Athletes and Sports Competitors Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for athletes and sports competitors in the U.S. is $66,710, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $66,710
- Mean annual wage
- $206,180
- Median hourly wage
- —
- Employment
- 15,070
15,070 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $26,500 | — |
| 25th percentile | $36,790 | — |
| Median (50th) | $66,710 | — |
| 75th percentile | $109,880 | — |
| 90th percentile | $742,310 | — |
Highest-paying states for athletes and sports competitors
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $253,870 | 390 |
| Missouri | $172,700 | 670 |
| Utah | $122,800 | 340 |
| Nevada | $119,780 | 160 |
| Texas | $80,510 | 1,840 |
| California | $79,040 | 830 |
| Florida | $78,610 | 1,360 |
| Georgia | $77,530 | 840 |
| Kansas | $63,630 | 170 |
| Kentucky | $63,020 | — |
Lowest-paying states
- Ohio: $39,040 median annual wage
- Oklahoma: $44,110 median annual wage
- South Carolina: $45,720 median annual wage
- Maryland: $48,200 median annual wage
- Arizona: $50,090 median annual wage
About this occupation
Compete in athletic events.
Typical tasks
- Represent teams or professional sports clubs, performing such activities as meeting with members of the media, making speeches, or participating in charity events.
- Maintain optimum physical fitness levels by training regularly, following nutrition plans, or consulting with health professionals.
- Maintain equipment used in a particular sport.
- Participate in athletic events or competitive sports, according to established rules and regulations.
- Lead teams by serving as captain.
- Exercise or practice under the direction of athletic trainers or professional coaches to develop skills, improve physical condition, or prepare for competitions.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: No formal educational credential
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 3.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 8.8% |
| Some college, no degree | 20.8% |
| Associate's degree | 10.6% |
| Bachelor's degree | 48.4% |
| Master's degree | 6.7% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 1.6% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
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About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.