Athletes and Sports Competitors Salary
The median pay for a athletes and sports competitors in California is $79,040/year, per BLS data. Entry-level positions start around $40K. BLS does not publish top-end wages for this occupation because they exceed the reportable ceiling. Note: the mean (average) wage is $294K, significantly higher than the median. This typically reflects a mix of employment settings including academic and private practice positions. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $74,468 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,471/month, about 47.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of California. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $79K get you in California?
About athletes and sports competitors
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What this looks like in California
California sits well above the national pay line for athletes and sports competitors, local pay runs about 18% higher than the U.S. median of $67K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,471/month, which is 49% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.14), so groceries and services cost more too. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level athletes and sports competitors (10th percentile) start around $40K. Mid-career wages sit at $79K. Top earners bring in N/A or more.
Compare to other states
Track athletes and sports competitors salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California numbers change.
Related careers in Arts & Media
Frequently asked questions
Can a athletes and sports competitor afford a 2BR apartment alone in California?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $79K, rent takes 49% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,471/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,500/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 California?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new athletes and sports competitors typically earn — is $40K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,407/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 103% 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 California?
Local pay is 18% above the national median — $79K here vs. $67K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 6% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does California compare to the national average for athletes and sports competitors?
California pays $79K median vs. the U.S. average of $67K — that’s +18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $74K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do athletes and sports competitors make in California?
The median is $79,040 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $40,120, and experienced athletes and sports competitors can clear N/A. The mean (average) is $294,080, reflecting that some workers earn substantially more. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $79K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,042/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 49% 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 California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 106.14 (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 $74,468 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.