The average salary for an athlete in Virginia is around $61,500 per year.
Avg Salary
Athletes earn an average yearly salary of $61,500.
Wages typically start from $56,130 and go up to $67,140.
16% below national average Updated in 2025
Athlete earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level athlete earnings begin at:
$32.28 per hour
$67,140 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level athlete earnings begin at:
$32.27 per hour
$67,120 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level athlete earnings begin at:
$29.57 per hour
$61,500 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level athlete earnings begin at:
$28.46 per hour
$59,200 per year
10th percentile
Starting level athlete earnings begin at:
$26.99 per hour
$56,130 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 about the same as related careers in Virginia. On average, they make less than talent agents but more than fitness trainers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Talent agent salary | $73K |
| Physical education teacher salary | $65K |
| Athletic trainer salary | $62K |
| Athlete salary | $62K |
| Sports scout salary | $46K |
| Referee salary | $41K |
| Fitness trainer salary | $41K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)