If money really could buy happiness, Austin FC fans might still be waiting for the receipt. With a payroll north of $15.6 million in guaranteed compensation, the Verde and Black sit middle-of-the-pack in MLS money talk — 22nd in the league, to be exact. That puts them behind the league’s lavish spenders like Inter Miami (Messi’s paycheck alone could fund a small nation) but still comfortably above teams pinching pennies like CF Montréal or Philly.
But you know Austin — this town’s never been about blending in. They’re about turning heads, whether it’s music, tacos, or soccer. And this roster? It’s got a little of all three: flair, spice, and rhythm.
🥇 Brandon Vazquez: Gold-Plated Striker with Texas Heat
At $3.55 million guaranteed, Brandon Vazquez is Austin’s main man and wallet-winner. The striker takes up over 22% of the team’s payroll, and for good reason — when he’s on, he’s the kind of player who makes defenders question their life choices. Big, mobile, and lethal in the box, Vazquez is the Ferrari in a lineup of reliable SUVs.
Still, it’s a lot of green for one guy in a city that prides itself on keeping things weird. The expectations are huge. The fans want goals, not just Instagram highlights. And with Austin ranked 21st in base salary spending league-wide, every Vazquez strike needs to count twice.
🥈 Myrto Uzuni: The Wing Maestro
Next up, Myrto Uzuni, making $2.225 million guaranteed, the silver medal in Austin’s salary Olympics. The Albanian winger brings flash and flair to the left side, the kind of player who cuts inside like a knife through brisket. He’s Austin’s creative heartbeat — unpredictable, energetic, and with enough swagger to make Q2 Stadium hum on humid summer nights.
For that price tag, fans expect the kind of impact that keeps him on MLS highlight reels — and so far, he’s looking like one of the smarter splurges on the roster.
🥉 Osman Bukari: The Bronze Bullet
Rounding out the top trio, Osman Bukari sits at $1.5 million flat, a straight-up bargain for his speed and work rate. He doesn’t just run the wings — he owns them. While others jog, Bukari sprints. While defenders think, Bukari acts. The man plays like his paycheck depends on every touch — which might explain why he’s the kind of “every dollar counts” player you love to root for.
If Vazquez is the showpiece and Uzuni the artist, Bukari is the blue-collar musician playing lead guitar — fast, sharp, and full of energy.
The Middle Class and Moneyball Magic
Here’s where Austin quietly wins — that middle tier of talent. Players like Julio Cascante ($853K), Brad Stuver ($507K), and Daniel Pereira ($514K) give massive returns for moderate paychecks.
Stuver especially deserves a tip of the cowboy hat. A fan favorite, locker room leader, and one of MLS’s most consistent keepers, he’s pulling down under half a million while saving shots that would make higher-paid goalies blush. That’s what we call Best Value in Verde.
And then there’s Jon Gallagher, pulling in a modest $375K. He’s like the team’s Swiss Army knife — a defender who attacks, a forward who defends, and a man who seems to be everywhere at once. Dollar for dollar, Gallagher might be Austin’s MVP.
League Comparison: Middle Class Heroes in a World of Billionaires
Austin’s $15.6 million guaranteed puts them firmly in MLS’s economic middle class. Teams like LAFC, Miami, and Atlanta United live in another galaxy — where salaries start at “luxury car” and end at “private jet.”
But being in the middle isn’t a bad thing. It means Austin’s built to compete, not to overextend. They’re a lunch-pail squad with a couple of Ferraris in the garage — and that’s not a bad formula for a league built on parity and potential.
Bang for the Buck: Who’s Earning It?
- Brad Stuver — every save is a bargain at his salary.
- Jon Gallagher — one of MLS’s most versatile players, making starter impact for bench money.
- Daniel Pereira — the future of Austin’s midfield and worth every penny of his modest paycheck.
Meanwhile, Vazquez and Uzuni carry the pressure of production with their paychecks. When they’re firing, Austin hums. When they’re quiet, Q2 Stadium feels it.
Final Take: The Band’s Tuning Up
Austin FC’s 2025 roster looks like a band where everyone’s finding their groove. The stars shine bright, but it’s the rhythm section — the Gallaghers, the Stuvers, the Pereiras — who keep the beat steady.
With a payroll ranked in the league’s middle third and a roster that’s finally balancing star power and steady performers, this could be the year Austin finally plays their best set yet.
Because in the live music capital of the world, the fans don’t just want a show — they want a hit.
Austin FC 2025 Player Salaries: Who’s Earning What in Verde and Black
| Player | Pos | Base | Guaranteed | Rank | % Base | % Guar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brandon Vazquez | Center Forward | $3,200,000 | $3,551,778 | 1 | 22.4% | 22.7% |
| Myrto Uzuni | Left Wing | $1,520,000 | $2,225,000 | 2 | 10.6% | 14.2% |
| Osman Bukari | Right Wing | $1,500,000 | $1,500,000 | 3 | 10.5% | 9.6% |
| Julio Cascante | Center-back | $780,000 | $853,750 | 4 | 5.5% | 5.4% |
| Ilie Sánchez | Defensive Midfield | $600,000 | $600,000 | 5 | 4.2% | 3.8% |
| Robert Taylor | Left Wing | $575,000 | $633,333 | 6 | 4.0% | 4.0% |
| Besard Šabović | Central Midfield | $550,000 | $550,000 | 7 | 3.9% | 3.5% |
| Mikkel Desler | Right-back | $550,000 | $550,000 | 7 | 3.9% | 3.5% |
| Oleksandr Svatok | Center-back | $500,000 | $505,000 | 9 | 3.5% | 3.2% |
| Brad Stuver | Goalkeeper | $484,500 | $507,313 | 10 | 3.4% | 3.2% |
| Daniel Pereira | Central Midfield | $475,000 | $514,375 | 11 | 3.3% | 3.3% |
| Jáder Obrian | Right Wing | $450,000 | $505,401 | 12 | 3.2% | 3.2% |
| Jon Gallagher | Right-back | $375,000 | $375,000 | 13 | 2.6% | 2.4% |
| Žan Kolmanič | Left-back | $350,000 | $350,000 | 14 | 2.5% | 2.2% |
| Mateja Djordjević | Center-back | $337,500 | $347,500 | 15 | 2.4% | 2.2% |
| Brendan Hines-Ike | Center-back | $325,000 | $325,000 | 16 | 2.3% | 2.1% |
| Nicolás Dubersarsky | Central Midfield | $275,000 | $297,986 | 17 | 1.9% | 1.9% |
| Guilherme da Trindade Dubas | Left-back | $275,000 | $275,000 | 17 | 1.9% | 1.8% |
| Stefan Cleveland | Goalkeeper | $250,000 | $274,167 | 19 | 1.8% | 1.7% |
| Diego Rubio | Center Forward | $208,000 | $208,000 | 20 | 1.5% | 1.3% |
| Owen Wolff | Central Midfield | $208,000 | $221,600 | 20 | 1.5% | 1.4% |
| Damian Las | Goalkeeper | $125,000 | $125,000 | 22 | 0.9% | 0.8% |
| Micah Burton | Attacking Midfield | $104,000 | $115,000 | 23 | 0.7% | 0.7% |
| CJ Fodrey | Left Wing | $104,000 | $108,000 | 23 | 0.7% | 0.7% |
| Jimmy Farkarlun | Right Wing | $80,622 | $80,622 | 25 | 0.6% | 0.5% |
| Riley Thomas | Right-back | $80,622 | $80,622 | 25 | 0.6% | 0.5% |
Here are the player salaries for all the teams in the MLS.
