NBA · Texas
Houston Rockets take-home pay: what a $10,000,000 contract really pays
A Houston Rockets player on $10,000,000 takes home about $4,515,000 — that is 45.1% of the headline number, after tax, agent commission, escrow and league deductions.
Take-home pay at three contract sizes
| Contract | Income tax | FICA / SE | Agent + escrow | Net | Kept |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000,000 | −$320,000 | −$43,500 | −$140,000 | $496,500 | 49.6% |
| $10,000,000 | −$3,650,000 | −$435,000 | −$1,400,000 | $4,515,000 | 45.1% |
| $25,000,000 | −$9,200,000 | −$1,087,500 | −$3,500,000 | $11,212,500 | 44.8% |
Where a $10,000,000 deal goes
| Deduction | Amount |
|---|---|
| Federal income tax | −$3,650,000 |
| Medicare / FICA | −$235,000 |
| Agent commission (4%) | −$400,000 |
| Jock tax (duty-day estimate) | −$200,000 |
| League escrow (10%) | −$1,000,000 |
| Total deductions | −$5,485,000 |
| Take-home pay | $4,515,000 |
Why Houston Rockets keeps 45.1%
Texas levies no state income tax at all, which is why Dallas, Houston and San Antonio consistently top take-home rankings. The trade-off is higher property and sales taxes.
The NBA withholds 10% of every salary in escrow under Article IV of the CBA. Agent commission is capped at 4% by the NBPA. The 2026-27 salary cap is $164.961M.
Same money, different tax market
| Team | Market | Top rate | Net |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston Rockets | Texas | 0% | $4,515,000 |
| Dallas Mavericks | Texas | 0% | $4,515,000 |
| Sacramento Kings | California | 13.3% | $3,185,000 |
| Utah Jazz | Utah | 4.5% | $4,065,000 |
Questions
How much does a Houston Rockets player take home on a $10,000,000 contract?
About $4,515,000, or 45.1% of the headline figure. Income tax takes $3,650,000, agent commission takes $400,000, escrow takes $1,000,000 and FICA, self-employment tax and jock tax take the remaining $435,000.
Does Texas tax Houston Rockets players?
No. Texas levies no income tax on wages, so a Houston Rockets player's state or provincial deduction is zero. Only federal tax and the league deductions apply.