How Much Does An MLB Manager Make?
The salaries and contracts of MLB managers are often not disclosed to the public, so it is hard to tell how much an MLB manager earns, but it is clear that the best managers are paid far less than the best players. Most managers earn salaries of $1 million annually, and the best managers are often paid upwards of $6 million per season.
Starting Contracts
Most managers who are starting out as assistants do not earn seven-figure contracts. Similar to players’ contracts, manager salaries are often determined by the team and how much the team is willing to spend on the salaries of their manager. Due to this, managers have changed teams even if they have not been fired because they can earn a larger salary elsewhere. One example of this is Bob Melvin, who left the Oakland Athletics before the 2022 season to become the manager of the San Diego Padres. Melvin was among the highest-paid managers in Oakland, earning around $3.5 per season near the end of his tenure. However, San Diego was willing to pay $12 million over three years for an annual salary of $4 million, luring Melvin away from Oakland.
After Melvin left, the Athletics hired Mark Kotsay as a first-time manager. While the salary is undisclosed, it is likely well below Melvin’s $3.5 million he was making before he left Oakland. Another first-time manager hired for the 2022 season was Oliver Marmol of the St. Louis Cardinals, who took over for the fired Mike Shildt, although Marmol’s starting salary is unknown.
Highest-Paid Managers
The highest-paid manager in the MLB is Dave Roberts of the Los Angeles Dodgers, with an annual salary of $6.5 million. Roberts is a retired outfielder who spent ten years in the MLB, three of which were with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He started his coaching career in San Diego as an assistant before becoming the manager in 2015. In 2016, Roberts was signed by the Dodgers, where he won NL Manager of the Year in 2016 and a World Series Championship in 2020.
One of the highest-paid managers ever was Bruce Bochy, who led the San Francisco Giants to three World Series titles between 2010 and 2014. Bochy retired after the 2019 season with the Giants, but he earned $6 million annually by that time. The Giants hired Gabe Kapler to replace Bochy, and Kapler has had success of his own, leading the Giants to a 107-win season and an NL West Division Championship after being fired by the Phillies. Other managers who are amongst the highest-paid are Terry Francona of the Guardians, Bob Melvin of the Padres, and Buck Showalter of the Mets.
FAQ
Who is the highest-paid MLB manager?
Dave Roberts is the highest-paid MLB manager, earning $6.5 million per year. He has been the Dodgers’ manager since 2016, helming them during their 2020 World Series win. Veteran managers Joe Maddon, Joe Girardi, Terry Francona, and Davey Martinez are among the highest-paid managers after Roberts.
What is the average length of an MLB manager’s contract?
New contracts given to MLB managers are typically either three or four years in length. This occurs so that teams have the option to fire their manager if the team does not have much success after a few seasons, and so teams can avoid expensive buyouts. If a manager is successful, they will often sign an extension with the team for approximately three to four seasons. It is not uncommon for managers to move from one team to another to earn more money than they would have with their previous team.
Do MLB managers get a bonus for winning the World Series?
Players and managers on the World Series-winning team earn a bonus from a bonus pool that is determined by ticket sales and other factors during the postseason. Every team in the postseason earns a bonus that is allocated to the players and coaching staff, but the World Series winner receives the largest sum, and the runner-ups receive the second-largest bonus. In 2018, a player on the World Series Champion Boston Red Sox would receive a bonus of $417,000, and the manager, Alex Cora, would have likely received a similar amount.