How much does NBA rookie (minimum salary) make?
Answer: The minimum guaranteed salary for an NBA rookie is $1,272,870 for 2025-26 and $1,357,763 for 2026-27.
Also known as NBA rookie minimum salary, NBA minimum contract.
League/association figure The 2026-27 rookie minimum; it rose about 6.7% with the salary cap.
About 27× the Typical person in the US.
Earnings year by year
Year by year| Year | Amount | Reliability | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1.27M | League/association figure | Minimum salary (2025-26) (Season) The lowest amount every NBA rookie was guaranteed in the 2025-26 season; it goes up with more experience. |
| 2026 | $1.36M | League/association figure | Minimum salary (2026-27) (Season) The 2026-27 rookie minimum; it rose about 6.7% with the salary cap. |
Per month, day, hour and second
Based on pay of about $1.36M in 2026| Per month | $113K |
|---|---|
| Per day | $3,720 |
| Per hour | $155 |
| Per second | $0.04 |
Calculated This spreads the year evenly over every hour, including sleep and days off. It is not pay per hour worked.
Compared with others
One day of pay (about $3,720) is about 27 days of pay for the typical person in the US. Calculated
| Name | Year | Amount | NBA rookie (minimum salary) earns |
|---|---|---|---|
| 📊 NFL rookie (minimum salary) | 2026 | $885,000 Yearly salary | 1.5× |
| 📊 MLB player (league minimum) | 2026 | $780,000 Yearly salary | 1.7× |
| 🏆 Typical Athlete in the US | 2025 | $66,710 | 20× |
Ratios compare the same kind of figure (estimated total earnings with estimates, salary with salary), both in dollars (¥150 = $1). When years differ, each row shows its own year.
Common questions
What is the NBA rookie minimum salary?
The 2025-26 minimum for a player with zero years of experience is $1,272,870, rising to $1,357,763 for 2026-27 (HoopsRumors, 2026-07-01).
How much does the NBA No.1 pick earn?
The 2026 No.1 pick gets $15,208,560 in year one, about $69.0M over four years.
Also known as
NBA rookie (minimum salary) is also called NBA rookie minimum salary, NBA minimum contract.
Sources and data
Sources: hoopsrumors.com / sports.yahoo.com. “Estimated” figures come from news or magazines, not from the person.
Their job: 🏆 Athlete — Athlete (typical) $66,710