The average salary for an athlete in South Carolina is around $45,720 per year.
Avg Salary
Athletes earn an average yearly salary of $45,720.
Wages typically start from $18,950 and go up to $70,910.
19% below national average Updated in 2025
Athlete earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level athlete earnings begin at:
$34.09 per hour
$70,910 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level athlete earnings begin at:
$24.03 per hour
$49,990 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level athlete earnings begin at:
$21.98 per hour
$45,720 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level athlete earnings begin at:
$14.93 per hour
$31,060 per year
10th percentile
Starting level athlete earnings begin at:
$9.11 per hour
$18,950 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Athlete salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Texas | $80,510 |
| California | $79,040 |
| Florida | $78,610 |
| Georgia | $77,530 |
| Connecticut | $67,800 |
| New York | $66,710 |
| Kansas | $63,630 |
| Kentucky | $63,020 |
| Virginia | $61,500 |
| Pennsylvania | $57,100 |
| Washington | $57,060 |
| Rhode Island | $56,870 |
| Louisiana | $55,890 |
| Arizona | $50,090 |
| Maryland | $48,200 |
| Massachusetts | $48,030 |
| South Carolina | $45,720 |
| Oklahoma | $44,110 |
| Nebraska | $43,490 |
| Wisconsin | $39,100 |
| Ohio | $39,040 |
| Michigan | $38,880 |
| Minnesota | $38,620 |
| Mississippi | $36,970 |
| New Jersey | $253,870 |
| Colorado | $192,940 |
| Missouri | $172,700 |
| Utah | $122,800 |
| Nevada | $119,780 |
How do athlete salaries compare to similar careers?
Athletes earn about the same as related careers in South Carolina. On average, they make less than physical education teachers but more than sports writers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Physical education teacher salary | $79K |
| Athletic trainer salary | $59K |
| Sports scout salary | $43K |
| Athlete salary | $46K |
| Sports referee salary | $61K |
| Exercise physiologist salary | $47K |
| Fitness trainer salary | $44K |
| Sports writer salary | $34K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)