The Women's World Cup 2023 edition is now nearly a year behind us. That spectacle revealed that interest in the women's game is growing. Last year's viewership nearly doubled that of the previous event, in 2019.
We might go even say that women's football is increasingly in the spotlight. Particularly, regarding pay for women's soccer players. In the US, Meg Rapinoe is an outspoken advocate of equal pay for women in football. In Australia, The Matildas only recently reached pay parity with the men's league.
Our Matildas' - and Meg's efforts make us ask: how much do female soccer players get paid? This chart gives the rundown on women's soccer compensation. The rest of this article discusses how much women's soccer players make.
| Rank | Name | Age | Club | Country | Estimated Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sam Kerr | 30 | Chelsea | Australia | $917 544 |
| 2 | Vivianne Miedema | 27 | Arsenal | Netherlands | $736 058 |
| 3 | Alex Morgan | 31 | San Diego Wave | USA | $654 270 |
| 4 | Fran Kirby | 30 | Chelsea | England | $596 900 |
| 5 | Pernille Harder | 31 | Bayern Munich | Denmark | $580 105 |
| 8 | Christine Sinclair | 40 | Portland | Canada | $518 207 |
| 6 | Marta | 38 | Orlando | Brazil | $400 000 |
| 7 | Wendie Renard | 33 | Lyon | France | $392 000 |
| 10 | Ellie Carpenter | 24 | Lyon | Australia | $360 000 |
| 9 | Trinity Rodman | 22 | Washington Spirit | USA | $281 000 |
How Much Do Female Soccer Players Get Paid Around the World?
Every market is different. If you play soccer in a region where the sport is popular, you'll likely command a higher salary. But citing a series of numbers doesn't prove anything. Comparing players' salaries across regions is more informative.
To get an idea of the median pay for women's soccer in Australia, we compare those numbers with salaries in the United States (US). That country is one of the biggest markets for women's football. We also glance at Europe's numbers. Women's football enjoys growing popularity there, too.
Sam Kerr earned $3.3 million in 2023, making her the highest-paid woman footballer, with income from her Chelsea FCW salary and endorsements with Nike and EA Sports. Her earnings more than doubled those of Ellie Carpenter, the next highest-paid Matildas star, who earned $1.2 million.
How Much Do Female Soccer Players Get Paid in Europe?
It's hard to tell exactly how much female soccer players earn in Europe. This information isn't always publicly available due to privacy rules. Most of the published earnings are estimates, of which only a portion is their league pay.
Salary: what the league pays, often based on seniority.
Earnings: total compensation, including league wages, endorsements and special events.
The figures are also skewed by the very top players' salaries. They take home far beyond what most players receive. Still, most female footballers in Europe do not earn enough to live on. They play for passion and work other jobs to pay the bills.
The median wage in England's Women's Super League (WSL) is £47 000 or around $93 000. However, many footballers take home as little as £20 000 (close to $40 000). That's much lower than the typical salary in the UK.
How Much Do Female Soccer Players Earn in the United States?
The National Women's Soccer League has a minimum cap of US$36,000, and a maximum of US$200 000. Roughly $56 000 and $312 000 respectively. Players who've taken soccer goalkeeper training often place at the higher end of the scale.
These figures represent a higher minimum pay than UK players. However, US players lose out at the high end. The UK's highest earners, such as Leah Williamson (£200 000 - $398 000).
And, they come nowhere near Sam Kerr, who claims a reported £400 000 ($795 000). Higher top-end earnings tend to drive the very best players out of the US and towards Europe's pitches.
How Much Do Female Soccer Players Get Paid in Australia?
In Australia, the minimum pay for any team member is $ 25,000. This is an improvement over the $ 20,000 for last season. Still, it's still almost half the minimum salary soccer players in Europe and the US claim.
The salaries alone don't tell the full story. The sport's popularity helps determine compensation, too. In England, the WSL enjoys an attendance of close to 15,000 fans; the biggest games draw in around 35,000 fans. By contrast, attendance at Australian League (A-League) Women's games is a little over 1,000 fans.
How Much Do the Top Australian Soccer Players Get Paid?
So, while the A-League Women is far from being one of the most lucrative leagues, how much do Australia's best soccer players get paid to represent their country?
