If you love thrills and speed, consider a career as a dirt bike rider. These adrenaline-loving athletes participate in dirt-bike races and entertainment rides for profit. They must be brave, have quick reflexes and keep their cool under pressure. To attain any level of success in this field, you have to be dedicated, professional and hardworking. You must show up for practice regularly, be on time and be able to take direction from coaches.

Average Salary

Don't expect to make a fortune as a dirt bike rider. The national average annual salary for professional dirt bike riders is only $45,518, according to the website Salary Expert. There are geographic differences among 10 randomly selected cities, including Pierre, S.D., $34,229; Miami, $38,283; Houston, $39,482; Augusta, Maine, $39,932; Walla Walla, Washington, $41,656; Baltimore, $46,454; Philadelphia, $48,128; Chicago, $51,401; New York, $48,128 and Washington, D.C., $48,128.

Entry-Level Salaries

Most new dirt bike riders actually earn a lower income. The average salary at the 10th percentile, which is how much most novice professionals earn, is $33,159. Individual averages in the 10th percentile for a sample of 10 cities include Pierre, S.D. $25,259; Miami, $28,251; Houston, $29,135; Augusta, Maine, $29,467; Walla Walla, Washington, $30,739; Baltimore, $34,280; Philadelphia, $35,516; Chicago, $37,930; New York, $38,625 and Washington, D.C., $42,387.

Top Earners

Top earners usually have paid their dues touring the racing circuit, taking risks and coming out on top time and time again. Still, the wages might not be commensurate with the risks, as the average annual wage for professional riders in the 90th percentile is still only $44,935. Averages for top earners in a random sample of cities include Pierre, S.D. $46,593; Miami, $52,112; Houston, $53,743; Augusta, Maine, $54,356; Walla Walla, Washington, $56,703; Baltimore, $63,234; Philadelphia, $65,512; Chicago, $69,968; New York, $71,249 and Washington, D.C., $78,189.

Job Outlook

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics classifies dirt bike riders with other athletes and sports competitors. The projected job outlook between 2010 and 2020 for competitive dirt bike riders is 22 percent, while the projection for sports entertainers is 16 percent. These predictions compare to a national job growth projection of 14 percent for all surveyed occupations. The BLS indicates prospects will be best in lower levels of competition, with fierce competition for top spots.