The official 2022 MLS salary budget was set at $4,900,000 per team, as established by Major League Soccer's roster rules and regulations. This represented the maximum amount each club could spend on player salaries for the 2022 season, excluding Designated Player salaries above the DP threshold.
The 2022 roster rules maintained the standard 30-player roster limit, with each team required to have a minimum of 20 players and maximum of 30 players under contract. Teams were allowed up to three Designated Players whose salaries above $651,250 did not count against the salary budget. Additionally, clubs could use mechanisms like Targeted Allocation Money (TAM) and General Allocation Money (GAM) to buy down player salaries and maximize roster flexibility within the budget constraints.
These official regulations were designed to maintain competitive balance across MLS while allowing teams strategic flexibility in roster construction. The $4,900,000 budget represented an increase from previous years as part of MLS's continued investment in player compensation and league quality.