SalariesWhat the occupation covers
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.
Official definition from the Standard Occupational Classification, code 39-3012.
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* | An hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn less than | $22,090 | $1,841 | $425 | $10.62 |
| Lowest 25% earn less than | $28,150 | $2,346 | $541 | $13.54 |
| Median (half earn less, half more) | $34,980 | $2,915 | $673 | $16.82 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $44,840 | $3,737 | $862 | $21.56 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $48,270 | $4,022 | $928 | $23.21 |
* 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.
How it compares
The median for all occupations in the United States was $50,980 a year. The median for Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners is $34,980, which is 31% lower. Among the 32 occupations of the field Personal Care and Service, it ranks number 26 by median pay. With 8,950 jobs, it makes up about 0.6 of every 10,000 jobs in the country.
Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners pay by state
The highest median pay was in New York ($54,740), New Jersey ($48,260) and Massachusetts ($47,720). The lowest was in West Virginia ($19,740), Montana ($22,030) and Louisiana ($26,620). The most jobs were in California (1,480), Nevada (1,440) and Montana (1,050). The occupation is most concentrated in Montana, where its share of all jobs is 35.6 times the national share.
No state matches.
| State | Jobs | Median a year | Average a year | Median an hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 100 | $54,740 | $56,940 | $26.32 |
| New Jersey | 90 | $48,260 | $46,330 | $23.20 |
| Massachusetts | not published | $47,720 | $44,780 | $22.94 |
| Wisconsin | 80 | $47,250 | $42,110 | $22.72 |
| California | 1,480 | $44,860 | $43,760 | $21.57 |
| Washington | 220 | $42,180 | $44,500 | $20.28 |
| Ohio | 360 | $38,460 | $51,510 | $18.49 |
| Kentucky | 60 | $37,910 | $37,940 | $18.22 |
| Michigan | not published | $37,720 | $36,550 | $18.13 |
| Nevada | 1,440 | $37,500 | $37,580 | $18.03 |
| Iowa | 100 | $37,440 | $35,680 | $18.00 |
| Arizona | 260 | $35,640 | $35,810 | $17.14 |
| Minnesota | 350 | $35,370 | $38,860 | $17.00 |
| Maryland | not published | $35,230 | $36,290 | $16.94 |
| Illinois | 130 | $34,610 | $38,330 | $16.64 |
| Colorado | not published | $34,450 | $34,570 | $16.56 |
| Connecticut | 70 | $34,420 | $35,450 | $16.55 |
| Florida | not published | $34,160 | $36,590 | $16.42 |
| South Carolina | 130 | $33,650 | $34,410 | $16.18 |
| Indiana | 90 | $32,730 | $34,040 | $15.73 |
| Kansas | 40 | $31,550 | $32,630 | $15.17 |
| Pennsylvania | 90 | $30,690 | $33,870 | $14.75 |
| Texas | 440 | $30,660 | $35,650 | $14.74 |
| North Dakota | 110 | $30,640 | $30,870 | $14.73 |
| South Dakota | 80 | $30,620 | $32,290 | $14.72 |
| Nebraska | 360 | $29,670 | $30,950 | $14.27 |
| Mississippi | 110 | $28,340 | $28,640 | $13.63 |
| Louisiana | 180 | $26,620 | $24,820 | $12.80 |
| Montana | 1,050 | $22,030 | $22,360 | $10.59 |
| West Virginia | 180 | $19,740 | $24,790 | $9.49 |
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
- Manicurists and Pedicurists$35,760 a year
- Funeral Attendants$35,680 a year
- Animal Caretakers$35,360 a year
- Childcare Workers$34,980 a year
- Gambling Dealers$34,320 a year
- Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers$32,910 a year
Common questions
How much do Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners earn in the United States?
The median pay was $34,980 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $22,090 and the highest-paid 10% more than $48,270.
How many people work as Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners?
About 8,950 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.