Tax jurisdiction · United States
Virginia athlete tax: what a pro athlete really pays
Virginia takes 5.75% of a top-end athlete salary, which is $575,000 on a $10M contract. That ranks 32 of 66 jurisdictions we track. Against a no-tax state the same deal is worth $575,000 less.
Virginia tax at each contract size
| Contract | Virginia tax | Effective rate | Left before federal tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000,000 | $57,500 | 5.75% | $942,500 |
| $5,000,000 | $287,500 | 5.75% | $4,712,500 |
| $10,000,000 | $575,000 | 5.75% | $9,425,000 |
| $25,000,000 | $1,437,500 | 5.75% | $23,562,500 |
These figures are the state bill alone. Federal tax, FICA, agent fees and league deductions all come off the remainder.
Teams in Virginia
1 team plays in Virginia:
- Virginia (VA) · NCAA
Each team page runs a full contract through the federal brackets, Virginia's state tax, agent fees and league deductions to give a take-home figure.
How Virginia compares
| Benchmark | Top rate | On a $10M contract | Difference vs Virginia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | 5.75% | $575,000 | — |
| Texas (no income tax) | 0% | $0 | +$575,000 |
| California (highest US state) | 13.3% | $1,330,000 | -$755,000 |
Signed from Virginia's point of view: a positive number is what Virginia takes that the benchmark does not.
The jock tax in Virginia
Every state with an income tax taxes visiting athletes on duty days worked inside its borders. Virginia is no exception. A player who lives elsewhere owes Virginia only on the share of the season spent here, calculated by counting practice and game days.
The reverse is the bigger number. A Virginia resident owes Virginia on the entire salary no matter where the games are played, which is why residency — not team location — drives most of the planning.
Frequently asked
How much state tax does a $10M athlete salary pay in Virginia?
$575,000 at the 5.75% top marginal rate. Our model applies the top rate to the whole salary, which overstates the bill slightly and therefore understates take-home pay.
Do away games change what an athlete owes Virginia?
If the player is a Virginia resident, the state taxes the full salary regardless of where games are played. Non-residents owe Virginia only on duty days worked here, which is the jock tax.