Revealing the Highest Earning Sports Careers

highest earning sports careers

Revealing the Highest Earning Sports Careers, In this article, we will take a deeper look at some of the most lucrative career paths within different professional sports leagues.

Baseball Salaries 

The highest earning players in Major League Baseball commonly take home multi-million dollar salaries each year. Shortstops tend to earn some of the biggest paychecks, with stars like Francisco Lindor signing a 10-year, $341 million contract in 2021. 

Top starting pitchers are also compensated greatly, as Gerrit Cole's record-breaking $324 million deal with the Yankees shows. On average, the minimum MLB salary is around $570,500 according to the most recent Collective Bargaining Agreement. 

Football Rakes in Big Bucks

The NFL is known for having some of the biggest player contracts in professional sports. Quarterbacks consistently earn the fattest paydays, with the likes of Patrick Mahomes inking a 10-year extension worth up to $450 million. 

Non-QB star talents like defensive end T.J. Watt recently agreed to a four-year, $112 million contract. Average NFL salaries are $860,000 per year for veterans.

Basketball's Mega Deals 

In the NBA, the absolute top superstars dominate the salary landscape. LeBron James, for example, signed a two-year, $85 million extension with the Lakers in 2020. Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry have signed similar mega-max contracts north of $40 million annually as well. Rookies enter the league making around $3-4 million on average nowadays.

The Moral of the Story

While other sports like golf and soccer also provide some elite athletes with highly lucrative playing careers, it's clear that American mainstream sports such as baseball, football, and basketball generally allow for the highest earning potentials right now both at the top and more moderately on their pay scales. 

What is the 3rd Highest Paid Sport?

The Top Two - MLB and NFL 

It's well established that Major League Baseball and the National Football League make up the highest paying sports leagues for professional athletes. The average MLB salary for 2022 is around $4.4 million, while the average NFL player salary clocks in just under $2.5 million.

Soccer Surpasses Basketball 

When analyzing recent salary data, it becomes clear that Association Football, more commonly known as soccer in America, has surpassed basketball as the third most lucrative professional sport for athletes globally as well as domestically. 

The average salary for players in England's Premier League soccer circuit averages around $3.1 million annually according to industry reports. Meanwhile, the average NBA salary is just below $5 million including benefits.

Maximum Salaries 

In terms of maximum single season salaries, soccer stars like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo routinely top lists with contracts worth $100+ million per year including endorsements from clubs like Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United. 

By comparison, even the highest NBA contracts max out around $50 million annually for top superstars like Stephen Curry and Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Overall, When factoring in average player salaries as well as compensation potential at the elite levels, it can be definitively said that worldwide and domestic soccer now ranks as the third highest paying professional sport behind American football and baseball. 

Who is the Highest Paid Sports Person Over 12 Months, Only for Their Work in Their Sport?

Lionel Messi Tops the Charts

When only considering official salary and bonuses paid directly by a club, the highest paid athlete for their sports work alone is soccer megastar Lionel Messi. 

In the 2021-22 season, Messi earned an estimated $75 million total from Paris Saint-Germain according to reliable reports. This includes a $41 million annual salary plus additional contract bonuses.

Other Contenders

Trailing behind Messi on a purely sports income basis are several other international soccer players: 

- Cristiano Ronaldo reportedly earns $60 million per year from Manchester United.

- Neymar's contract with PSG is worth $43 million annually before bonuses. 

In American sports leagues, salaries are lower even for the biggest names. For example, NFL QB Patrick Mahomes signed a 12-year deal worth $450 million, but the average annual value is only $35 million.

The Top Earner

When considering only the 12 months that athletes are paid for playing their given sport, no one surpasses Lionel Messi's estimated $75 million income from PSG according to available salary data. 

His mix of a giant contract value and lucrative team bonuses cements his spot as the highest paid athlete for their on-field work alone. 

What are the Top 5 Highest-Paid Sports in the World?

1. American Football (NFL)

The NFL reigns supreme with the highest average player salary - $2.5 million per season according to the NFLPA. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes' record 10-year $450 million contract cements football's top spot.

2. Baseball (MLB) 

MLB is a close second with the average player making $4.4 million annually. Star shortstops and starting pitchers regularly sign contracts worth $300 million or more.

3. Soccer 

Elite soccer leagues like the English Premier League provide average salaries of $3.1 million for players. Individual contracts have topped out at over $650,000 per week.

4. Basketball (NBA)

While still extremely lucrative, the NBA has recently lost its bronze medal position to soccer with average player salaries of $5 million including benefits. 

5. Hockey (NHL)

Ice hockey cracks the top 5 with NHL players making just under $3 million on average despite its more limited global presence.

While other sports at times rival these numbers, no leagues consistently provide higher salaries spanning all levels of talent quite like these five sports centered in North America and Europe. 

Who Gets Paid More in Sports: Stars or Role Players?

The NBA 

In the NBA, superstars dominate earning potential. LeBron James earns over $40 million per year on average for his career. However, minimum NBA salaries start at $1.8 million, so role players still earn very good pay. Advantage: Stars

The NFL

While NFL quarterbacks like Aaron Rodgers sign megabucks deals, minimum NFL salaries are only $705,000. Top defensive stars earn less than QBs too. However, average career length is lower than other leagues at just 3 years. Advantage: Role players 

MLB

MLB minimum salaries are $700,000 but top pitchers and hitters sign $300 million megacontracts. Even star shortstops earn $25+ million annually. Longer careers mean veteran role players also cash in well over time. Advantage: Both stars and role players

The NHL

With NHL minimums around $750,000 and top stars making $12-15 million per year on average, hockey lands in the middle. Career longevity allows roles to cash in as veterans though stars earn far more up front. Advantage: Both 

In summary, while stars dominate salary-wise in the NBA, role players earn very good pay in the long run across all major North American sports leagues. 

What is the Least Paid Sport?

Minimum Salaries

Looking just at minimum salaries, MLS (Major League Soccer) in the U.S. and Canada has the lowest at around $65,000 per season for the 2022 season. 

However, several other sports leagues have minimums in a similar $60-80K range, including:

- World Rugby ($70K CAD minimum)

- English Football League Championship ($68K GBP minimum) 

Average Salaries

A better indicator is average annual pay for all players in a league. According to reports, the lowest here is:

- Major League Lacrosse (MLL): $24K average salary

Others near the bottom include:

- Australian Football League: $90K AUD average 

- English Rugby Union Premiership: $125K GBP average

Highest Earners 

Even star players in these leagues earn far less than top counterparts in sports like MLB, NBA or European soccer. For example, the highest MLL contract is just $100K annually.

Therefore, based on comprehensive salary analysis across all levels, Major League Lacrosse appears to be the lowest paying professional sport overall for athletes worldwide.

Closing Thoughts:

Our analysis found the consistent top earners globally were basketball and American football based on average salaries and maximum contracts across major leagues. 

While other sports see top stars making over $50 million annually as well, the overall compensation still lags behind the NBA and NFL. 

It will be interesting to see if these rankings hold or shift as new leagues and endorsements continue to evolve worldwide. 

In summary, while superstars earn the most attention and highest single salaries, our comparison found role players on average make reasonable wages especially on successful teams. 

Factors like team need, scarcity of talent, and championship odds play a role in determining specific contracts. 

Exploring compensation dynamics from role players to franchise faces proves insightful for understanding professional sports as a business. 

Factors like league revenue, popularity, and roster sizes work together to impact player pay. 

Examining the salary spectrum from highest to lowest paid sheds light on the business realities that shape each league.