How Much Do NFL Players Make In Training Camp

How much do NFL players make in training camp? It is a great question, and the honest answer is, “it depends.” Training camp happens before the regular season, and it does not work like normal NFL paychecks. Most players do not receive their full base salary during camp. Instead, they get a fixed weekly stipend (called a per diem), plus meals, housing, and sometimes bonuses that were already part of their contracts. In this guide, we will explain how camp pay actually works, what players can expect to earn, why some players make much more than others during this period, and how all of this fits into the NFL calendar.

What Training Camp Really Is

Training camp is the intense, multi-week lead-up to the season when teams cut down their rosters from up to 90 players to the 53-man roster and practice squad. The days are long, meetings are constant, and the pressure is real. Camp also overlaps with the preseason games, where players fight for roster spots and roles.

Financially, training camp sits in a gray area. It comes after spring workouts and OTAs, but before regular season game checks begin. During camp, most players do not get their base salaries yet. Instead, they receive set daily or weekly stipends agreed to in the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), along with room and board and other benefits the team provides.

Do NFL Players Get Their Full Salary in Training Camp?

No. Base salaries are generally paid during the regular season, week by week. The first base-salary paycheck usually arrives after Week 1 of the regular season. During training camp and the preseason, players under contract are paid a standard per diem and have their food and housing covered. This setup is the same for rookies and veterans, although contract details and bonus schedules can make their total money during camp look very different.

The Training Camp Per Diem Explained

The per diem is a fixed, CBA-negotiated amount paid to players for each day of camp. Teams do not have discretion to lower it. It increases a little each season under the current CBA. In recent years, the per diem has typically been in the low-thousands of dollars per week during camp.

What the per diem covers varies by team setup, but room and board are normally provided as part of camp, so the per diem functions like pocket money to cover incidental daily needs. It is still taxable income, and players will see deductions for taxes and other withholdings later in the year.

Who Gets the Per Diem?

Players under an NFL player contract on the training camp roster receive the per diem. That includes drafted rookies who have signed, undrafted free agents who signed after the draft, and returning veterans under contract. Players who are unsigned holdouts typically do not receive per diem, and they may also face fines for missing mandatory activities.

Is the Per Diem the Same for Everyone?

The per diem itself is a standard amount set in the CBA, but contract situations can mean that two players in the same locker room take home very different amounts during camp. One player might be getting only the per diem, while another also receives a large signing bonus payment scheduled in July or August.

Preseason Games and Pay

Preseason games are played during training camp. Players do not get their regular-season game checks for these exhibitions. Instead, they remain on the camp per diem, with room and board covered. Some contracts or team policies may include modest game stipends connected to preseason contests, but these amounts are nowhere near regular-season pay. The preseason is about evaluation, not earnings.

Rookies vs. Veterans: Why Take-Home Pay Can Look Different

The per diem is standard, but the money that “shows up” during camp differs by player because of their contracts. Two groups stand out: rookies and established veterans.

Rookies and Undrafted Free Agents

After the draft, rookies sign four-year contracts with set salary scales. Many get a signing bonus, which is guaranteed and often paid in one or more installments shortly after signing. That means a rookie could see a large chunk of money arrive near camp time if the payment schedule places an installment in July or August. An undrafted free agent also signs a standard contract, and while the signing bonus is usually smaller, it can still provide real cash during camp beyond the per diem.

However, rookies and undrafted players who are cut before Week 1 will not see any base salary for the year. They may keep any signing bonus money already paid and possibly an injury settlement if hurt, but regular-season checks never start for them unless they make the 53-man roster or are signed to a practice squad.

Veterans With Bonuses

Veterans with multi-year deals sometimes have roster bonuses, reporting bonuses, or offseason workout bonuses. If those were negotiated for late summer or triggered by reporting to camp, that money can hit during the camp window. Things such as workout bonuses depend on attendance at spring workouts and OTAs and are usually paid earlier, but the timing is set by contract. So, while the per diem is standard, the veteran’s contract can add meaningful money during camp.

What About Offseason Workouts and OTAs?

Before training camp, teams run offseason workout programs and Organized Team Activities (OTAs). These are mostly voluntary, with a short mandatory minicamp. During this period, players can earn a separate daily or weekly amount for participating, again set in the CBA, and some players have sizable workout bonuses in their contracts. This money is different from training camp per diem, but it explains why some players seem to receive checks even before camp begins.

Workout Bonuses vs. Workout Pay

A workout bonus is a negotiated amount in a player’s contract that pays out if he meets attendance or conditioning targets in the offseason program. Workout pay, by contrast, is a standard CBA daily amount paid to players who show up to the voluntary program. Both are separate from training camp per diem, but both can affect how much a player makes across the whole summer.

Housing, Meals, and Daily Life During Camp

Teams usually house players in a hotel or dorm during camp. Meals are provided at the facility or hotel, including nutrition plans tailored by team dietitians. Because room and board are covered, take-home per diem is not meant to cover rent or major living costs during this period. However, players with families or homes in other cities may still have personal expenses they manage on their own.

