Athletes and Sports Competitors Salary
The median pay for a athletes and sports competitors in Pittsburgh, PA is $61,160/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $23K at the entry level to $104K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.67), which stretches that salary to about $64,603 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,299/month, about 31.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Where the paycheck goes
What $61K actually covers in Pittsburgh, month by month
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Pittsburgh’s Regional Price Parity (94.67). 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 Pittsburgh
Athletes and sports competitors pay in Pittsburgh tracks closely to the national median, $61K locally vs. $67K nationwide, a 8% difference. Rent runs $1,299/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.67 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for athletes and sports competitors in metros near Pittsburgh, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City | $100K | $89K |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson | $45K | $43K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Pittsburgh, PA
Entry-level athletes and sports competitors (10th percentile) start around $23K. Mid-career wages sit at $61K. Top earners bring in $104K or more, a $81K 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 with published data
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 Pittsburgh numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a athletes and sports competitor afford a 2BR apartment alone in Pittsburgh?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $61K, rent takes 31.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,299/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/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 Pittsburgh?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new athletes and sports competitors typically earn — is $23K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,659/month. At HUD’s $1,299/month FMR, rent would take 78% 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 Pittsburgh?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $61K locally vs. $67K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Pittsburgh compare to the national average for athletes and sports competitors?
Pittsburgh pays $61K median vs. the U.S. average of $67K — that’s -8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.67), the purchasing-power equivalent is $65K — below the national median.
How much do athletes and sports competitors make in Pittsburgh, PA?
The median is $61,160 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $23,220, and experienced athletes and sports competitors can clear $104,490. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $61K enough to live in Pittsburgh?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,109/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,299/month, which eats 31.6% 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 Pittsburgh?
Pittsburgh has a Regional Price Parity of 94.67 (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 $64,603 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.