How Much Do Professional Lacrosse Players Make?
PLL and NLL salaries, rookie deals, endorsements and the side hustles that pay the bills. Here's what pro laxers really bring home.
Most recent public figures put the PLL minimum around $25,000 a season, with bonuses, equity and endorsements on top.
Under the NLL's new CBA, veterans earn $21,000 to $42,000 in 2025-26. Franchise players can earn $52,500.
If you've ever wondered how much professional lacrosse players make, you're not alone. For years, lacrosse has been the underdog of the sports world. Players put in countless hours on the wall and in the weight room while the big paydays went to athletes in other sports.
For young players and die-hard fans, it's frustrating to watch talented laxers miss out on the kind of money that comes with mainstream sports. Ask anybody who grew up playing box in Ontario or summer ball in Virginia Beach: most pros still keep a day job.
The truth is, lacrosse pay is a complicated puzzle, and a lot of factors decide what a player brings home each season.
Here's the good news: pro lacrosse is growing. As more fans tune in and the leagues expand, players have more ways to earn, not just through salaries but through endorsements, coaching and training programs.
In this article, I'll break down everything you need to know about how much lacrosse players make, from rookie contracts to endorsement deals, and where the money is headed. Let's look at how players build a real career in the game they love.
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Overview of professional lacrosse earnings
Pro lacrosse in North America runs mainly through two leagues: the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) and the National Lacrosse League (NLL). Both give skilled players a shot at a pro career, but they're built and paid differently.
The PLL is a field lacrosse league co-founded by lacrosse star Paul Rabil and his brother Mike. The NLL plays box lacrosse, the indoor version of the game. Major League Lacrosse (MLL) no longer exists. It merged into the PLL in December 2020.
These leagues give players a stage, and they open the door to more income through contracts, endorsements and coaching.
Read more: How long is a lacrosse game?
Salary breakdown: PLL vs. NLL
How much a lacrosse player makes depends a lot on the league. You'll see salary sites list "lacrosse player" pay in the six figures, but those numbers usually lump in coaches, trainers and other jobs. League paychecks are a lot smaller, so here's what the leagues actually pay.
PLL
The PLL uses a set salary pool for each team, so pay varies with experience and skill level.
The most recent public numbers put the PLL minimum at around $25,000 a season, with the average just under $30,000. Top draft picks sign three-year rookie deals worth up to about $30,000 a season, and veterans and stars can earn more.
The league also gives players a benefits package that includes health insurance and equity in the league, which is a unique perk in pro sports.
NLL
The NLL and its players' association signed a new CBA in October 2025 that runs through the 2029-30 season. For 2025-26, the veteran max is $42,000 and the veteran minimum is half that, $21,000. Both go up $1,300 every season.
Franchise-tagged players earn 125% of the veteran max, or $52,500, and a player tagged three straight seasons can earn up to $70,000. Rookies are paid on a scale based on where they were drafted.
Contracts differ between leagues, but experienced players tend to earn more because of their skills, tenure and marketability.
Read more: When is the lacrosse season?
Endorsement deals and sponsorships
For pro laxers, endorsements are a huge piece of the paycheck. Deals with gear brands, sportswear companies and even lifestyle brands let players add a lot on top of their salaries.
Brands like Warrior, STX and Nike regularly team up with players to promote their gear, and players with big social media followings can earn even more.
You can't just go old school anymore. The more time you put into social on top of the field, the more you can add to your income.
A single deal can add thousands of dollars to a player's year. Most pros earn a few thousand from gear and apparel deals, while the biggest names can earn well into five or six figures from endorsements alone.
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HelmetCascade XRS Pro Helmet$339.99 at BattleLax
Arm guardMaverik Max Arm Guard 2028$134.99 at BattleLaxRead more: Why lacrosse is the best sport
How the lacrosse community shapes player earnings
If you're a devoted fan and have wondered how supporting your team or favorite player actually helps them, I've got good news. Player pay is closely tied to the passion and support of the lacrosse community, and that includes you.
Every time fans go to a game or buy team gear, they boost league revenue, which feeds right into player salaries.
And it doesn't stop there. Community involvement, from youth programs and local leagues to media coverage and corporate sponsors, fuels the growth of pro lacrosse. As that support grows, so does what players can earn. With more eyes on the sport, there's a good chance salaries keep climbing.
Factors influencing lacrosse salaries
A lot goes into how much a professional lacrosse player makes:
- Player performance: Top performers land better contracts and endorsements.
- Market size: Players in bigger markets usually have more sponsorship opportunities.
- League revenue: More league revenue can mean higher salaries.
It doesn't stop there. Players also have chances to earn outside the regular season, like international tournaments, camps and guest appearances, and a lot of pros use them to pad their income.
Highest paid lacrosse players
1. Paul Rabil
The co-founder of the PLL and a legend of the game. During his playing career, Paul Rabil played box for the Philadelphia Wings in the NLL and field for the Boston Cannons in the MLL, and he made history as lacrosse's first million-dollar player.
How did he do it? By leaning on connections from his days at Johns Hopkins, Rabil built a lineup of endorsements with big names like Red Bull, New Balance and Polk Audio. That's how he earned the title of lacrosse's first "million-dollar man." He retired from playing in 2020, and his influence on the sport goes well beyond the field.
2. John Grant Jr.
Grant, a Hall of Famer with a 17-year career, still gives back to the game through coaching and endorsing brands that fit his legacy.
3. Lyle Thompson
Another high-profile player who's built his fame, and his earnings, on elite skill and one of the most creative styles the game has ever seen.
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Gender and earnings in lacrosse
In recent years, the pay gap between men's and women's pro lacrosse has narrowed a bit, but men in the PLL and NLL still tend to earn more than women in the pro game.
The Women's Professional Lacrosse League (WPLL) folded in 2020, but Athletes Unlimited and the PLL's Women's Lacrosse League (WLL) are giving female players more places to play. Salaries are still catching up to the men's game.
People also ask
What is the highest salary in lacrosse?
League salaries top out well below other pro sports. In the NLL, the veteran max is $42,000 for 2025-26 and a franchise-tagged player can earn $52,500. The biggest earners in the sport make most of their money from endorsements, coaching and business, not their league paycheck.
How much does a professional lacrosse player make in Canada?
Canada's pro players mostly play in the NLL. Under the CBA that starts in 2025-26, veterans earn between $21,000 and $42,000 a season, rising $1,300 a year, and franchise players can earn $52,500 or more.
How much do you make playing in the NLL?
For 2025-26, the NLL veteran minimum is $21,000 and the veteran max is $42,000. Rookies are paid on a scale based on where they were drafted.
How much do rookies make in the PLL?
The most recent public figures put the PLL minimum around $25,000, with top draft picks on three-year rookie deals earning up to about $30,000 a season, before bonuses and endorsements.
How much do professional lacrosse players make from endorsements?
It varies a lot. Most pros earn a few thousand dollars a year from gear and apparel deals, while the biggest names with strong social media followings can earn well into five or six figures.
So there you have it: a look at the money side of pro lacrosse. It might not be the highest-paying sport out there, but talented players are building real careers doing what they love. In the end, what a pro laxer makes comes down to passion, skill, community support and a growing game. If you've got the passion and the talent, who knows? You might be the next big name. Want to learn more about the culture around the game? Check out embracing the lacrosse lifestyle.