SalariesWhat the occupation covers
Compete in athletic events.
Official definition from the Standard Occupational Classification, code 27-2021.
The pay range
Pay differs a lot inside one occupation, with experience, employer and place. The table shows where the lines fall.
| Share of workers | A year | A month* | A week* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn less than | $26,500 | $2,208 | $510 |
| Lowest 25% earn less than | $36,790 | $3,066 | $708 |
| Median (half earn less, half more) | $66,710 | $5,559 | $1,283 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $109,880 | $9,157 | $2,113 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $742,310 | $61,859 | $14,275 |
* Month and week are the yearly figure divided by 12 and by 52, worked out here for convenience. BLS publishes the yearly and hourly figures.
BLS publishes only yearly pay for this occupation, because many of these workers are paid by the year and work fewer than 2,080 hours in it.
How it compares
The median for all occupations in the United States was $50,980 a year. The median for Athletes and Sports Competitors is $66,710, which is 31% higher. Among the 41 occupations of the field Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media, it ranks number 22 by median pay. With 15,070 jobs, it makes up about 1.0 of every 10,000 jobs in the country. The average ($206,180) is well above the median, a sign that a smaller group of high earners pulls the average up.
Athletes and Sports Competitors pay by state
The highest median pay was in New Jersey ($253,870), Missouri ($172,700) and Utah ($122,800). The lowest was in Ohio ($39,040), Oklahoma ($44,110) and South Carolina ($45,720). The most jobs were in Texas (1,840), Florida (1,360) and Arizona (940). The occupation is most concentrated in Arizona, where its share of all jobs is 3.0 times the national share.
No state matches.
| State | Jobs | Median a year | Average a year |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | 390 | $253,870 | $241,760 |
| Missouri | 670 | $172,700 | $472,090 |
| Utah | 340 | $122,800 | $229,290 |
| Nevada | 160 | $119,780 | $101,880 |
| Texas | 1,840 | $80,510 | $310,180 |
| California | 830 | $79,040 | $294,080 |
| Florida | 1,360 | $78,610 | $93,280 |
| Georgia | 840 | $77,530 | $263,870 |
| Kansas | 170 | $63,630 | $61,650 |
| Kentucky | not published | $63,020 | $74,190 |
| Virginia | not published | $61,500 | $63,130 |
| Pennsylvania | 250 | $57,100 | $73,210 |
| Louisiana | 440 | $55,890 | $65,070 |
| Arizona | 940 | $50,090 | $93,140 |
| Maryland | not published | $48,200 | $67,290 |
| South Carolina | 280 | $45,720 | $53,180 |
| Oklahoma | not published | $44,110 | $42,260 |
| Ohio | 590 | $39,040 | $64,160 |
| Alabama | 330 | not published | not published |
| Colorado | 340 | not published | not published |
| Connecticut | 50 | not published | not published |
| Illinois | 310 | not published | not published |
| Indiana | 390 | not published | not published |
| Maine | 110 | not published | not published |
| New York | 350 | not published | not published |
| North Carolina | 760 | not published | not published |
| North Dakota | 70 | not published | not published |
| Rhode Island | 50 | not published | not published |
| Tennessee | 640 | not published | not published |
Sorted by median pay, highest first. "Not published" means BLS did not release that figure for the state, usually because too few employers were surveyed. "$239,200 or more" is the highest value BLS reports in the state tables.
Similar occupations by pay
- Media and Communication Equipment Workers, All Other$70,720 a year
- Lighting Technicians$68,060 a year
- Interior Designers$67,190 a year
- Designers, All Other$64,950 a year
- Graphic Designers$62,960 a year
- News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists$62,200 a year
Common questions
How much do Athletes and Sports Competitors earn in the United States?
The median pay was $66,710 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $26,500 and the highest-paid 10% more than $742,310.
How many people work as Athletes and Sports Competitors?
About 15,070 jobs in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Checked in November 2026. Figures are for employees, before tax, and leave out overtime pay and benefits. They are official statistics, not advice or a pay offer; see bls.gov/oes for the original tables.
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