Top Paying Jobs in the NFL

While the highest paid players in the National Football League, as expected, are the quarterbacks, the other so-called skill positions do not rate nearly as high on the league's salary scale. An examination of the top-paying jobs in the NFL reveals that the league compensates those who chase and those who protect its biggest assets at a higher rate than those who catch passes or run the ball.

  1. Quarterback

    • The quarterback in the NFL is the man who handles the ball on every single play, and as such, he is typically the highest paid player on the roster. The most well-compensated signal callers, such as Peyton Manning, earn as much as $20 million per season, and the average salary for an NFL quarterback is more than $2 million. That average includes starting quarterbacks, who earn millions of dollars per season as well as back-ups, who sometimes earn less than $1 million.

    Defensive Linemen

    • It might surprise some to know that the defensive end position draws the second highest average salary in the NFL. Because of their impact on the game as the primary pass rushers that put pressure on the quarterback, these athletic big men are highly valued as they come off the edge of the defensive line. The defensive tackle is No. 4 on the list because of his value as a run-stopper and the overall importance of the defensive front in determining who will win or lose a game.
      The average annual salary for a defensive end is more than $1.6 million, while a tackle typically earns slightly less than that.

    Offensive Linemen

    • The offensive linemen are the primary protectors of a team's more expensive asset, the quarterback, and as such are compensated at an average rate of nearly $1.5 million. Their job is to keep the well-paid defensive linemen from hitting their quarterback.

    Other Defenders

    • The NFL salary scale rewards defense slightly ahead of offense. A good linebacker or defensive back is hard to find, and the best can change a game, so the average salary for linebackers and especially cornerbacks, around $1.2 million, is skewed somewhat because the very best at those positions earn a great deal more individually than other players in the league.

    Remaining Positions

    • The NFL salary scale seems to indicate that the league feels it is easy to find quality running backs and wide receivers at a reasonable price, as those positions are No. 7 and 8 on the list at an average salary of just over $1 million per season. Somewhat surprisingly, the tight end position falls very close to the kickers and punters as those earning the lowest compensation.