The average salary for an athlete in California is around $59,520 per year.
Avg Salary
Athletes earn an average yearly salary of $59,520.
Wages typically start from $30,900.
35% above national average Updated in 2021
Athlete earnings by seniority
50th percentile
Mid-level athlete earnings begin at:
$28.62 per hour
$59,520 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level athlete earnings begin at:
$15.63 per hour
$32,520 per year
10th percentile
Starting level athlete earnings begin at:
$14.86 per hour
$30,900 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Athlete salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Indiana | $99,100 |
| Massachusetts | $99,010 |
| Virginia | $98,380 |
| Oregon | $78,460 |
| New York | $77,030 |
| Kansas | $75,550 |
| Iowa | $62,400 |
| Pennsylvania | $60,870 |
| North Carolina | $60,820 |
| California | $59,520 |
| Rhode Island | $56,870 |
| Louisiana | $49,720 |
| Ohio | $49,610 |
| New Mexico | $49,460 |
| Missouri | $49,330 |
| Kentucky | $48,740 |
| Maryland | $46,220 |
| Illinois | $44,470 |
| Nebraska | $43,490 |
| South Carolina | $38,920 |
| Michigan | $38,880 |
| Mississippi | $37,600 |
| Wisconsin | $30,810 |
| Oklahoma | $30,670 |
| Nevada | $29,910 |
| Arkansas | $28,790 |
| Arizona | $26,200 |
| Alabama | $24,920 |
| New Jersey | $187,010 |
| Texas | $186,980 |
| Minnesota | $182,690 |
| Colorado | $174,810 |
| Washington | $163,060 |
| Utah | $150,830 |
| Georgia | $129,690 |
| Florida | $124,490 |
| Connecticut | $102,160 |
How do athlete salaries compare to similar careers?
Athletes earn 33% more than similar careers in California. On average, they make less than physical education teachers but more than referees.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Physical education teacher salary | $123K |
| Fitness coordinator salary | $99K |
| Athlete salary | $60K |
| Athletic trainer salary | $60K |
| Sports scout salary | $48K |
| Fitness trainer salary | $49K |
| Referee salary | $36K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)