The most recent Women’s World Cup highlighted a major shift in global interest in the women’s game. That spectacle revealed that interest in the women's game is growing. Viewership for the tournament increased dramatically compared to earlier editions. We might even say that women's football is increasingly in the spotlight. Particularly, regarding pay for women's soccer players. In the United States, players such as Megan Rapinoe have played a prominent role in advocating for equal pay in women’s football. In Australia, the Matildas have been central to discussions around pay parity between the women’s and men’s national teams. Our Matildas' - and Meg's efforts make us ask: how much do female soccer players get paid? This chart provides an overview of how women’s soccer compensation is structured across different regions. 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 |
| 6 | Marta | 38 | Orlando | Brazil | $400 000 |
| 7 | Wendie Renard | 33 | Lyon | France | $392 000 |
| 8 | Christine Sinclair | 40 | Portland | Canada | $518 207 |
| 9 | Trinity Rodman | 22 | Washington Spirit | USA | $281 000 |
| 10 | Ellie Carpenter | 24 | Lyon | Australia | $360 000 |
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 is widely reported as one of the top earners in women’s football, combining a high club salary with major endorsement deals. Exact totals vary by source because sponsorship income is rarely disclosed in full, but Kerr’s reported salary and commercial partnerships place her among the highest-paid players globally.
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 published earnings are estimates, and only a portion reflects 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 salaries of the very top players. 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. Earnings in Europe vary widely by club and league. In England, reporting in the mid-2020s often put typical WSL pay in the tens of thousands of pounds, and in the 2025 season, new financial rules introduced a salary floor: senior WSL players aged 23 and over are guaranteed at least £40,000 a year. That's much lower than the typical UK salary.
How Much Do Female Soccer Players Earn in the United States?
The NWSL has raised minimum pay substantially in the mid-2020s. Reporting tied to league and CBA salary figures puts the NWSL minimum salary at US$48 500 in 2025. At the top end, total compensation can be much higher due to bonuses and other mechanisms, so published ‘maximum’ figures vary depending on how sources define pay. Players who've taken soccer goalkeeper training often place at the higher end of the scale.
These figures represent a higher minimum pay than those in the UK. 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 reportedly earns £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, published reporting in late 2025 put A-League Women's minimum salaries at around A$26,500. The domestic competition still has to catch up to the top overseas leagues. Still, it's almost half the minimum salary that soccer players in Europe and the US claim.
The salaries alone don't tell the full story. The sport's popularity also helps determine compensation. In England, the WSL attracts close to 15,000 fans; the biggest games draw around 35,000. By contrast, average attendance at A-League Women matches is significantly lower than in Europe’s top women’s leagues.
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 at $100 000 to $200 000, with higher salaries for more experienced players and stars.
These estimates exceed the A-League Women's compensation. Many national-team players compete in overseas leagues rather than the domestic competition.
Sam Kerr
Age: 32
Country: Australia
Club: Chelsea
Salary: ≈ US$565,000
Sam's earnings outpace any other Australian footballer, by far. Some sources report her Chelsea pay packet at £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: 25
Country: Australia
Club: Chelsea Women
Salary: ~US$147,000
Ellie's phenomenal talent - and her sheer likability practically guarantee her a lucrative future. While Carpenter’s club salary is significantly lower than Kerr’s, her long-term earning potential remains strong due to her age, profile, and role at club and international level. 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 receive prize money based on their rankings. The prize money for this tournament is six times that of 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 based on each team's tournament progress.
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.
At the 2023 Women’s World Cup, FIFA’s published distribution model listed US$2.455 million for the fourth-place federation, alongside a US$165,000 per-player figure for fourth place. FIFA’s benchmarking on the women’s game has highlighted how low pay can be outside the top tier. A 2025 FIFA report cited an average annual salary globally of about US$10,900, with top-tier clubs paying far more and lower tiers far less. 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 lag 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 position through a combination of elite talent, consistent performance, and global marketability. However, Sam is not the only notable football player earning considerable sums. These profiles represent the highest earners for 2026.
Trinity Rodman
Wendie Renard
Amandine Henry
Marta
Ada Hegerberg
Keira Walsh
Sophia Smith
Sam Kerr
Alexia Putellas
Aitana Bonmatí
This financial gulf is unlikely to withstand the popularity of women's football. Clubs increasingly recognise women’s football as a growing and commercially valuable 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.