What is maximum salary?
The maximum salary is the most an NBA player can be paid in the first year of a contract, set as a percentage of the cap by years of service. For 2026-27 that is $41,240,250, $49,488,300 or $57,736,350.
How it works
Players with zero to six years of service can start at 25% of the cap. Players with seven to nine years can start at 30%. Players with 10 or more years can start at 35%.
Because the numbers are percentages, the maximum rises every time the cap rises. A player can also start at 105% of his prior salary if that is higher than his tier.
Raises after the first year are capped too: up to 8% a year when re-signing with Bird rights, and up to 5% a year when signing elsewhere.
The numbers
0 to 6 years
7 to 9 years
10+ years
An example
A fourth-year star signing a rookie-scale extension can reach the 25% tier. If he meets the supermax criteria, the extension can start at 30% instead.
What it means for a player
Your years of service, not your stats alone, set your ceiling. Timing a new contract around a service milestone can move the maximum by millions.
Sources
Reviewed September 26, 2026 by McKinley Malbrough III, J.D., MS-HRM, certified WNBA player agent and former certified NBA agent. Figures are refreshed each July. General information, not legal, tax or financial advice.