:

"After declining to $3.68 million in 2021, a year following the coronavirus pandemic-shortened season, MLB's average has risen 28.3%"

"Players with less than one year of major league service averaged $822,589" 

"those with one to two years averaged $1,179,192."

"Among players with two to three years who were eligible for salary arbitration, the average was $1,833,386 while those in that service class not eligible averaged $1,374,760."

Averages among others in the arbitration-eligible years were $3,273,039 for the three-years-plus group, $3,932,847 in the four-plus group and $8,019,748 in the five-plus group"

"The average rose to $9,649,380 for six-to-seven-year players and peaked at $22,034,231 for 11-to-12-year players before declining to $13,703,052 for the six players with 15 or more years of major league service."

The last group will include players who were eligible to be free agents and can sell their services to the highest bidder.

I wish the article would have mentioned the median salary. That is the salary that is in the middle of the distribution. Half the players make more and half make less. A few very high salaries (like the $40 million Aaron Judge makes) can drive up the average (or mean). But giving the breakdown on salaries and year of service is good and useful, too. 

Related posts:

How Can The Average Major League Baseball Player Salary Be $3.3 Million A Year? (2010) 

How Much Is The Average MLB salary? (2021) (It was $4.17 million at that time)

Baseball’s Wealth Gap Has Become a Chasm—and Is Stretching the Sport to Its Breaking Point: As a new season gets under way, the financial disparity between MLB’s 30 teams has never been greater, alienating fans, distorting the game and making a long work stoppage all but inevitable  (2025)

Do Married Baseball Players Get Paid More Than Single Baseball Players? (2011)