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Golf professional and other athletes: pay, job outlook and how to enter the field

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$66,710median pay per year, May 2025[1]
  1. $26,500lowest 10% earn less
  2. $36,79025th percentile
  3. $66,710median
  4. $109,88075th percentile
  5. $742,310top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

Golf professional is one of the sample job titles listed for athletes and sports competitors, and the median pay for the group was $66,710 a year[1][2]. Pay spreads very wide, and getting in depends on years of practice more than on a degree[3][4].

Job growth, 2025–35
+5.5%[6]
Openings per year
2,200[7]
Typical entry education
No formal educational credential[8]

How much do golf professionals and other athletes make?

BLS does not publish a separate figure for golf professionals. The numbers below are for the whole category called Athletes and Sports Competitors, which lists golf professional as one sample job title[2].

The median pay was $66,710 a year in May 2025[1]. Half of the workers earned more and half earned less. The median for all occupations was $50,980[5]. The average pay in the category was $206,180 a year[9]. The median and the average count different things. The median is the middle worker, and the average adds up all pay and divides by the number of workers.

The range is very wide:

Point in the pay range Annual wage
10th percentile[3] $26,500
25th percentile[3] $36,790
Median[1] $66,710
75th percentile[3] $109,880
90th percentile[3] $742,310

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $26,500[3]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[10]. BLS publishes only annual wages for this group, not hourly wages, because many of these workers log fewer hours than a full year but are paid yearly[11].

These wages cover people paid a wage or salary. They leave out the self-employed and do not include bonuses or benefits[12]. Of all workers in this field, 29% were self-employed in 2025[13].

Pay by state and city

BLS published state medians for 18 states[14]. New Jersey was listed first at $253,870, then Missouri at $172,700 and Utah at $122,800[14]. Nevada followed at $119,780[14].

Texas had the most jobs at 1,840, then Florida with 1,360 and Arizona with 940[15]. Georgia had 840 and California had 830[15].

Metro areas were counted only with at least 100 jobs[16]. St. Louis, MO-IL was listed first at $203,390, followed by Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV at $124,130 and Salt Lake City-Murray, UT at $123,140[16]. Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ had the most jobs at 870, with a median of $50,070[17]. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX was next with 740 jobs[17].

Show median pay in 18 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
New Jersey[14]$253,870390
Missouri$172,700670
Utah$122,800340
Nevada$119,780160
Texas$80,5101,840
California$79,040830
Florida$78,6101,360
Georgia$77,530840
Kansas$63,630170
Kentucky$63,020n/a
Virginia$61,500n/a
Pennsylvania$57,100250
Louisiana$55,890440
Arizona$50,090940
Maryland$48,200n/a
South Carolina$45,720280
Oklahoma$44,110n/a
Ohio$39,040590

How to become a golf professional or other athlete

The steps below describe the whole category, not golf alone.

In an O*NET survey of 24 workers, 35% said the job requires less than a high school diploma, 24% said a bachelor's degree and 23% said a high school diploma or equivalent[22]. The survey is small, so treat these shares as a rough picture only.

BLS lists these qualities as important: athletic ability, focus, quick decisions, steady practice, hand-eye coordination and stamina[23][24][25][26][27][28].

What athletes and sports competitors do

O*NET describes the job as competing in athletic events[29]. Typical tasks include:

Where they work

Performing arts, spectator sports, and related industries were the largest employer group, with 65% of workers in 2025[31].

Outdoor sports expose athletes to the weather of the season. Many also travel to events, sometimes by long bus rides or flights and sometimes abroad[32].

Schedules can be irregular, with evenings, weekends and holidays, and part-time work is common. In season, athletes typically work over 40 hours a week for several months[33].

BLS says athletes have one of the highest injury and illness rates of all occupations. Many wear protective gear[34].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 5.5% from 2025 to 2035, from about 22,900 to 24,100 jobs[6]. Growth for all occupations is projected at 3.5%[35]. These projection counts include self-employed workers[6].

