SOC 27-2021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Athletes and Sports Competitors — California
California
The median wage for Athletes and Sports Competitors in California is $79,040 per year, 18.5% above the national median of $66,710.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Athletes and Sports Competitors in California is $79,040 per year, 18.5% above the national median of $66,710. Half of workers earn between $65,780 and $149,490. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $40,120 and the ninetieth at $239,200.
The area has 830 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.0 of every thousand jobs. California ranks number 6th out of 18 states by median pay for this occupation. Of the 793 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 327th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $40,120 | −39.9% |
| 25th | $65,780 | −1.4% |
| Median (50th) | $79,040 | +18.5% |
| 75th | $149,490 | +124.1% |
| 90th | $239,200 | +258.6% |
| Mean | $294,080 | +340.8% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in California run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $79,040 buys what $71,400 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 7.0% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$79,040as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$71,400US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $79,040 a year, 18.5% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $40,120 to $239,200 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 830 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 6th of 18 states for this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Athletes and Sports Competitors in California?
The median annual wage is $79,040, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $66,710, so pay in California is 18.5% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in California earns more than $239,200 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $40,120 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 830 jobs in this occupation in California. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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