NHL, AHL, ECHL and PWHL minimum salaries
The NHL's minimum salary is $850,000 in 2026-27, up from $775,000 in each of the three seasons before, and it rises every season to $1,000,000 in 2029-30. The AHL's minimum was $52,725 in 2024-25, an ECHL rookie is paid at least $610 a week, and a PWHL player at least $37,131.50 for 2025-26.
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
883 of the 1,367 Premier League players we hold a wage for are paid less than an NHL player on the minimum, whose 2026-27 salary works out at $16,346 a week.
The NHL minimum salary
The least a club may pay a player for a season, from 2020-21, with the three seasons already set
season set, not yet played
| SEASON | MINIMUM | CHANGE |
|---|---|---|
| 2020-21 | $700,000 | - |
| 2021-22 | $750,000 | +7.1% |
| 2022-23 | $750,000 | no change |
| 2023-24 | $775,000 | +3.3% |
| 2024-25 | $775,000 | no change |
| 2025-26 | $775,000 | no change |
| 2026-27 | $850,000 | +9.7% |
| 2027-28 | $900,000 | +5.9% |
| 2028-29 | $950,000 | +5.6% |
| 2029-30 | $1,000,000 | +5.3% |
The minimum was $775,000 in each of the three seasons from 2023-24 to 2025-26. The extension agreed in 2025 raised it to $850,000 for 2026-27 and has already set the next three seasons at $900,000, $950,000 and $1,000,000, so in 2029-30 it is 29.0% higher than in 2025-26.
The AHL minimum salary
The least an AHL club could pay a player in 2024-25, against the NHL's minimum that season
In 2024-25 the NHL's minimum was 14.7 times the AHL's. The players ratified a new agreement on 21 January 2026, running to 31 August 2030, and we hold no minimum under it.
The ECHL minimum salary
The ECHL pays by the week, and sets both a floor and a cap on what a club spends a week on its whole roster, in 2026-27
| RULE | A WEEK |
|---|---|
| Rookie minimum | $610 |
| Returning player minimum | $660 |
| Club payroll floor | $13,680 |
| Club payroll cap, first 30 days | $18,610 |
| Club payroll cap, rest of the season | $18,000 |
A rookie is paid at least $610 a week and a returning player at least $660. Across its whole roster a club must spend at least $13,680 a week, and may spend no more than $18,610 for the first 30 days of the season and $18,000 after that.
The PWHL minimum salary
The least and the most a PWHL club could pay a player in 2025-26, and what the player in the middle of the league was paid
Both the minimum and the maximum rise 3% a season. 21 of the 194 players under contract on 12 April 2026 were on the minimum, and Emily Clark of the Ottawa Charge was on the maximum. In 2025-26 the NHL's minimum was 20.9 times the PWHL's. Every player's salary is on the PWHL salaries page.
The KHL salary floor and cap
The KHL sets no minimum for a player. It sets the least and the most a club may spend on salaries across its whole roster, in roubles
season set, not yet played
| SEASON | FLOOR | CAP |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | RUB 475,000,000 | RUB 900,000,000 |
| 2026-27 | RUB 525,000,000 | RUB 950,000,000 |
| 2027-28 | RUB 600,000,000 | RUB 1,000,000,000 |
In 2026-27 a club must spend at least RUB 525,000,000 ($6,198,237) on its players' salaries, and may spend no more than RUB 950,000,000. Both rise in 2027-28, to RUB 600,000,000 and RUB 1,000,000,000. What each player is paid is on the KHL salaries page.
Frequently asked questions
What is the NHL minimum salary for 2026-27?
The NHL minimum salary for 2026-27 is $850,000. It rises to $900,000 in 2027-28, $950,000 in 2028-29 and $1,000,000 in 2029-30.
What is the AHL minimum salary?
The AHL minimum salary was $52,725 in 2024-25. We hold no minimum under the agreement the players ratified on 21 January 2026.
How much are ECHL players paid a week?
An ECHL rookie is paid at least $610 a week in 2026-27, and a returning player at least $660.
What is the PWHL minimum salary?
The PWHL minimum salary is $37,131.50 for 2025-26, and the maximum is $126,090. Both rise 3% a season.
Is there a KHL minimum salary?
The KHL sets a floor and a cap on what a club spends across its whole roster, rather than a minimum for each player. In 2026-27 a club must spend at least RUB 525,000,000 and no more than RUB 950,000,000.
Where to next
The same question in the other sports, and the rest of what ice hockey players are paid