Athletes and Sports Competitors Salary
The median pay for a athletes and sports competitors in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD is $45,230/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $40K at the entry level to $140K for experienced workers. Note: the mean (average) wage is $70K, significantly higher than the median. This typically reflects a mix of employment settings including academic and private practice positions. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 104.49), that's roughly $43,286 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,857/month, about 59.5% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $45K get you in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Baltimore-Columbia-Towson’s Regional Price Parity (104.49). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About athletes and sports competitors
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What this looks like in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson
Pay for athletes and sports competitors in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson runs about 32% below the U.S. median of $67K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,857/month, which is 61.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 104.49) 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.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for athletes and sports competitors in metros near Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh | $61K | $65K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
Entry-level athletes and sports competitors (10th percentile) start around $40K. Mid-career wages sit at $45K. Top earners bring in $140K or more, a $99K spread from bottom to top.
Athletes and Sports Competitors pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Athletes and Sports Competitors salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $254K | +281% | 390 |
| Missouri | $173K | +159% | 670 |
| Utah | $123K | +84% | 340 |
| Nevada | $120K | +80% | 160 |
| Texas | $81K | +21% | 1,840 |
| California | $79K | +18% | 830 |
| Florida | $79K | +18% | 1,360 |
| Georgia | $78K | +16% | 840 |
| Kansas | $64K | -5% | 170 |
| Kentucky | $63K | -6% | N/A |
| Virginia | $62K | -8% | N/A |
| Pennsylvania | $57K | -14% | 250 |
| Louisiana | $56K | -16% | 440 |
| Arizona | $50K | -25% | 940 |
| Maryland | $48K | -28% | N/A |
| South Carolina | $46K | -31% | 280 |
| Oklahoma | $44K | -34% | N/A |
| Ohio | $39K | -41% | 590 |
Showing 1–10 of 18 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track athletes and sports competitors salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Baltimore-Columbia-Towson numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a athletes and sports competitor afford a 2BR apartment alone in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $45K, rent takes 61.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,857/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/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 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new athletes and sports competitors typically earn — is $40K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,428/month. At HUD’s $1,857/month FMR, rent would take 76% 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 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
Local pay runs 32% below the national median — $45K here vs. $67K nationally.
How does Baltimore-Columbia-Towson compare to the national average for athletes and sports competitors?
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson pays $45K median vs. the U.S. average of $67K — that’s -32%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 104.49), the purchasing-power equivalent is $43K — below the national median.
How much do athletes and sports competitors make in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
The median is $45,230 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $40,460, and experienced athletes and sports competitors can clear $139,630. The mean (average) is $70,030, reflecting that some workers earn substantially more. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $45K enough to live in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,034/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,857/month, which eats 61.2% 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 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson has a Regional Price Parity of 104.49 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median athletes and sports competitors salary is worth about $43,286 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.