Sources estimate the Matildas' median salaries between $100 000 and $200 000, with the higher salaries going to the more experienced and the star players.
These estimates range higher than the A-League Women's compensation. Still, we note that only two from that squad play in the A-League.
Sam Kerr
Age: 30
Country: Australia
Club: Chelsea
Salary: $917 544 (est.)
Sam's earnings outpace any other Australian footballer, by far. Some sources report her Chelsea pay packet as high as £477 000; others report a more modest $600 000 figure.
Endorsements form the bulk of her earnings. Most sources agree they hover upwards of $3 million. And all state that she is currently the highest-paid female footballer in the world.
Ellie Carpenter
Age: 24
Country: Australia
Club: Lyon
Salary: $360 000(est.)
Ellie's phenomenal talent - and her sheer likability practically guarantee her a lucrative future. As things stand now, Ellie takes home just over 1/3 of Sam's total annual compensation; roughly $1.3 million.
These two Australian footballers far outpace the Matildas' total earnings. However, Ellie's compensation still falls short of the world's best-ranked players.
How Much Does the World Cup Award Players?
Players at the World Cup also have prize money based on where they fit in the rankings. The prize money for this tournament is six times what it was for the 2015 tournament.
In 2007, the entire prize pool was at US$5,8 million. At this World Cup tournament, the amount was nearly twenty times that - US$110m. The prize pool is allocated according to how far each team gets in the tournament.
US$1,6m: divided amongst the teams eliminated in the group stage
US$4,3m for the winners, with higher amounts for the teams that progress the furthest.
Australia managed its best-ever result at this World Cup. Our team received US$2 455 000; each member took home around US$165 000.
The global median salary for female soccer players is only around US$ 14,000. The $ 30,000 prize money for the World Cup's group stage is a step in the right direction. Women's football compensation and coverage lags far behind the men's game at the international level.
Who Are the Highest-Paid Female Soccer Players in the World?
Sam Kerr, the highest-paid female soccer player today, sits at the top of the pyramid. She attained her lofty position first because of her talent and skill, which brought flocks of. However, Sam is not the only notable football player earning considerable sums. These profiles represent the highest earners for 2023.
Vivianne Miedema
Age: 27
Country: Netherlands
Club: Arsenal
Salary: $736 058 (est.)
Vivianne is currently the second-highest paid female soccer player in the world. She plays for Arsenal but will end their partnership at the end of 2024, when her contract expires. She's keen to continue representing the Netherlands, where fan hail her record-setting style. After all, scoring 69 goals across 91 appearances isn't for everyone - but it is, for her.
Alex Morgan
Age: 34
Country: USA
Club: San Diego Wave
Salary: $654 270 (est.)
As one of the eldest players on the high-earners list, Alex has lots to brag about besides her lengthy career. In her nearly 17 years on the pitch, she's helped her team win seven contests, and even a Gold medal at the London Olympics. When not assisting her teams, Alex models and writes books, which supplements her income.
Fran Kirby
Age: 30
Country: England
Club: Chelsea
Salary: $596 900 (est.)
Chelsea is, indeed, the winning team. With teammate Sam Kerr, Fran Kirby helped to bring the team to victory in the 2022 European Women's Championship (UEFA). Like others on this list, she's won numerous awards, including the Professional Footballers Association (PFA) Player of the Year Award.
Pernille Harder
Age: 31
Country: Denmark
Club: Bayern Munich
Salary: $580 105 (est.)
Our list's final footballer also plays for Chelsea, and has won multiple awards. Like Fran Kirby, she was PFA's player of the year; unlike Fran, she earned that distinction twice. She's received nominations for the Ballon d'Or Féminin on three occasions.
As you'll note, these earnings outstrip Ellie Carpenter's paydays. They're also far higher than the average worker brings home. Still, they're nothing compared to the prize money in the men's World Cup. Those awards range in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
This financial gulf likely won't withstand the popularity of women's football. Already, clubs have noticed that women's football is an untapped market. Especially considering that women's teams often perform better than the men's.
These positive shifts also mean that soccer is far more accessible to young girls. With private coaching, you can learn how to play and achieve a level where you can join clubs and academies.
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The men get paid too much.
The men get paid for how much they earn from different revenues. Women do to just the women game is not as watched as the mens.