Professional sports announcers are paid to provide commentary and information about a wide variety of athletic events to listeners and viewers. Top announcers calling the action in well-known pro sports can make sometimes impressive salaries of millions of dollars. The average or median salary for a professional sports announcer, though, is well below what the best-paid announcers earn.
Salaries for Announcers
Professional sports announcers fall within the "Announcers" occupational category monitored by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Salary-wise, the BLS says announcers as a whole earned a 2020 median salary of $36,770 per year, or $17.68 hourly. Pay for a professional sports announcer, however, can vary widely from the BLS median.
Salary Highs and Lows
In 2012, the four highest-paid major network sports announcers each made $5 million per year, notes USA Today. Most sports announcers, however, make far less.
Becoming a Professional Sports Announcer
Educational requirements for becoming a professional announcer vary, although some possess broadcasting or communications degrees. There are also several routes to a professional sports announcer career. Some sports announcers start their careers by announcing local high school sporting events, often for very little or even no pay at all. Pro sports teams, such as major and minor league baseball clubs, audition for announcers from time to time, providing another opportunity for career advancement.
Announcers salary
- Top 10% Annual Salary: More than $114,050 ($54.83/hour)
- Median Annual Salary: $36,770 ($17.68/hour)
- Bottom 10% Annual Salary: Less than $19,580 ($9.41/hour)
