The median annual wage of athletes and sports competitors was $43,740 in May 2010. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount, and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $17,120, and the top 10 percent earned more than $166,400.
In May 2010, median annual wages in industries employing the largest numbers of athletes and sports competitors were as follows:
| Promoters of performing arts, sports, and similar events | $51,000 |
| Spectator sports | 49,430 |
| Colleges, universities, and professional schools | 43,060 |
| Other amusement and recreation industries | 38,890 |
Athletes and sports competitors often work irregular hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays. They usually work more than 40 hours a week several months during the sports season, if not most of the year.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Edition