The earnings of an athlete can at times be astronomical, though it is not without cause. Factor in prize money pools from tournaments at home and abroad, major brand deals, sponsorships, and team salaries; a life on the athletic world stage can seem idyllically fruitful of the fame and fortune variety. And with the FIFA Women’s World Cup currently at play in Australian and New Zealand stadiums over the coming weeks, it makes us wonder: how much do our Matildas make?

As it stands, newcomer Matildas start at an estimated $100,000 to $200,000 fixed annual salary, according to the Financial Review. And as rank and experience move higher and higher up the totem pole, so does the pay. 

5. Steph Catley – estimated $95,000-$190,000
Club: Arsenal WFC

Matildas defender Steph Catley also plays for Arsenal WFC, where according to 2021-2022 data players in the club earn $95,000-$190,000.

4. Emily van Egmond – estimated $400,000
Club: San Diego Wave FC

And midfielder Emily van Egmond, who plays for San Diego Wave FC, is thought to have made $400,000 in the last financial period.

3. Mary Fowler – estimated $440,000
Club: Manchester City

Having just signed a four-year deal with Manchester City after having debuted on the Matildas at 15, the average top-tier women’s Super League players can earn around $440,000.

2. Ellie Carpenter – estimated $1.2 million
Club: Olympique Lyonnais

Ellie Carpenter, the Matildas’ defender, who plays for France’s Olympique Lyonnais pulled in around $1.2 million in the last financial year.

1. Sam Kerr – estimated $3.6 million
Club: Chelsea

Matildas captain Sam Kerr is the best paid athlete of the squad: the striker’s 13-year partnership with Nike, as well as her EA Sports partnerships and endorsements netted her $3.3 million last year, as well as her Chelsea contract, reportedly worth $600,000 a season.

And this is all without considering the prize money.

The WWC is undoubtedly going to leave its mark on Australian sporting history: it is the biggest Cup yet with 32 countries in the mix, it is the first to be played on home soil, and the hopes of the nation are riding high on the laurel-awarded Matildas. And the last nail that can solidify this year’s WWC into the marble annals of sporting history? A worthy prize pool..

Say, the Matildas bring the win home on August 20, the winning prize pool for the WWC is US$110 million ($160 million) which would be awarded to the Australian Football Federation—who would then decide the player's bonuses at their discretion. 

A sizable amount by any measure of a profession, however it brings to light the chasmous pay disparity between FIFA’s women’s and men’s World Cup prize pool, being US$440 million ($643 million), a 75 per cent loftier packet than the WWC–meagre in comparison. 

Prior to the WWC kicking off last week, the Matildas released a call to rally a bargaining collective with other competing teams and playmakers to place pressure on FIFA to ensure this year’s WWC also leaves a legacy worthy of its brevity. 

Playing on home soil presents an opportunity to advance the WWC, which the Matildas say they “stand on the shoulders of giants who have paved the way to afford the opportunities we have now… They showed us how to fight for recognition, validation and respect.” Citing the 2007 WWC was the first time FIFA awarded women–25 years after the men–and playing on artificial pitches in 2015, “The grass was fake, and the disrespect was real,” said van Egmond. 

And the Matildas’ starting fixed salary pales in comparison to that of their male counterparts, the Socceroos, who earnt $226,000 each in 2022, with flexible bonuses in the mix. And in the 2022 World Cup, the Socceroos, for simply making the group stages, were set to earn $13 million. 

Performing in their absolute high performance environment, it is a question indeed as to why salaries and prize money for women’s football make for meagre fractions to that of men–when both win the same achievement. The legacy of the Matildas and all teams playing at this year’s WWC will see to it that equal pay should be met–all for a fairer game across the board. 

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