What’s the Average CFL Salary?

Tackling finances! Learn what the average CFL player earns and how it stacks up on the field.

The most popular football league in the world is the National Football League, which features teams and competitors from the US. Right next to it is Canada, and the Canadian Football League is also highly popular on the North American continent but not near the NFL.

The CFL features football teams from Canada who compete in the country’s national league.

Nine teams compete in two divisions – 4 in the East and 5 in the West. Here’s a list of all teams:

  • Toronto Argonauts – Toronto, Ontario
  • Hamilton Tiger-Cats – Hamilton, Ontario
  • Montreal Alouettes – Montreal, Quebec
  • Ottawa Redblacks – Ottawa, Ontario
  • Winnipeg Blue Bombers – Winnipeg, Manitoba
  • Saskatchewan Roughriders – Regina, Saskatchewan
  • Calgary Stampeders – Calgary, Alberta
  • Edmonton Elks – Edmonton, Alberta
  • BC Lions – Vancouver, British Columbia

There are more than 400 players actively playing in the CFL. Not all have the same salary, though, as not all play the same role for their teams. The most valuable position in football is the quarterback. Not only in the CFL but globally and wherever this beautiful game is played.

That’s why these players are the best-paid ones in the league. Unlike the NFL, the CFL quarterbacks earn significantly less than their US colleagues, which is normal. The NFL is way more popular and has millions of viewers and fans more than those in the CFL.

How much do CFL players make?

The average salary of CFL players is around 113.000 CAD. You may say that an average CFL player makes as much as WEB developers, business analysts or truck drivers. However, some players make way more than the average one.

Here’s a list of some of the best-paid players in the Canadian Football League:

Nathan Rourke plays quarterback for the BC Lions of Vancouver. He earns $600,000 annually.

Zach Collaros also plays quarterback but for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He also earns $600,000 annually.

Chad Kelly is another quarterback who plays for the Toronto Argonauts. His three-year contract is $1.865 million, which is approximately $621,667 annually.

Bo Levi Mitchell, a quarterback for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He earns $540,000 annually.

Trevor Harris, also a quarterback for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, earns $500,000 annually.

What is the minimum salary in the CFL 2024?

The CFL payroll for football players in Canada has been a matter of huge debate for years. The difference between them and the NFL players is enormous. The average salary among all 32 NFL football teams is almost 3 million USD, so the difference is significant.

The minimum salary in the CFL, as of 2024, is set to 70,000 CAD, while the minimum salary in the NFL is a lot more – 795,000 USD (1,146,350 CAD). You see the difference in the CFL pay scale and why the debate is ongoing. The plan of the league is to raise the CFL minimum salary to 75,000 CAD by 2027, which is still a number that is not even near the NFL standards.

Are there any differences between the leagues?

There are many differences between the NFL and the CFL, but they are insignificant for the huge salary gap. One of the main differences is that the NFL fields 11 players, while the CFL fields 12. However, the NFL has 100-yard fields, while the CFL stands at 110. This only makes playing more difficult, and this should give players more value and higher pay, not the other way around.

Additionally, the CFL rules say that one team’s possession allows three downs, unlike the NFL, which features four downs. This makes the game more diverse and attractive. The playing clock plays a role here, too. The clock in the CFL is set to 20 seconds, which is half less than the NFL; shorter time results in a faster pace and higher attractiveness.

Another reason for quarterbacks to be better paid in the CFL is the size of the ball. The Canadian league features slightly wider and larger balls, making it tougher for quarterbacks to throw accurately.

Catches in the NFL rely on fair play, while in the CFL, there’s a 5-yard gap between the opposing players. Another thing is that goals slightly differ with their position, with the NFL positioning field goals at the back of the end line, and the CFL has them at the front.

Conclusion

As we can see, CFL salaries are way lower than those in the NFL. However, Canadians are still earning more than most of the leagues worldwide. European leagues offer between 25,000 and 50,000 euros, and the Japanese league pays players less than 20,000 USD.

The CFL football salary is something that Canadians talk about widely. Although football is not the most popular sport in the country, it still gets a lot of views per game and has numerous fans. The most popular sport is Hockey, but also baseball, soccer, and basketball. However, Canadian football league salaries must rise in the future, as the league’s popularity is rapidly growing.