NHL · Massachusetts
Boston Bruins take-home pay: what a $10,000,000 contract really pays
A Boston Bruins player on $10,000,000 takes home about $4,515,000 — that is 45.1% 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 | −$410,000 | −$43,500 | −$50,000 | $496,500 | 49.6% |
| $5,000,000 | −$2,250,000 | −$217,500 | −$250,000 | $2,282,500 | 45.6% |
| $12,000,000 | −$5,470,000 | −$522,000 | −$600,000 | $5,408,000 | 45.1% |
Where a $10,000,000 deal goes
| Deduction | Amount |
|---|---|
| Federal income tax | −$3,650,000 |
| State income tax | −$900,000 |
| Medicare / FICA | −$235,000 |
| Agent commission (5%) | −$500,000 |
| Jock tax (duty-day estimate) | −$200,000 |
| Total deductions | −$5,485,000 |
| Take-home pay | $4,515,000 |
Why Boston Bruins keeps 45.1%
Massachusetts applies a flat 5% rate plus a 4% surtax on income above $1M, giving a 9% top rate. For a salary under $1M the real bill is much lower than the headline rate suggests.
The 2026-27 payroll range runs from $76.9M to $104.0M with a $90.4M midpoint. Agent commission is capped at 5% by the NHLPA. Escrow is negotiated season by season and is not modelled here.
Same money, different tax market
| Team | Market | Top rate | Net |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Bruins | Massachusetts | 9% | $4,515,000 |
| Dallas Stars | Texas | 0% | $5,415,000 |
| San Jose Sharks | California | 13.3% | $4,085,000 |
| Edmonton Oilers | Alberta | 48% | $4,700,000 |
Questions
How much does a Boston Bruins player take home on a $10,000,000 contract?
About $4,515,000, or 45.1% of the headline figure. Income tax takes $4,550,000, agent commission takes $500,000 and FICA, self-employment tax and jock tax take the remaining $435,000.
Does Massachusetts tax Boston Bruins players?
Yes. Massachusetts applies a top marginal rate of 9%. 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.