Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for gambling and sports book writers and runners in the U.S. is $34,980 ($16.82 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $34,980
- Mean annual wage
- $36,450
- Median hourly wage
- $16.82
- Employment
- 8,950
8,950 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $22,090 | $10.62 |
| 25th percentile | $28,150 | $13.54 |
| Median (50th) | $34,980 | $16.82 |
| 75th percentile | $44,840 | $21.56 |
| 90th percentile | $48,270 | $23.21 |
Highest-paying states for gambling and sports book writers and runners
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $54,740 | 100 |
| New Jersey | $48,260 | 90 |
| Massachusetts | $47,720 | — |
| Wisconsin | $47,250 | 80 |
| California | $44,860 | 1,480 |
| Washington | $42,180 | 220 |
| Ohio | $38,460 | 360 |
| Kentucky | $37,910 | 60 |
| Michigan | $37,720 | — |
| Nevada | $37,500 | 1,440 |
Lowest-paying states
- West Virginia: $19,740 median annual wage
- Montana: $22,030 median annual wage
- Louisiana: $26,620 median annual wage
- Mississippi: $28,340 median annual wage
- Nebraska: $29,670 median annual wage
About this occupation
Post information enabling patrons to wager on various races and sporting events. Assist in the operation of games such as keno and bingo. May operate random number-generating equipment and announce the numbers for patrons. Receive, verify, and record patrons' wagers. Scan and process winning tickets presented by patrons and pay out winnings for those wagers.
Typical tasks
- Prepare collection reports for submission to supervisors.
- Sell food, beverages, or tobacco to players.
- Collect bets in the form of cash or chips, verifying and recording amounts.
- Exchange paper currency for playing chips or coins.
- Compute and verify amounts won or lost, paying out winnings or referring patrons to workers, such as gaming cashiers, so that winnings can be collected.
- Collect cards or tickets from players.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: High school diploma or equivalent
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 9.4% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 32.0% |
| Some college, no degree | 29.6% |
| Associate's degree | 10.5% |
| Bachelor's degree | 15.5% |
| Master's degree | 2.2% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 0.7% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Related occupations
- Childcare Workers$34,980
- Amusement and Recreation Attendants$32,150
- Recreation Workers$36,560
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- Animal Caretakers$35,360
- Manicurists and Pedicurists$35,760
- Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers$32,910
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.