The average salary for an athlete in California is around $79,040 per year.
Avg Salary
Athletes earn an average yearly salary of $79,040.
Wages typically start from $40,120.
261% above national average Updated in 2025
Athlete earnings by seniority
75th percentile
Senior-level athlete earnings begin at:
$71.87 per hour
$149,490 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level athlete earnings begin at:
$38.00 per hour
$79,040 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level athlete earnings begin at:
$31.62 per hour
$65,780 per year
10th percentile
Starting level athlete earnings begin at:
$19.29 per hour
$40,120 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 |
| Texas | $80,510 |
| California | $79,040 |
| Florida | $78,610 |
| Oregon | $78,460 |
| Georgia | $77,530 |
| New York | $77,030 |
| Kansas | $63,630 |
| Kentucky | $63,020 |
| Iowa | $62,400 |
| Virginia | $61,500 |
| North Carolina | $60,820 |
| Pennsylvania | $57,100 |
| Rhode Island | $56,870 |
| Louisiana | $55,890 |
| Arizona | $50,090 |
| New Mexico | $49,460 |
| Maryland | $48,200 |
| South Carolina | $45,720 |
| Illinois | $44,470 |
| Oklahoma | $44,110 |
| Nebraska | $43,490 |
| Ohio | $39,040 |
| Michigan | $38,880 |
| Mississippi | $37,600 |
| Wisconsin | $30,810 |
| Arkansas | $28,790 |
| New Jersey | $253,870 |
| Alabama | $24,920 |
| Minnesota | $182,690 |
| Colorado | $174,810 |
| Missouri | $172,700 |
| Washington | $163,060 |
| Utah | $122,800 |
| Nevada | $119,780 |
| Connecticut | $102,160 |
How do athlete salaries compare to similar careers?
Athletes earn 147% more than similar careers in California.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Talent agent salary | $98K |
| Physical education teacher salary | $128K |
| Fitness coordinator salary | $100K |
| Athletic trainer salary | $78K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)