Athletes and Sports Competitors Salary
The median pay for a athletes and sports competitors in Arizona is $50,090/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $287K for experienced workers. Note: the mean (average) wage is $93K, significantly higher than the median. This typically reflects a mix of employment settings including academic and private practice positions. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 96.41), that's roughly $51,955 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,437/month, about 42.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Arizona. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $50K get you in Arizona?
About athletes and sports competitors
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What this looks like in Arizona
Pay for athletes and sports competitors in Arizona runs about 25% below the U.S. median of $67K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,437/month, which is 42% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 96.41) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for athletes and sports competitorss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arizona
Entry-level athletes and sports competitors (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $50K. Top earners bring in $287K or more, a $255K spread from bottom to top.
Athletes and Sports Competitors salary by metro in Arizona
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler | $50K | -0% | 870 |
Compare to other states
Track athletes and sports competitors salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Arizona numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a athletes and sports competitor afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arizona?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $50K, rent takes 42% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,437/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for athletes and sports competitors in Arizona?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new athletes and sports competitors typically earn — is $31K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,877/month. At HUD’s $1,437/month FMR, rent would take 77% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is athletes and sports competitor a high-paying job in Arizona?
Local pay runs 25% below the national median — $50K here vs. $67K nationally.
How does Arizona compare to the national average for athletes and sports competitors?
Arizona pays $50K median vs. the U.S. average of $67K — that’s -25%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 96.41), the purchasing-power equivalent is $52K — below the national median.
How much do athletes and sports competitors make in Arizona?
The median is $50,090 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $31,290, and experienced athletes and sports competitors can clear $286,690. The mean (average) is $93,140, reflecting that some workers earn substantially more. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $50K enough to live in Arizona?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,420/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,437/month, which eats 42% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a athletes and sports competitors salary go in Arizona?
Arizona has a Regional Price Parity of 96.41 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median athletes and sports competitors salary is worth about $51,955 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do athletes and sports competitors get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.