Despite Many great female softball players have been showcased, from the great Lisa Fernandez to Jennie Finch to Cat Osterman, many fans still ask the same question about professional softball players, i.e., how much do professional softball players make?
While most eyes are fixated on the astonishing record-high MLB contracts professional baseball players land, softball players are quietly raking in the numbers.
Read on!
Professional Softball Median Salary
The professional softball median pay salary fluctuates based on the leagues being compared.
Based on the National Pro Fastpitch league salary cap and the roster size, the average softball player earns approximately $5,000 to $6,000 per season. However, individual players’ earnings may be higher based on personal endorsement deals.
In addition to the NPF, players can also play within the Athletes Unlimited professional softball league and earn a base salary of $10,000 per season with an opportunity to make upwards of $25,000 in player incentives and achievement bonuses.
Professional Softball Lowest Pay Salary
The lowest professional softball salary within the NPF based on salary cap restrictions, and the minimum set forth salary is $3,000 for an entire season. NPF seasons run from May through August.
Professional Softball Salary Pay Range
Depending on the caliber of the professional softball player, their professional softball salary range will vary as famous softball players can land higher deals. In contrast, lesser-known softball players will earn the league minimum.
For a professional softball player who only plays in the NPF with no endorsement deals, the salary starts at $3,000.
Meanwhile, a softball player that plays in multiple leagues has the potential to earn upwards of $50-60k per season plus endorsement deals.
Who is the highest-paid softball player?
Based on her $1 million deal with the Houston-area Scrap Yard Dawgs, softball pitcher Monica Abbott is the highest-paid softball player.
She became the first player in the NPF’s 13-year history to break the million-dollar contract, making approximately $166,667 per season over the six-year deal.
Top 10 Highest Paid Softball Players
Here is a look at 10 of the highest-paid softball players. Unfortunately, with no real professional softball salary information to date, the list of the highest-paid softball players is not in exact order.
1. Monica Abbott
When it comes to being one of the top professional softball players of all time, it is easy to understand why Monica Abbot ranks near the top among the highest-paid softball players.
Abbott landed a six-year deal worth $1 million with a base pay range of approximately $20k per season, with achievement bonuses helping fill in the remaining portion of the contract.
Abbott has a net worth of approximately $6 million, including salary and endorsement deals.
2. Jocelyn Alo
Only 23 years old, Jocelyn Alo is one of the most successful professional softball players of All-Time.
The former Oklahoma Sooners star led her team to back-to-back Women’s College World Series Championships and was a three-time first-team All-American and two-time Softball Collegiate Player of the Year.
Alo was drafted number one overall during the NPF Draft and landed a multi-year deal. In addition to her NPF deal, NIL endorsement deals and other opportunities have pushed her net worth up to over $5 million.
3. Natasha Watley
Yet another storybook softball career, Watley was named to four first-team All-American teams, winning one gold medal and one silver medal at the Olympics and a National Championship with the UCLA Bruins.
Watley also played for the NPF while playing from 2005 to 2015 on and off. Over her playing career, Watley has racked up a net worth of $5 million.
4. Jennie Finch
As one of the most highly recognized softball players, Jennie Finch has been featured in a variety of magazines as well as on ESPN.
While no exact salary was determined, Finch has a net worth of around $2 million dollars based on those deals, playing for Team USA, and other endorsement deals earned.
5. Cat Osterman
When you build success in anything you do, it typically pays off over the long haul with other rewarding success.
That is the case with Cat Osterman, one of the most glorified softball players of All-Time.
With that success, Osterman built a net worth of over $2 million dollars based on her NPF contracts, playing for Team USA, and other endorsement deals.
6. Jessica Mendoza
Jessica Mendoza was a member of multiple team USA softball teams, including the 2004 Gold Medal team, while also playing her collegiate career for the Stanford Cardinals.
Following her collegiate career, Mendoza played in the NPF league before landing on ESPN as a baseball analyst and an analyst for Spectrum SportsNet LA.
Mendoza has racked up a net worth of $2 million dollars.
7. Lisa Fernandez
Like many great professional softball players, Lisa Fernandez put together a solid playing resume, including winning three gold medals and working as a coach for the UCLA softball team.
Over her career, Fernandez has racked up a net worth of around $1 million, including her current coaching contract, other salaries, and endorsement deals.
8. Dot Richardson
The back-to-back Gold Medal-winning member of the Team USA softball team is currently the Liberty University softball team coach.
Dot Richardson has built a solid net worth of between $1 million and $5 million through her softball career and success on the softball field.
9. Rachel Garcia
The former National Gatorade Softball Player of the Year dominated her time with the UCLA Bruins while also being the number one pick during the Athletes Unlimited Pro Softball Draft.
Through softball appearances, playing professionally, and other endorsement deals, Rachel Garcia has been able to rack up at least $1 million dollars in net worth.
10. Michele Smith
Another softball player who made a solid earning from the game is Michele Smith, who played her collegiate career for the Oklahoma State Cowgirls softball team.
In addition, Smith was a two-time Gold Medal winner on Team USA before landing her commentating job with ESPN. Smith became the first female to commentate on an MLB game while also doing other commentating duties for ESPN, including for women’s softball.
Smith has racked up a net worth of $1-1.5 million dollars over her career.
