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The Chicago White Sox opened the 1985 season paying $9,846,178 to 21 players and closed 2016 at $112,998,667 across 25 players, a 11.5× rise in nominal dollars. The franchise’s biggest recorded single-season salary in this span is Jake Peavy’s $17,000,000 in 2012.
| Year | Players | Payroll | Average | Median | Top paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 21 | $9,846,178 | $468,866 | $333,333 | Julio Cruz ($1.2M) |
| 1986 | 31 | $10,418,819 | $336,091 | $195,000 | Tom Seaver ($1.1M) |
| 1987 | 24 | $10,641,843 | $443,410 | $337,500 | Neil Allen ($1.3M) |
| 1988 | 24 | $6,390,000 | $266,250 | $152,500 | Harold Baines ($1M) |
| 1989 | 25 | $7,265,410 | $290,616 | $192,500 | Carlton Fisk ($1.2M) |
| 1990 | 31 | $9,491,500 | $306,177 | $100,000 | Carlton Fisk ($1.8M) |
| 1991 | 28 | $16,919,667 | $604,274 | $167,500 | Tim Raines ($3.5M) |
| 1992 | 30 | $30,160,833 | $1,005,361 | $386,667 | George Bell ($3.6M) |
| 1993 | 31 | $39,696,166 | $1,280,521 | $868,333 | Jack McDowell ($4M) |
| 1994 | 30 | $39,183,836 | $1,306,128 | $705,000 | Jack McDowell ($5.3M) |
| 1995 | 35 | $46,961,282 | $1,341,751 | $670,000 | Frank Thomas ($7.2M) |
| 1996 | 28 | $45,139,500 | $1,612,125 | $575,000 | Frank Thomas ($7.2M) |
| 1997 | 36 | $57,740,000 | $1,603,889 | $385,000 | Albert Belle ($10M) |
| 1998 | 33 | $38,335,000 | $1,161,667 | $190,000 | Albert Belle ($10M) |
| 1999 | 32 | $25,620,000 | $800,625 | $232,500 | Frank Thomas ($7M) |
| 2000 | 29 | $31,133,500 | $1,073,569 | $285,000 | Frank Thomas ($7.1M) |
| 2001 | 27 | $65,653,667 | $2,431,617 | $975,000 | Frank Thomas ($9.9M) |
| 2002 | 27 | $57,052,833 | $2,113,068 | $575,000 | Frank Thomas ($9.9M) |
| 2003 | 26 | $51,010,000 | $1,961,923 | $475,000 | Magglio Ordonez ($9M) |
| 2004 | 26 | $65,212,500 | $2,508,173 | $775,000 | Magglio Ordonez ($14M) |
| 2005 | 27 | $75,178,000 | $2,784,370 | $2,000,000 | Paul Konerko ($8.8M) |
| 2006 | 26 | $102,750,667 | $3,951,949 | $2,325,000 | Jim Thome ($14.2M) |
| 2007 | 26 | $108,671,833 | $4,179,686 | $2,325,000 | Jim Thome ($14.8M) |
| 2008 | 27 | $121,189,332 | $4,488,494 | $1,950,000 | Jim Thome ($15.7M) |
| 2009 | 26 | $96,068,500 | $3,694,942 | $1,112,500 | Mark Buehrle ($14M) |
| 2010 | 26 | $105,530,000 | $4,058,846 | $2,500,000 | Jake Peavy ($15M) |
| 2011 | 27 | $127,789,000 | $4,732,926 | $2,750,000 | Jake Peavy ($16M) |
| 2012 | 25 | $96,919,500 | $3,876,780 | $530,000 | Jake Peavy ($17M) |
| 2013 | 28 | $120,065,277 | $4,288,046 | $1,462,500 | Jake Peavy ($16.2M) |
| 2014 | 24 | $81,830,500 | $3,409,604 | $2,125,000 | Adam Dunn ($15M) |
| 2015 | 27 | $112,373,700 | $4,161,989 | $1,950,000 | John Danks ($15.8M) |
| 2016 | 25 | $112,998,667 | $4,519,947 | $2,750,000 | John Danks ($15.8M) |
| # | Player | Salary | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jake Peavy | $17,000,000 | 2012 (CHA) |
| 2 | Jake Peavy | $16,157,271 | 2013 (CHA) |
| 3 | Jake Peavy | $16,000,000 | 2011 (CHA) |
| 4 | John Danks | $15,750,000 | 2013 (CHA) |
| 5 | John Danks | $15,750,000 | 2015 (CHA) |
| 6 | John Danks | $15,750,000 | 2016 (CHA) |
| 7 | Jim Thome | $15,666,666 | 2008 (CHA) |
| 8 | Jake Peavy | $15,000,000 | 2010 (CHA) |
| 9 | Adam Dunn | $15,000,000 | 2013 (CHA) |
| 10 | Adam Dunn | $15,000,000 | 2014 (CHA) |
| 11 | Jim Thome | $14,833,333 | 2007 (CHA) |
| 12 | John Danks | $14,250,000 | 2014 (CHA) |
| 13 | Jim Thome | $14,166,667 | 2006 (CHA) |
| 14 | Magglio Ordonez | $14,000,000 | 2004 (CHA) |
| 15 | Mark Buehrle | $14,000,000 | 2008 (CHA) |
This page aggregates the Lahman database’s real salary rows (1985-2016) for every identity this franchise played under: Chicago White Sox. Amounts are nominal US dollars exactly as recorded, with no inflation adjustment, because a deflator is an editorial choice and this archive refuses to invent one. The Lahman Salaries table was last updated for 2016, so nothing here reaches the current season.
The franchise’s heaviest recorded payroll was the 2011 season at $127,789,000 across 27 players.
Salary data: SABR / Lahman baseball database, CC BY-SA 3.0. Aggregated and published by Legends Deck. Nominal dollars; no inflation adjustment.