Average Salary for Athletes and Sports Competitors
SOC 27-2021 · Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations · 2024 data
The median annual wage for Athletes and Sports Competitors in the United States is $62,360, based on 2024 BLS OEWS data. An estimated 14,370 people work in this occupation across the country. The national median wage has grown 43.9% since 2014.
Median Annual
$62,360
Mean Annual
$259,750
10th Pct
$24,960
75th Pct
$130,770
Employment
14,370
Salary Distribution
$25k
10th
$37k
25th
$62k
Median
$131k
75th
Highest Paying Metro Areas
| Metro Area | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $214,630 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $213,470 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $210,860 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $197,140 |
| Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $166,250 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $94,660 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $84,460 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $76,070 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $74,960 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $73,800 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $72,240 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $63,720 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $61,530 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $60,400 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $59,220 |
Salary by State
| State | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| New Jersey | $214,630 |
| Utah | $178,920 |
| Texas | $94,660 |
| New York | $86,890 |
| Connecticut | $84,460 |
| Iowa | $77,960 |
| Indiana | $75,420 |
| Georgia | $72,130 |
| Missouri | $67,930 |
| Virginia | $63,250 |
| Wisconsin | $62,320 |
| Alabama | $61,670 |
| Kentucky | $57,060 |
| Tennessee | $56,470 |
| Pennsylvania | $51,340 |
| Florida | $45,570 |
| Oklahoma | $41,680 |
| Maine | $39,590 |
| Ohio | $36,750 |
| Kansas | $36,650 |
| Arizona | $33,640 |
Salary by Industry
National median wage for Athletes and Sports Competitors broken down by industry sector, 2024 data.
| Industry | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $84,460 |
| Educational Services | $84,460 |
| Educational Services | $84,460 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $84,460 |
| State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $84,460 |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations | $67,480 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | $67,480 |
| Spectator Sports | $63,250 |
| Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries | $63,030 |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $62,290 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | $62,270 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers | $61,190 |
| Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations | $57,980 |
| Other Amusement and Recreation Industries | $55,250 |
| Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries | $55,250 |
National Wage Trend
View data table
| Year | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $62,360 |
| 2023 | $70,280 |
| 2022 | $94,270 |
| 2021 | $77,300 |
| 2020 | $50,850 |
| 2019 | $51,370 |
| 2018 | $50,650 |
| 2017 | $51,370 |
| 2016 | $47,710 |
| 2015 | $44,680 |
| 2014 | $43,350 |