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Student athlete salary
Average student athlete salary
$45,705
Understanding Student Athlete Salaries
The salary of a student athlete can differ significantly based on state, sport, and experience. As of October 2025, the average salary stands at $45,705 annually. States like California and Texas tend to offer higher compensation due to their larger athletic programs and sponsorships. Major cities such as New York and Los Angeles also present lucrative opportunities for student athletes.
Factors Influencing Salary
Several key factors impact a student athlete's earnings:
- Sport: Revenue-generating sports like football and basketball typically offer higher salaries.
- Experience: Athletes with more years in competitive sports may command better salaries.
- Location: Urban areas with larger sports markets often pay more.
Career Opportunities
Beyond traditional athletics, student athletes can explore roles in coaching, sports management, and fitness training, expanding their career options while still in school.
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Where can a Student Athlete earn more?
Average student athlete salary by state
The highest-paying states for student athletes are New York, Massachusetts, and Vermont. The lowest average student athlete salary states are Kentucky, Georgia, and Montana.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for student athletes
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $69,180 | $33.26 |
| 2 | Vermont | $64,714 | $31.11 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $61,183 | $29.41 |
| 4 | Delaware | $56,059 | $26.95 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $66,088 | $31.77 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $60,903 | $29.28 |
| 7 | Maine | $57,566 | $27.68 |
| 8 | Oregon | $55,641 | $26.75 |
| 9 | District of Columbia | $61,229 | $29.44 |
| 10 | Nebraska | $50,416 | $24.24 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $59,950 | $28.82 |
| 12 | West Virginia | $62,288 | $29.95 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $54,533 | $26.22 |
| 14 | North Dakota | $48,040 | $23.10 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $55,616 | $26.74 |
| 16 | California | $59,429 | $28.57 |
| 17 | Mississippi | $46,674 | $22.44 |
| 18 | New Mexico | $48,981 | $23.55 |
| 19 | Hawaii | $53,352 | $25.65 |
| 20 | Arizona | $46,497 | $22.35 |
| 21 | Virginia | $52,041 | $25.02 |
| 22 | New Hampshire | $50,889 | $24.47 |
| 23 | Nevada | $51,050 | $24.54 |
| 24 | Washington | $48,368 | $23.25 |
| 25 | Alaska | $52,149 | $25.07 |
| 26 | Illinois | $46,029 | $22.13 |
| 27 | Michigan | $46,846 | $22.52 |
| 28 | Indiana | $44,247 | $21.27 |
| 29 | Louisiana | $46,738 | $22.47 |
| 30 | Texas | $46,546 | $22.38 |
| 31 | South Carolina | $45,834 | $22.04 |
| 32 | Tennessee | $39,437 | $18.96 |
| 33 | Alabama | $38,714 | $18.61 |
| 34 | Iowa | $38,008 | $18.27 |
| 35 | Missouri | $40,110 | $19.28 |
| 36 | Arkansas | $36,667 | $17.63 |
| 37 | Wisconsin | $41,592 | $20.00 |
| 38 | Ohio | $41,235 | $19.82 |
| 39 | Colorado | $43,534 | $20.93 |
| 40 | Idaho | $40,375 | $19.41 |
| 41 | North Carolina | $42,062 | $20.22 |
| 42 | Wyoming | $27,158 | $13.06 |
| 43 | Maryland | $43,609 | $20.97 |
| 44 | Kentucky | $35,095 | $16.87 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $38,037 | $18.29 |
| 46 | Montana | $33,667 | $16.19 |
| 47 | Utah | $36,241 | $17.42 |
| 48 | Kansas | $28,123 | $13.52 |
| 49 | Florida | $38,458 | $18.49 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $33,367 | $16.04 |
| 51 | Georgia | $34,268 | $16.48 |
Highest paying cities for student athletes
The highest-paying cities for student athletes are New York, NY, Amherst, MA, and San Jose, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $69,120 | $33.23 |
| 2 | Amherst, MA | $65,794 | $31.63 |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $61,318 | $29.48 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $61,208 | $29.43 |
| 5 | Eugene, OR | $55,896 | $26.87 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $54,789 | $26.34 |
| 7 | Richmond, VA | $51,758 | $24.88 |
| 8 | Mount Pleasant, MI | $47,120 | $22.65 |
| 9 | Fort Collins, CO | $43,501 | $20.91 |
| 10 | Greenville, NC | $43,488 | $20.91 |
| 11 | Madison, WI | $41,036 | $19.73 |
| 12 | Saint Charles, MO | $40,505 | $19.47 |
| 13 | Boca Raton, FL | $37,809 | $18.18 |
Student athlete salary details
A student athlete's salary ranges from $26,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $77,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a student athlete's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $77,000 | $6,417 | $37 |
| 75th Percentile | $60,000 | $5,000 | $29 |
| Average | $45,705 | $3,809 | $22 |
| 25th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
| 10th Percentile | $26,000 | $2,167 | $13 |
Highest paying student athlete jobs
The highest paying types of student athletes are scout, eagle scout, and strength and conditioning coach.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coach | $42,716 | $3,560 | $20.54 | 16,688 |
| Basketball Coach | $44,858 | $3,738 | $21.57 | 14,517 |
| Volleyball Coach | $43,626 | $3,636 | $20.97 | 14,484 |
| Cheerleading Coach | $43,111 | $3,593 | $20.73 | 14,770 |
| Gymnasium Coach | $35,572 | $2,964 | $17.10 | 14,582 |
| Scout | $58,288 | $4,857 | $28.02 | 490 |
Which companies pay student athletes the most?
