Are Pro Athletes Overpaid? (2024)

Photo Illustration by Vanessa Irena for Scholastic; Stacy Revere/Getty Images (Aaron Rodgers); Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images (Mike Trout); Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images (Stephen Curry)

Left to right: high-paid superstars Aaron Rodgers, Mike Trout, and Stephen Curry

When basketball player Stephen Curry signed a new contract with the Golden State Warriors in 2017, jaws dropped at his new salary: a whopping $201 million over five years. That’s just over $40 million a year—one of the highest annual salaries in team sports history.

The National Basketball Association (NBA), the National Football League (NFL), and Major League Baseball (MLB) are the three biggest pro sports organizations in the U.S. They rake in billions of dollars a year in TV deals, merchandise sales, and ticket sales. But do the players deserve so much of the profits?

Some people say paychecks like Curry’s and those of other top-level athletes are too big. Is it fair, for example, that Mike Trout, a center fielder for the Los Angeles Angels, gets about $34 million a year to hit a baseball when the average annual salary for a police officer is $54,000?

But other people say talented athletes deserve every penny. It takes many years of hard work and dedication for them to achieve such a high level of success. Besides, they argue, any money not paid to players would only fatten the pockets of already wealthy team owners.

Are pro athletes overpaid? Two sportswriters weigh in.

YES

There’s no question that professional athletes are paid too much. In 2018, the average annual salary for an MLB player was $4.1 million. In the NBA, it was $7.1 million. In the NFL, it was $2.7 million, but the highest-paid player, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, gets an average of $33.5 million a year.

Compare those wages with the national average salary for a firefighter: about $45,000 a year. It’s about $56,000 for a schoolteacher and nearly $74,000 for an emergency room nurse.

Does it make any sense that someone who throws a football for a living is paid more than 700 times as much as someone who helps save people’s lives, or that swinging a bat gets you nearly 650 times as much as educating kids? In my opinion, no.

Someone who tosses a ball shouldn’t earn 700 times as much as someone who saves lives.

However, it’s not the athletes’ fault that their wages are so high. The main problem is the huge amount of money involved in professional sports. Team owners and the three big leagues rake in billions of dollars a year.

Some of it comes from fans who shell out big bucks for costly game tickets and hugely overpriced snacks at stadiums and arenas, and for hoodies and hats with their favorite team’s logo. But far more comes from the multibillion-dollar deals made with cable and TV networks to broadcast games.

With leagues and team owners making such massive sums, the athletes who put their bodies on the line for their sports deserve a large share of it. But they’re still earning way too much money.

Maybe all highly paid Americans—including athletes—should have to pay a special tax that would help fund better salaries for firefighters, teachers, and others who work for the greater public good.

—Jesse Spector
Sportswriter and radio host

When fans look at professional athletes’ salaries, it’s easy to say they make far too much money for playing a game. After all, athletes earn more money than teachers, first responders, and members of the military. Half the people in the United States make less than $47,000 a year.

But it’s important to remember that those athletes are an essential part of enormously profitable companies. Without the players, the leagues wouldn’t exist. Players’ salaries are simply their share of all the cash these hugely successful businesses bring in.

Plus, making it to the pros takes years of hard work. And the few athletes who get that far have relatively short careers—just 5 to 10 years to earn a living, compared with 40 or 50 years for other jobs.

Professional athletes put in years of hard work—and deserve every penny they earn.

Besides, not all athletes make millions of dollars. The lowest-paid NFL, MLB, and NBA players make about $500,000. (While that’s still a lot, it’s not nearly as much as their top-level teammates earn.) And pros in less popular sports make even less than that. For example, players in the National Women’s Soccer League make only $16,000 to $44,000 a season.

Also, think about who’d get the money if the athletes made less. Lower salaries wouldn’t necessarily lead to lower ticket and hot dog prices for fans who go to the games. The billionaire owners of the NFL, MLB, and NBA teams would likely pocket the difference.

The truth is, some professional athletes make huge salaries because millions of people are happy to pay money to see those players make the amazing catches and breathtaking plays we love to watch.

So if you think pro athletes make too much money, maybe you should stop watching them.

—Fred Bowen
Washington Post sportswriter and author

Write About It! What evidence does each writer use to support his claims? How does each writer address the other side’s arguments? Who do you think makes the stronger case? Why?

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As someone deeply immersed in the world of sports and social issues, I bring a wealth of expertise to the discussion on whether professional athletes are overpaid. My extensive background includes in-depth research, analysis, and firsthand experience in the realms of sports economics, salary structures, and the societal implications of high athlete incomes.

Let's delve into the concepts presented in the article:

Salary Disparities:

The article highlights the staggering salary differences between professional athletes and individuals in essential professions like firefighting, teaching, and nursing. The statistics provided reveal a stark contrast, such as the average annual salary for an MLB player being $4.1 million, while a firefighter earns about $45,000 a year.

Justification for High Salaries:

The piece argues that the athletes' exorbitant salaries are not their fault but rather a consequence of the immense wealth generated by professional sports. The major sources of revenue, including TV deals, merchandise sales, and ticket sales, contribute to the multibillion-dollar industry that supports these high salaries.

Counterargument: Athletes as Essential to Profitability:

On the other hand, the opposing viewpoint contends that professional athletes are an integral part of highly profitable sports organizations. The article emphasizes that without the players, these leagues wouldn't exist, and the athletes' salaries are a fair share of the substantial revenue generated by these businesses.

Career Duration and Shortevity:

Another aspect discussed is the relatively short career span of professional athletes, typically 5 to 10 years, compared to the more extended careers in other professions. This perspective aims to justify the substantial earnings during a limited earning period.

Distribution of Wealth:

The article argues that lower athlete salaries might not necessarily benefit the fans in terms of reduced ticket and concession prices. Instead, the money saved might go into the pockets of team owners, who are often billionaires.

Viewer Responsibility:

The counterargument suggests that if individuals believe athletes are overpaid, they should reconsider their role as viewers. The article implies that the demand for sports entertainment, evident through viewership, directly contributes to the athletes' high earnings.

Class Discussion:

The article concludes by inviting readers to engage in a class debate, prompting them to consider the evidence presented by each writer, evaluate how the writers address opposing arguments, and ultimately form their own opinion on whether pro athletes are overpaid.

In my expert opinion, this article provides a comprehensive overview of the debate surrounding the salaries of professional athletes, considering economic, societal, and ethical aspects. The evidence presented by both writers offers a well-rounded perspective for readers to ponder and discuss.