Taxes and Deductions on Camp Pay

The per diem is taxable income. Players will owe federal and state taxes based on where they work and reside, and these can be complex. NFL players often file taxes in multiple states due to games and workdays in different places. Many also pay agent fees (often 1 to 3 percent for veteran deals and lower or capped fees for rookie contracts), union dues, and certain training costs. Even though the per diem sounds straightforward, the net amount that remains after all deductions can be smaller than what fans expect.

What If a Player Is Injured During Camp?

Injuries happen in camp. If a player is hurt, teams use designations such as Physically Unable to Perform (PUP), Non-Football Injury (NFI), Waived/Injured, or Injured Reserve (IR). Pay outcomes vary by status and contract terms.

PUP and NFI

Players on PUP or NFI during camp may still receive per diem, but the rules depend on whether the injury was football-related and on the player’s contract. NFI injuries (non-football related) can limit what a team must pay. PUP is generally used when a player is not yet ready to practice due to a football-related injury.

Waived/Injured and Injury Settlements

If a player is hurt and then waived/injured, he may reach an injury settlement with the team. This is a negotiated amount meant to cover the expected time missed. It is separate from per diem. For established veterans on bigger deals, guarantees for injury can dramatically change the financial picture. For fringe roster players, injury settlements can be the main way they recoup lost income if they are cut before the season.

Getting Cut in Camp: What Pay Stops and What Continues

When a player is released during training camp, per diem ends because he is no longer on the camp roster. If the player had a signing bonus, he keeps the money already paid. If he had a roster bonus tied to a specific date and he was on the roster that day, he keeps it. Otherwise, camp income stops at release. If the player signs with another team, he can start receiving that team’s per diem once he passes a physical and is officially under contract.

Practice Squad Pay vs. Training Camp Pay

Practice squad contracts begin after teams cut to the 53-man roster. Practice squad players are not paid the training camp per diem anymore. Instead, they earn a weekly salary set by the CBA, with rates that depend on experience. This weekly practice squad pay is usually much higher than camp per diem, but it starts only after final cuts. Players who do not make a roster or practice squad after camp might not see further pay that season unless they sign later.

Holdouts, Fines, and Reporting

Camp is mandatory for players under contract. If a veteran player skips camp without an excused reason, he can be fined each day and may lose the ability to earn certain bonuses. He also does not receive camp per diem when absent. Rookie holdouts are rare now because of the rookie wage scale, but in the past, delays in signing could affect when a player started receiving any camp-related money.

How Long Is Training Camp, and How Does That Affect Pay?

Camp length varies a bit by team and calendar, but it usually runs for several weeks and overlaps with three preseason games. The per diem covers each day a player is in camp. So the longer a player remains on the roster during camp, the more per diem he collects. However, the difference between one player and another over a few weeks is not huge. The big money gap comes from bonuses and whether a player makes the final roster.

Why the Big Differences Fans Hear About

If you hear that “one player made thousands a day in camp” while another “barely made a thing,” it usually comes down to contract structure. The per diem is the same for everyone under contract. But if a player’s contract pays out a roster bonus on the date he reports, or if his signing bonus installment is scheduled in August, he might see a very large deposit during camp. Another player, on the same team and in the same hotel, might only be getting the per diem because he has no bonus due at that time.

Sample Scenarios to Make It Clear

To make this simple, let us walk through three fictional examples. These are illustrative only. Actual per diem amounts and bonus schedules change by year and contract.

Example 1: Undrafted Rookie Fighting for a Spot

An undrafted rookie signs in May with a small signing bonus. He participates in spring workouts and earns standard offseason workout pay. He reports to training camp and receives the camp per diem each day. He does not have any other bonuses scheduled for July or August. He survives the first two rounds of cuts but is released in the final cutdown. He leaves camp with his signing bonus (from May), his offseason workout pay (from spring), and a few weeks of camp per diem. He does not receive any base salary or regular-season checks because he did not make the 53-man roster. If he signs to a practice squad after cutdown weekend, his pay switches to practice squad weekly salary going forward.

Example 2: Drafted Rookie With a Large Signing Bonus

A third-round rookie signs in June and has a signing bonus paid in two chunks: one in June and another scheduled for late July upon reporting to camp. He also gets the camp per diem during August. Compared to the undrafted rookie, the drafted player may look like he “made a lot” during camp. The truth is, that money was guaranteed by contract and just happened to be scheduled for that time. The per diem itself is the same for both rookies. The difference is the bonus timing.

Example 3: Veteran With a Roster Bonus

A veteran lineman is on a two-year deal with a reporting bonus that pays if he shows up on time and passes his physical. He also has a small roster bonus that triggers if he is on the roster on August 15. He receives the camp per diem, plus those two bonuses arrive during camp. From the outside, it looks like he is “making a lot” in camp. In reality, the per diem is similar to his teammates. The extras come from his negotiated contract.

What If a Player Is on the Team But Not Practicing?

Some players are around the team but limited by minor injuries or conditioning issues. If they are officially under contract and part of the camp roster, they still receive the per diem. They also still get housing and meals as usual. If the team moves a player onto a particular list such as PUP or NFI, pay rules depend on the list and the contract terms.

