NFL agent cap 3%NBA agent cap 4%MLB agent cap 5%Top federal rate 2026 37%Bonus withholding over $1M 37%Texas state tax on wages 0%Florida state tax on wages 0%California top rate 13.3%NBA escrow 10% of each check held backNIL money 1099 income, add 15.3% self-employment taxAgent fees for team salary not deductible on your federal returnNFL players file taxes in about 10 to 14 states a year
KeepMyCheck
Menu
Pro CalculatorCompare OffersNILPractice Squad & G LeagueOverseasGuidesParents

MLS | San Jose, CA

What a San Jose Earthquakes contract really pays

Real 2026 take-home numbers for San Jose Earthquakes players, from the MLS minimum up. Federal tax, California tax, the jock tax, and the agent, all in.

At a glance

Home games taxed by
California
Top rate there
13.30%
Rank for take-home
26 of 30
MLS agent cap
No union cap
Road duty days (est.)
15%
Taxing places visited
22

Take-home by salary

SalaryTaxesFeesKeeps
$113,400min$31,867$13,670$67,863 (60%)
$300,000$110,288$23,000$166,712 (56%)
$1,000,000$460,377$58,000$481,623 (48%)
$5,000,000$2,579,990$258,000$2,162,010 (43%)

Single, living in California, max agent fee, 1% advisor fee, and $8K a year for a CPA and lawyer. Estimates for education.

Run your own San Jose Earthquakes numbersCompare all MLS teams

Statement of earnings

$1M with the San Jose Earthquakes

One season. Lives in California. Single.

Keeps 48%
Gross pay$1,000,000
TaxFederal income tax($315,035)

Top federal rate is 37% on taxable income over $640,600. Reduced by a credit for tax paid to Canada.

TaxMedicare($21,700)

1.45% on every dollar, plus 0.9% on pay over $200,000. No cap.

TaxSocial Security($11,439)

6.2% on the first $184,500 only.

TaxCalifornia state tax (where you live)($98,877)

Your home state taxes all of your pay, minus a credit for tax you paid other states.

TaxJock tax (road games)($13,327)

About 15% of your duty days are on the road. Road states and cities with an income tax each take a cut. Estimated across 22 taxing places your league visits.

FeeAgent (4%)($40,000)

Taken from the gross, before taxes. For team salary it is not deductible on your federal return.

FeeManagers and advisors (1%)($10,000)

Business manager, financial advisor, and similar percentage fees.

FeeCPA and lawyer($8,000)

Multi-state returns, contract review, estate documents.

What you actually keep

$481,623

You keep

48%

San Jose Earthquakes pay questions

Do San Jose Earthquakes players pay state income tax?+

Yes. California taxes the pay earned on duty days in the state, even for players who live somewhere else. The top rate is 13.30%.

How much does a MLS minimum salary player on the San Jose Earthquakes take home?+

On the MLS minimum of $113,400, a single player living in California keeps about $67,863 after taxes and a 4% agent fee, or about 60%.

How does the San Jose Earthquakes rank for take-home pay?+

At $1,000,000 a season, the San Jose Earthquakes rank 26 of 30 MLS teams for what a player keeps, assuming he or she lives in the team's state. The top team on that list is the Austin FC.

KeepMyCheck is not affiliated with the San Jose Earthquakes, the MLS, or its players association. Team names only describe where games are played.