NBA and WNBA minimum salaries
The NBA's minimum salary for 2026-27 is $1,357,763 for a rookie, rising with each year of service to $3,876,529 for a player of ten years or more. The WNBA's is $270,000 in 2026, under an agreement that runs to 2032.
The minimum in each league
The least a club may pay a player for a season, or for a week where the league pays by the week, in the latest season we hold
The minimum across four sports
The least each league pays a player for a season, in the latest season we hold, all in one currency
939 of the 1,367 Premier League players we hold a wage for are paid less than an NBA rookie on the minimum, whose 2026-27 salary works out at $26,111 a week.
The NBA minimum salary
The least a club may pay a player for a season, by years of service, in 2026-27
| YEARS OF SERVICE | 2025-26 | 2026-27 |
|---|---|---|
| 0 years | $1,272,870 | $1,357,763 |
| 1 year | $2,048,494 | $2,185,116 |
| 2 years | $2,296,274 | $2,449,421 |
| 3 years | $2,378,870 | $2,537,526 |
| 4 years | $2,461,463 | $2,625,627 |
| 5 years | $2,667,947 | $2,845,883 |
| 6 years | $2,874,436 | $3,066,143 |
| 7 years | $3,080,921 | $3,286,399 |
| 8 years | $3,287,409 | $3,506,659 |
| 9 years | $3,303,774 | $3,524,115 |
| 10 or more years | $3,634,153 | $3,876,529 |
Every step rose 6.7% on 2025-26. A veteran who signs a one-year deal at the minimum counts against the club's salary cap as though he had two years of service, $2,449,421 in 2026-27, and the league pays the rest of his salary.
The WNBA minimum salary
The least and the most a WNBA club may pay a player in 2026, against a whole team's salary cap and an NBA rookie on the 2026-27 minimum
A WNBA team's whole salary cap for 2026 is 5.2 times an NBA rookie's minimum for 2026-27. The agreement runs from 2026 to 2032, and by 2032 the minimum is $340,000 for the least experienced player and $380,000 for the most.
Frequently asked questions
What is the NBA minimum salary for 2026-27?
The NBA minimum salary for 2026-27 is $1,357,763 for a player with no years of service. It rises with each year in the league, to $3,876,529 for a player of ten years or more.
What is the NBA minimum salary for a 10-year veteran?
A player of ten years or more is paid at least $3,876,529 in 2026-27. On a one-year deal he counts against the salary cap at $2,449,421, and the league pays the rest.
What is the WNBA minimum salary in 2026?
The WNBA minimum salary is $270,000 in 2026, and $300,000 for the most experienced players. By 2032 they are $340,000 and $380,000.
What is the WNBA maximum salary?
The WNBA maximum salary is $1,400,000 in 2026, and a team's whole salary cap is $7,000,000.
How does the WNBA minimum compare with the NBA's?
An NBA rookie on the 2026-27 minimum is paid $1,357,763, 5.0 times the WNBA's 2026 minimum of $270,000.
Where to next
The same question in the other sports, and the rest of what basketball players are paid