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
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NFL | Inglewood, CA

What a Los Angeles Chargers contract really pays

Real 2026 take-home numbers for Los Angeles Chargers players, from the NFL 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
30 of 32
NFL agent cap
3%
Road duty days (est.)
11%
Taxing places visited
22

Take-home by salary

SalaryTaxesFeesKeeps
$885,000min$397,425$60,400$427,175 (48%)
$3,000,000$1,511,237$145,000$1,343,763 (45%)
$10,000,000$5,201,613$425,000$4,373,387 (44%)
$30,000,000$15,745,611$1,225,000$13,029,389 (43%)

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

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Statement of earnings

$10M with the Los Angeles Chargers

One season. Lives in California. Single.

Keeps 44%
Gross pay$10,000,000
TaxFederal income tax($3,650,000)

Top federal rate is 37% on taxable income over $640,600.

TaxMedicare($233,200)

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)($1,261,147)

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

TaxJock tax (road games)($45,827)

About 11% 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 (3%)($300,000)

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

FeeManagers and advisors (1%)($100,000)

Business manager, financial advisor, and similar percentage fees.

FeeCPA and lawyer($25,000)

Multi-state returns, contract review, estate documents.

What you actually keep

$4,373,387

You keep

44%

Los Angeles Chargers pay questions

Do Los Angeles Chargers 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 NFL minimum salary player on the Los Angeles Chargers take home?+

On the NFL minimum of $885,000, a single player living in California keeps about $427,175 after taxes and a 3% agent fee, or about 48%.

How does the Los Angeles Chargers rank for take-home pay?+

At $10,000,000 a season, the Los Angeles Chargers rank 30 of 32 NFL 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 Cowboys.

KeepMyCheck is not affiliated with the Los Angeles Chargers, the NFL, or its players association. Team names only describe where games are played.