The May 2025 pay survey counted about 15,070 wage and salary jobs and leaves out the self-employed[36]. So the two job counts measure different groups.

BLS expects about 2,200 openings a year on average from 2025 to 2035[7]. Openings include jobs freed when people retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[7]. Each year, 2.2% of workers leave the labor force and 6.5% move to a different occupation[37].

Is it a good fit?

The facts show a field with a modest middle and a very high top. The median is above the all-occupations median, yet the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $26,500[1][5][3]. No degree is typically required, but the path takes many years of practice[8][4]. The work brings a high injury rate, travel and long in-season weeks[34][32][33]. Projected growth is a little above the all-occupations rate[6][35]. The facts here do not say how many people reach the top pay levels or how to win a pro contract.

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[38].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a golf professional make?
BLS has no separate figure for golf professionals. For the category that lists golf professional as a job title, the median pay was $66,710 a year in May 2025[1][2].
How much does an athlete make an hour?
BLS publishes only annual wages for this group, not hourly wages[11]. The median was $66,710 a year[1].
What degree do you need to be an athlete?
No formal educational credential is typically required[8][18]. Some sports and states require a license or certification[20].
How long does it take to become a professional athlete?
BLS says becoming an athlete usually takes many years of practice and experience[4].
Are athlete jobs in demand?
BLS projects 5.5% growth from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations, with about 2,200 openings a year[6][35][7].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Athletes and Sports Competitors in the US was $66,710 per year. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. O*NET 27-2021.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Baseball Pitcher, Baseball Player, Basketball Player, Golf Professional, Hockey Player, Major League Baseball Player, Minor League Baseball Player, Professional Athlete. O*NET OnLine
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Athletes and Sports Competitors: 10th percentile $26,500, 25th percentile $36,790, 75th percentile $109,880, 90th percentile $742,310. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Athletes and Sports Competitors is projected to grow 5.5% from 2025 to 2035, from about 22,900 to 24,100 jobs (a change of +1,300). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections: about 2,200 openings for Athletes and Sports Competitors are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Athletes and Sports Competitors: education needed for entry: No formal educational credential; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Long-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Athletes and Sports Competitors was $206,180 per year. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS publishes only annual wages for Athletes and Sports Competitors, not hourly wages, because many work fewer than 2,080 hours a year but are paid yearly. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS Employment Projections: 29% of Athletes and Sports Competitors were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  14. Median annual wage for Athletes and Sports Competitors in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Athletes and Sports Competitors jobs: Texas 1,840; Florida 1,360; Arizona 940; Georgia 840; California 830. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Athletes and Sports Competitors (areas with at least 100 jobs): St. Louis, MO-IL $203,390; Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV $124,130; Salt Lake City-Murray, UT $123,140; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $100,130; Kansas City, MO-KS $78,790; Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL $76,860; Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $75,550; Baton Rouge, LA $63,920. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Athletes and Sports Competitors jobs: Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ 870 (median $50,070); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 740; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 560 (median $100,130); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 510 (median $75,550); Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL 350 (median $76,860); Kansas City, MO-KS 330 (median $78,790). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Other Experience. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. O*NET 27-2021.00 survey of workers (24 respondents), education level they say is required: Less than a High School Diploma 35%, Bachelor's Degree 24%, High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 23%, Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 9%, Post-Secondary Certificate 5% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. O*NET description of Athletes and Sports Competitors. O*NET OnLine
  30. O*NET task list for Athletes and Sports Competitors. O*NET OnLine
  31. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of athletes and sports competitors in 2025: Performing arts, spectator sports, and related industries 65%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  35. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  36. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 15,070 people were employed as Athletes and Sports Competitors in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  37. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Athletes and Sports Competitors: 2.2% of workers leave the labor force each year and 6.5% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  38. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.