How Much Do Atlanta United Players Make? A Local Guide for Atlanta Fans

If you live in Atlanta or catch matches at Mercedes‑Benz Stadium, it’s natural to wonder: how much do Atlanta United players actually make? Player salaries in Major League Soccer (MLS) can be confusing, with designated players, budget rules, and bonuses all affecting what each Five Stripe takes home.

Below is a clear, Atlanta‑focused breakdown of how Atlanta United salaries work, what typical pay ranges look like, and how this fits into the broader MLS system.

The Basics: How MLS Salaries Work for Atlanta United

Unlike many leagues around the world, MLS has a salary cap system. That means Atlanta United can’t just spend unlimited money on every player, even though it’s one of the league’s bigger clubs.

Key points that affect how much Atlanta United players make:

• MLS salary cap (budget): Each team has a set amount that counts toward the salary budget.
• Designated Players (DPs): A few star players can be paid far above the cap.
• General Allocation Money (GAM) & Targeted Allocation Money (TAM): Special funds teams can use to “buy down” contracts and fit better players under the budget.
• League‑wide contracts: Players sign with MLS, not directly with Atlanta United as an individual club the way it works in Europe.

For you as an Atlanta fan, that means salaries are structured and restricted, but big stars on the team can still earn millions, while depth players and rookies earn much less.

Typical Salary Levels for Atlanta United Players

While exact numbers change each season and by player, you’ll typically see four broad pay tiers on Atlanta United’s roster.

1. Designated Players: The Highest Earners

These are the big names who often drive ticket sales and headlines in Atlanta. Each MLS team is allowed up to three Designated Players (DPs).

Common salary range for DPs on a club like Atlanta United:

• Base salaries can run from around $1 million up to several million dollars per year
• Some star attackers or creative midfielders may be among the top earners in the league

For an Atlanta resident, these are usually the players you see on billboards, in marketing campaigns, and featured heavily in local sports talk. Their salaries are often listed publicly through the MLS Players Association, and they tend to earn far more than the rest of the roster.

2. Targeted Allocation Money (TAM) / High‑End Non‑DP Players

These players are often key starters but just below DP level or structured differently for cap reasons.

Typical characteristics:

• Salaries often range from high six figures to around $1 million
• Frequently starting defenders, central midfielders, or experienced attackers
• Sometimes international players brought in specifically to strengthen the squad

From your seat at Mercedes‑Benz Stadium, many of the players who consistently start but aren’t the “headline name” may be in this tier.

3. Solid MLS Regulars and Role Players

These are the players who round out the starting XI and provide depth.

You’ll often see:

• Salaries commonly in the low to mid six figures
  (for example, something in the range of tens or a couple hundred thousand dollars per year)
• Mix of established MLS veterans, reliable bench players, and situational starters

These are still well‑paid professional athletes, but their salaries are far from the multi‑million‑dollar star range. For many Atlanta residents, these figures are closer to what you’d expect from high‑earning local professionals, not celebrity levels.

4. Young Players, Draft Picks, and Minimum‑Salary Players

Finally, there are younger or newly signed players making closer to the MLS minimum salary.

Common traits:

• Salaries near the MLS minimum, which has historically been in the tens of thousands of dollars per year, not hundreds of thousands
• Includes late draft picks, some homegrown signings, and depth players
• Often trying to prove themselves to earn bigger deals in the future

If you’re a local high school or college player in Atlanta dreaming of going pro, this is often the starting point: modest pay for a chance to break into the league.

Quick Salary Tier Snapshot for Atlanta United

Below is a simplified look at how salaries tend to stack up on a club like Atlanta United. These are general ranges, not exact current numbers.

If you’re comparing this to other Atlanta sports:

• Top Atlanta United stars can earn similar money to mid‑tier players on the Braves or Falcons.
• Lower‑tier MLS salaries can be much closer to regular professional incomes you see in the broader Atlanta job market.

Why Some Atlanta United Players Make So Much More

The pay difference between an Atlanta United star and a reserve midfielder can be massive. That comes down to several MLS rules and club priorities.

Designated Player Rule and Big‑Market Ambition

Atlanta United has built a reputation for:

• Investing heavily in attack‑minded Designated Players
• Paying transfer fees and salaries to bring in high‑potential or star players from abroad
• Treating Atlanta as a major soccer market, not a small‑budget team

Because of this, a few players command a large share of the payroll, while others are paid with strict budget limits.

Marketability and Fan Interest

Star players are often paid more because they:

• Draw crowds to Mercedes‑Benz Stadium
• Sell Atlanta United jerseys and merchandise
• Boost TV and streaming interest in the team

If you go to a match or watch from home in Atlanta, the players you hear about most often are usually the ones in the highest pay bracket.

How Bonuses and Extra Income Work

Base salary is only part of the picture. Atlanta United players can also earn:

• Performance bonuses for goals, assists, appearances, or team results
• Team achievement bonuses for making the playoffs, winning the MLS Cup, or advancing in other competitions
• Endorsements and sponsorships, especially for high‑profile DPs or international stars
• Appearance fees for promotional work, events, or camps in and around Atlanta

These extras can be especially important for star players who are marketable both in Atlanta’s sports scene and internationally.

How Atlanta’s Cost of Living Factors In

When you hear about what Atlanta United players make, it helps to think about it in the context of living in Atlanta:

• Atlanta’s cost of living is generally lower than in many other major MLS cities like New York or Los Angeles.
• A six‑figure salary can go considerably farther in neighborhoods across Metro Atlanta (such as Midtown, Buckhead, West Midtown, or the suburbs) than in some coastal cities.
• Top earners have the flexibility to live in high‑end areas, while even minimum‑salary players are generally able to manage in reasonable apartments or shared housing.

For local fans, it means that while some Atlanta United players are living very comfortably, others are closer to what many young professionals experience in the city.

How to See Current Atlanta United Salary Figures

If you want to look up specific, up‑to‑date salary numbers for individual Atlanta United players:

• MLS player salaries are typically made public during the season by league‑wide and player‑related organizations.
• You can usually find annual salary lists that show:
  • Base salary
  • Guaranteed compensation (includes bonuses spread over the contract)

These lists are often discussed by local Atlanta sports media, radio shows, and fan blogs, especially when a new signing arrives or a Designated Player deal is announced.

For Young Players in Atlanta: What This Means for You

If you play youth or high school soccer in the Atlanta area and dream of being on the Mercedes‑Benz Stadium pitch one day, understanding salaries helps set realistic expectations:

• Many players start near the league minimum or on modest contracts.
• Bigger contracts usually come after proving yourself in MLS or on international stages.
• Being a homegrown player from a strong academy like Atlanta United’s can be a pathway to a professional contract, but not automatically a huge salary at first.

Families in Atlanta looking at the professional path should treat early MLS deals as a development opportunity, with financial rewards typically growing as players establish themselves.

If You’re Going to a Match in Atlanta

When you’re at Mercedes‑Benz Stadium:

• The players wearing the star numbers and playing attacking roles are often among the best‑paid.
• Many defenders, keepers, and depth players earn solid but much more modest salaries.
• The visible difference in status (media attention, marketing, etc.) often reflects these salary tiers.

Knowing this can give you a better sense of who the club is investing heavily in and which young players might be fighting for a bigger future contract.

In summary, Atlanta United players’ salaries range from near the MLS minimum to multi‑million‑dollar contracts, shaped by the league’s salary cap rules and the club’s ambition to be a top MLS destination. For Atlanta residents and visitors, it’s a mix of global‑level star pay at the top and more modest professional earnings throughout the rest of the roster.