Student athlete salaries at UMass Lowell and University of California are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average student athlete salary at companies like Frostburg State University and The City University of New York are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | UMass Lowell | $78,881 | $37.92 |
| 2 | University of California | $60,404 | $29.04 |
| 3 | Frostburg State University | $56,963 | $27.39 |
| 4 | The City University of New York | $55,191 | $26.53 |
| 5 | University of California-Berkeley | $54,837 | $26.36 |
| 6 | Central College | $53,528 | $25.73 |
| 7 | Virginia Commonwealth University | $47,875 | $23.02 |
| 8 | University of Massachusetts Amherst | $46,931 | $22.56 |
| 9 | Lindenwood University | $42,493 | $20.43 |
| 10 | University of Pennsylvania | $41,520 | $19.96 |
| 11 | San Jose State University | $41,196 | $19.81 |
| 12 | Campbell University | $40,303 | $19.38 |
| 13 | Coastal Carolina University | $40,138 | $19.30 |
| 14 | Cornell College | $37,373 | $17.97 |
| 15 | Compass Group USA | $36,393 | $17.50 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Student athlete salary trends
The average student athlete salary has risen by $9,888 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average student athlete earned $35,817 annually, but today, they earn $45,705 a year. That works out to a 15% change in pay for student athletes over the last decade.
Compare student athlete salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average student athlete salary over time
Compare student athlete salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Student athlete salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $45,700 | $21.97 | +4.1% |
| 2024 | $43,800 | $21.07 | +3.0% |
| 2023 | $42,500 | $20.43 | +4.5% |
| 2022 | $40,600 | $19.52 | +2.5% |
| 2021 | $39,600 | $19.03 | +1.5% |
Recently added student athlete salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dartmouth College | Director, Student-Athlete Professional Development | Hanover, NH | 06/28/2025 | $91,800 |
| Illinois State University | Athletics Student Event Staff Personnel | Normal, IL | 06/26/2025 | $31,305 |
| Compass Group USA Inc. | Student Athlete Dining Cook-Camp Randall Stadium & Kohl Center Arena | Madison, WI | 06/25/2025 | $37,566 |
| University of San Francisco | Director of Academic Services for Student-Athletes | San Francisco, CA | 06/19/2025 | $72,000 |
| The Pennsylvania State University | Student-Athlete Learning Specialist | University Park, FL | 06/19/2025 | $42,100 |
| Oregon State University | Director, Academics for Student Athletes | Corvallis, OR | 06/18/2025 | $79,437 |
| Penn State University | Student-Athlete Learning Specialist | Parkesburg, PA | 06/16/2025 | $42,100 |
| Fairmont School District #89 | Dean of Students/Athletic Director | Kane, IL | 06/16/2025 | $72,900 |
| Marshall University | Director of Student-Athlete Development | Huntington, WV | 06/07/2025 | $40,000 |
| Fitchburg State University | FSU Undergraduate Student Trust Fund Employment-Athletics-Fitchburg State University | Fitchburg, MA | 06/06/2025 | $31,305 |
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