Athletes and Sports Competitors Salary
The median pay for a athletes and sports competitors in Ohio is $39,040/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $24K at the entry level to $133K for experienced workers. Note: the mean (average) wage is $64K, significantly higher than the median. This typically reflects a mix of employment settings including academic and private practice positions. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.45), which stretches that salary to about $42,690 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,188/month, about 44.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Ohio. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $39K get you in Ohio?
About athletes and sports competitors
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What this looks like in Ohio
Pay for athletes and sports competitors in Ohio runs about 41% below the U.S. median of $67K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,188/month, which is 43.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.45 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. 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, Ohio
Entry-level athletes and sports competitors (10th percentile) start around $24K. Mid-career wages sit at $39K. Top earners bring in $133K or more, a $109K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track athletes and sports competitors salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Ohio numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a athletes and sports competitor afford a 2BR apartment alone in Ohio?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $39K, rent takes 43.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,188/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/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 Ohio?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new athletes and sports competitors typically earn — is $24K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,450/month. At HUD’s $1,188/month FMR, rent would take 82% 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 Ohio?
Local pay runs 41% below the national median — $39K here vs. $67K nationally. Cost of living is 9% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Ohio compare to the national average for athletes and sports competitors?
Ohio pays $39K median vs. the U.S. average of $67K — that’s -41%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.45), the purchasing-power equivalent is $43K — below the national median.
How much do athletes and sports competitors make in Ohio?
The median is $39,040 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $24,160, and experienced athletes and sports competitors can clear $132,660. The mean (average) is $64,160, reflecting that some workers earn substantially more. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $39K enough to live in Ohio?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,754/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,188/month, which eats 43.1% 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 Ohio?
Ohio has a Regional Price Parity of 91.45 (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 $42,690 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.