NFL · Maryland
Washington Commanders take-home pay: what a $10,000,000 contract really pays
A Washington Commanders player on $10,000,000 takes home about $4,965,000 — that is 49.6% of the headline number, after tax, agent commission and league deductions.
Take-home pay at three contract sizes
| Contract | Income tax | FICA / SE | Agent + escrow | Net | Kept |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000,000 | −$385,000 | −$43,500 | −$30,000 | $541,500 | 54.1% |
| $10,000,000 | −$4,300,000 | −$435,000 | −$300,000 | $4,965,000 | 49.6% |
| $40,000,000 | −$17,350,000 | −$1,740,000 | −$1,200,000 | $19,710,000 | 49.3% |
Where a $10,000,000 deal goes
| Deduction | Amount |
|---|---|
| Federal income tax | −$3,650,000 |
| State income tax | −$650,000 |
| Medicare / FICA | −$235,000 |
| Agent commission (3%) | −$300,000 |
| Jock tax (duty-day estimate) | −$200,000 |
| Total deductions | −$5,035,000 |
| Take-home pay | $4,965,000 |
Why Washington Commanders keeps 49.6%
Maryland added a 6.5% bracket for income above $1M in 2025. Counties also levy a local rate of up to 3.2%, which this model does not include.
NFL contracts are not guaranteed beyond the signing bonus, and agent commission is capped at 3% by the NFLPA. The 2026 salary cap is $301.2M per club.
Same money, different tax market
| Team | Market | Top rate | Net |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington Commanders | Maryland | 6.5% | $4,965,000 |
| Dallas Cowboys | Texas | 0% | $5,615,000 |
| San Francisco 49ers | California | 13.3% | $4,285,000 |
| Detroit Lions | Michigan | 4.3% | $5,190,000 |
Questions
How much does a Washington Commanders player take home on a $10,000,000 contract?
About $4,965,000, or 49.6% of the headline figure. Income tax takes $4,300,000, agent commission takes $300,000 and FICA, self-employment tax and jock tax take the remaining $435,000.
Does Maryland tax Washington Commanders players?
Yes. Maryland applies a top marginal rate of 6.5%. This calculator applies that top rate to the whole salary, which is deliberately conservative — the real state bill is progressive, so take-home is usually slightly higher.