NHL · Ohio
Columbus Blue Jackets take-home pay: what a $10,000,000 contract really pays
A Columbus Blue Jackets player on $10,000,000 takes home about $5,140,000 — that is 51.4% 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 | −$347,500 | −$43,500 | −$50,000 | $559,000 | 55.9% |
| $5,000,000 | −$1,937,500 | −$217,500 | −$250,000 | $2,595,000 | 51.9% |
| $12,000,000 | −$4,720,000 | −$522,000 | −$600,000 | $6,158,000 | 51.3% |
Where a $10,000,000 deal goes
| Deduction | Amount |
|---|---|
| Federal income tax | −$3,650,000 |
| State income tax | −$275,000 |
| Medicare / FICA | −$235,000 |
| Agent commission (5%) | −$500,000 |
| Jock tax (duty-day estimate) | −$200,000 |
| Total deductions | −$4,860,000 |
| Take-home pay | $5,140,000 |
Why Columbus Blue Jackets keeps 51.4%
Ohio cut its top rate to 2.75% for 2026, among the lowest of any state with an income tax.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus Blue Jackets | Ohio | 2.8% | $5,140,000 |
| 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 Columbus Blue Jackets player take home on a $10,000,000 contract?
About $5,140,000, or 51.4% of the headline figure. Income tax takes $3,925,000, agent commission takes $500,000 and FICA, self-employment tax and jock tax take the remaining $435,000.
Does Ohio tax Columbus Blue Jackets players?
Yes. Ohio applies a top marginal rate of 2.8%. 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.