Does a Player’s Market Value Affect Camp Pay?

Not directly. The per diem is a standard number. Star players, mid-level veterans, and long-shot rookies get the same per diem amount. However, star players often have multi-million-dollar signing bonuses, workout bonuses, or roster bonuses that can be scheduled at times that coincide with camp. So their bank account may jump during camp, but the per diem is not the reason.

Common Myths About Training Camp Pay

Myth 1: Players get full salary checks during camp. Reality: No, base salaries usually start in Week 1 of the regular season.

Myth 2: Preseason games come with big game checks. Reality: Preseason happens under camp pay rules. Any game stipends are modest compared to regular-season pay and vary by contract or team policy.

Myth 3: Rookies are unpaid in camp. Reality: Rookies under contract receive the same per diem as everyone else and may receive signing bonus installments during camp.

Myth 4: Veterans who skip camp still get paid. Reality: Unexcused absences can lead to fines and no per diem, and they can affect bonuses and guarantees.

How Much Money Are We Actually Talking About?

The simplest way to think about training camp money is this: it is usually a few thousand dollars per week in per diem, plus room and board, and that is it for most players. If you stay for four or five weeks, you might collect several thousand dollars total from the per diem alone. By itself, this is not life-changing money for most NFL players. The large income most fans associate with the NFL comes later, during the regular season, when base salaries start paying out weekly.

That said, some players do receive large amounts during the camp window because of bonus schedules written into their contracts. A rookie’s signing bonus installment or a veteran’s roster bonus can dwarf the per diem. Those are not camp pay increases. They are contract events that happen to fall during camp.

Why Teams Use Per Diem Instead of Salary in Camp

The per diem system keeps things uniform and easier to manage during the evaluation period. Teams host up to 90 players, cover housing and meals, and run a fast-paced schedule. The per diem is a predictable, collectively bargained amount for everyone under contract. Once rosters cut down and the real season begins, individualized pay based on base salaries, incentives, and escalators kicks in.

Incentives, Guarantees, and Escalators

Camp pay is only one piece of the financial puzzle. Contracts often include incentives for playing time, performance, or team achievements. There are also guarantees for skill, injury, or salary cap reasons. Some players have escalators that raise next year’s salary if they hit certain benchmarks this year. While these do not normally pay during camp, they can influence a team’s decisions and a player’s outlook going into the season.

When Regular Season Pay Starts

Once a player makes the 53-man roster out of camp and the regular season begins, base salary starts paying out weekly (or according to the paycheck schedule set by the club). These weekly checks are where the big difference shows up on bank statements. Even a league-minimum salary spread across the season is much higher than camp per diem. For players who do not make the 53 but land on the practice squad, practice squad weekly pay begins after final cuts.

How This Affects a Player’s Budget

Young players and rookies learn quickly that cash flow in the NFL is not steady from January to December. The spring might bring workout pay and possibly a bonus. Summer brings camp per diem and perhaps a bonus installment. Then a large jump arrives with regular-season pay. Financial advisors help players plan for these swings, especially because employment is not guaranteed. One injury or one roster cut can change the plan overnight.

What Fans Should Remember

Fans often assume NFL players are paid like megastars every day of the year. The reality is more nuanced. Training camp features long hours and stiff competition, but camp pay itself is not huge. It is designed to cover the costs of being there. The big financial moments usually come from contracts negotiated months earlier and then from the regular season.

Quick Answers to Common Questions

Do players get paid if they are cut mid-camp?

They receive per diem for the days they were on the roster. Once released, per diem stops. Any signing bonus money already paid stays with the player. If there is an injury, an injury settlement may apply.

Do preseason stats affect pay?

Not immediately. Preseason performance can help a player make the team and unlock regular-season salary, incentives, or a practice squad deal, but it does not change the camp per diem.

Can a player negotiate a higher camp per diem?

No. The per diem is CBA-standard. A player can negotiate other bonuses or guarantees when signing the contract, but not the per diem amount itself.

Do unsigned rookies at rookie minicamp get paid?

Rookie minicamp tryout players may receive meals and lodging and sometimes a small stipend, but they are not under standard camp pay. Once a player signs an NFL contract and enters training camp, the camp per diem applies.

Putting It All Together

Think of the NFL calendar as a few phases. In spring, players can earn standard workout pay and any workout bonuses. In summer, training camp brings a set per diem, housing, and meals for every player under contract. Some players also receive big money at this time, but it is because of their specific contracts (for example, a signing bonus installment or a roster bonus). Finally, in fall, regular-season base salary and practice squad pay begin, and that is when most of the big earnings happen.

Conclusion

So, how much do NFL players make in training camp? For most players, it is a standard per diem that adds up to a few thousand dollars per week, plus room and board. It is fair to say training camp itself does not make players rich. The exceptions are players whose contracts schedule bonus payments during the camp window, which can make it look like they “made a lot in camp,” even though that money was negotiated earlier. The real paydays start in the regular season, when base salaries and incentives begin to flow. If you remember that camp pay is a flat stipend while the big money depends on contracts and roster status, you will have a clear picture of how NFL pay really works in July and August.