Money Talks: Analyzing the salaries of Georgia-based MLS players

After the salaries of all MLS players were released to the public by the MLS Players Union last week, I took the time to take a look at how our own MLS players from Georgia were doing compared to the rest of the league.

If you would like to view my full findings you can checkout the spreadsheet. Otherwise, here are some highlights of the results:

• Ricardo Clark, the Houston Dynamo midfielder, is the highest paid member of our list with a base salary reaching $319,200 this year. Jordan McCrary, the rookie defender at New England Revolution, is lowest paid, making $62,500 this year.
• The average salary of MLS players from Georgia is over $148,000 whereas the average MLS salary is $292,320.
• Jack McInerney, Ricardo Clark, Sean Johnson and Warren Creavalle are the only Georgia MLS players making above the average salaries of their respective teams. Sean Johnson and Walker Zimmerman are the only players making more than the average MLS player in their respective positions.
• Kwadwo Poku is only on a salary of $67,500. A player of his potential would certainly be worth a look for Atlanta United at that salary.
• Signing Sean Johnson, who isn't getting much playing time in Chicago right now, as some fans have suggested might not be the best deal on his current $250,000 per year salary. Atlanta United might be able to get someone cheaper. The average MLS salary for goalkeepers is only $140,000.
• Walker Zimmerman, who has featured on the MLS Team of the Week twice already, could be a good central defender signing. Anywhere near his current $174,000 salary would be a bargain for one of our main guys in the back.

Player salaries are a very important part of player acquisition, especially in the MLS where front offices have to deal with the increasingly complex rules and regulations on finances and salary caps. Let us know in the comments if you found anything interesting in the analysis