Athletes and Sports Competitors · California

Athletes and Sports Competitors Salary in California

Athletes and Sports Competitors in California earn a median annual wage of $79,040 —18.5% above the national median of $66,710. That ranks CA #6 of 18 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$79,040
Median hourly
—
Entry level (P10)
$40,120
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
—
90th percentile
Employment
830
0.0 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+18.5%
U.S. $66,710

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

Employment is only 0.47× as concentrated as the national average — this occupation is relatively scarce in California.

Highest-paying states for athletes and sports competitors

All 18 states ranked by median annual wage. California is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1New Jersey$253,870—3900.93
2Missouri$172,700—6702.37
3Utah$122,800—3402.00
4Nevada$119,780—1601.09
5Texas$80,510—1,8401.35
6California$79,040—8300.47
7Florida$78,610—1,3601.41
8Georgia$77,530—8401.77
9Kansas$63,630—1701.23
10Kentucky$63,020———

Related occupations in California

Occupations in the same job family, compared within California.

OccupationCalifornia medianU.S. median
Public Relations Specialists$85,030$74,750
Coaches and Scouts$47,660$47,320
Graphic Designers$75,130$62,960
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers$47,010$39,390
Producers and Directors$129,790$90,360
Editors$98,030$77,920

Frequently asked questions

How much do athletes and sports competitors make in California?

The median annual wage for athletes and sports competitors in California is $79,040, or — per hour. That is 18.5% above the national median of $66,710.

What is the entry-level athletes and sports competitors salary in California?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $40,120 per year (—/hour). The 25th percentile is $65,780.

How many people work as athletes and sports competitors in California?

About 830 people work in this occupation in California, or 0.0 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is California a good state for athletes and sports competitors?

California ranks #6 of 18 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is only 0.47x as concentrated as the national average, so this occupation is relatively scarce in California.

Which state pays athletes and sports competitors the most?

New Jersey has the highest median wage at $253,870 per year, followed by Missouri ($172,700) and Utah ($122,800).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes