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

NBA | Charlotte, NC

What a Charlotte Hornets contract really pays

Real 2026 take-home numbers for Charlotte Hornets players, from the NBA minimum up. Federal tax, North Carolina tax, the jock tax, and the agent, all in.

At a glance

Home games taxed by
North Carolina
Top rate there
3.99%
Rank for take-home
10 of 30
NBA agent cap
4%
Road duty days (est.)
31%
Taxing places visited
23

Take-home by salary

SalaryTaxesFeesKeeps
$1,357,763min$556,754$92,888$708,121 (52%)
$5,000,000$2,163,879$275,000$2,561,121 (51%)
$15,000,000$6,578,430$775,000$7,646,570 (51%)
$40,000,000$17,618,203$2,025,000$20,356,797 (51%)

Single, living in North Carolina, max agent fee, 1% advisor fee, and $25K a year for a CPA and lawyer. Estimates for education.

Statement of earnings

$15M with the Charlotte Hornets

One season. Lives in North Carolina. Single.

Keeps 51%
Gross pay$15,000,000
TaxFederal income tax($5,441,207)

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

TaxMedicare($350,700)

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.

TaxNorth Carolina state tax (where you live)($412,614)

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

TaxJock tax (road games)($362,470)

About 31% of your duty days are on the road. Road states and cities with an income tax each take a cut. Estimated across 23 taxing places your league visits.

FeeAgent (4%)($600,000)

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

FeeManagers and advisors (1%)($150,000)

Business manager, financial advisor, and similar percentage fees.

FeeCPA and lawyer($25,000)

Multi-state returns, contract review, estate documents.

What you actually keep

$7,646,570

You keep

51%

Charlotte Hornets pay questions

Do Charlotte Hornets players pay state income tax?+

Yes. North Carolina taxes the pay earned on duty days in the state, even for players who live somewhere else. The top rate is 3.99%.

How much does a NBA minimum salary player on the Charlotte Hornets take home?+

On the NBA minimum of $1,357,763, a single player living in North Carolina keeps about $708,121 after taxes and a 4% agent fee, or about 52%.

How does the Charlotte Hornets rank for take-home pay?+

At $15,000,000 a season, the Charlotte Hornets rank 10 of 30 NBA teams for what a player keeps, assuming he or she lives in the team's state. The top team on that list is the Dallas Mavericks.

KeepMyCheck is not affiliated with the Charlotte Hornets, the NBA, or its players association. Team names only describe where games are played.