NHL · Colorado
Colorado Avalanche take-home pay: what a $10,000,000 contract really pays
A Colorado Avalanche player on $10,000,000 takes home about $4,975,000 — that is 49.7% 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 | −$364,000 | −$43,500 | −$50,000 | $542,500 | 54.2% |
| $5,000,000 | −$2,020,000 | −$217,500 | −$250,000 | $2,512,500 | 50.2% |
| $12,000,000 | −$4,918,000 | −$522,000 | −$600,000 | $5,960,000 | 49.7% |
Where a $10,000,000 deal goes
| Deduction | Amount |
|---|---|
| Federal income tax | −$3,650,000 |
| State income tax | −$440,000 |
| Medicare / FICA | −$235,000 |
| Agent commission (5%) | −$500,000 |
| Jock tax (duty-day estimate) | −$200,000 |
| Total deductions | −$5,025,000 |
| Take-home pay | $4,975,000 |
Why Colorado Avalanche keeps 49.7%
Colorado uses a flat 4.4% rate, which makes Denver one of the friendlier tax markets for high earners.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Avalanche | Colorado | 4.4% | $4,975,000 |
| 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 Colorado Avalanche player take home on a $10,000,000 contract?
About $4,975,000, or 49.7% of the headline figure. Income tax takes $4,090,000, agent commission takes $500,000 and FICA, self-employment tax and jock tax take the remaining $435,000.
Does Colorado tax Colorado Avalanche players?
Yes. Colorado applies a top marginal rate of 4.4%. 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.