Depending on the player’s performance and the popularity of the game, esports players can earn anywhere from $12,000 to $187,200 a year.
Dive into interesting professional gaming statistics to learn:
- What is the average global and US salary for esports gamers
- Who are the highest-earning gamers, and what game offers the highest prizes
- What country has the most esports players, and which one earned the most money from prizes
How much do esports players make?
How many esports players earn a salary?
The highest-paid esports players
What are the highest-paying esports games?
The highest-paying esports gamers, by game
How Much Do Gamers Make (Top Stats)
- Professional esports gamers can earn anywhere from $12,000 to $187,200 per year, excluding extra sponsorships and bonuses.
- Until now, more than 138 professional gamers earned more than $1 million, with N0tail leading the pack with more than $7 million in earnings.
- With more than $143 million given in prizes, Fortnite is the game with the highest prizes, whereas Counter-Strike: Global Offensive has awarded the most players and held the most tournaments.
- Chinese esports gamers earned a total of $217 million in prizes compared to USA’s $210 million, despite China having 3 times more pro players.
How Much Do Esports Gamers Make?
- Depending on the game’s popularity, esports salaries can range from $6,000 to $420,000 per year.
That’s without the prizes they might earn by winning esports tournaments, money from sponsors, and receiving other kinds of bonuses.
As you can see, salaries range heavily depending on the player’s skill, the game he/she is playing, and the team. Top-ranking professional esports teams from Dota 2 and League of Legends pay their members hefty amounts.
Here’s a table of how salaries can vary depending on how good the players are and which popular esports title they’re playing:
| Game | Annual salary for top-ranking pro players | Annual salary for average-ranking pro players | Annual salary for low-ranking pro players |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dota 2 | $420,000 (maximum in the league) | $24,000-$180,000 | $6,000-$12,000 (minimum in the league) |
| League of Legends | $410,000 | $105,000 (average in the league) | $75,000 (minimum in the US) |
| Call of Duty | $363,000 (average among best players) | n/a | $55,225 (minimum in the league) |
| Counter-Strike: Global Offensive | $480,000 | $180,000-$240,000 | $60,000 |
| NBA2K | n/a | n/a | $33,000-$38,000 (minimum in the league) |
| Fortnite | $77,000 (in the US) | $46,874 (average in the US) | $27,500 (minimum in the US) |
| Rocket League | $139,000 (in the US) | $56,445 (in the US) | $18,000 (in the US) |
Read more about the Rocket League.
But the esports world of competitive gaming is a hard job…
How long do pro gamers spend playing games daily?
- Professional gamers spend an average of 12 to 18 hours per day playing games.
That can have adverse health effects on players, such as exhaustion, injuries, negative impact on social life, and symptoms of burning out. This is playing with video game addiction.
An average gamer spends less time playing in a week, around 8 hours, than a pro in a day.
(Cyber Athletiks)
How Much Does a Gamer Make a Month?
- The average salary of a professional esports gamer is between $500 to $35,000 per month.
As seen from the table above, their salary is based on the game they’re playing and how skilled they are.
(AFK)
- For example, looking at the highest earners in esports, Johan Sundstein (N0tail) earned an average of $598,680 each year, or $49,890 each month, salary and prizes included.
On the other hand, Markus Wallsten (pronax), who sits in the 1000th place among the highest esports earners, earned an average of $23,507 a year, or $1,959 a month.
(Esportsearnings 2)
How Much Do Professional Gamers Make a Year?
The esports earnings of professional gamers vary greatly based on skill level and the game they compete in:
- A top-tier esports gamer, on average, makes $314,833 per year.
- An average esports gamer earns an estimated $104,063 per year.
- A low-ranking esports gamer makes around $40,032 per year.
The number is calculated using the salary data, sponsorship money, and rewards of average-ranking players from the table of salaries above. It’s an estimation, not a precise number.
Here’s the table of average annual salaries based on the gamer rank, using the previous data:
| Average annual salary for a top-ranking esports player | Average annual salary for an average-ranking esports player | Average annual salary for a low-ranking esports player |
|---|---|---|
| $314,833 | $104,063 | $40,032 |
- Good streamers can pull between $1,500 and $2,000 monthly from streaming.
(Esports Grizzly)
And for streaming you need a top quality gaming headset with a clear gaming microphone that won’t annoy the viewers.
How much do professional gamers make in the US?
- The average American pro gamer earns $64,168 per year.
Here’s a more detailed range of US esports players’ annual salaries:
| Highest annual salary in the US | Average annual salary in the US | Median annual salary in the US | Lowest annual salary in the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| $187,200 | $64,168 | $44,680 | $19,910 |
- Looking at the highest American earners in esports, Kyle Giersdorf (Bugha) earned a total of $3,491,162, salary and prizes included.
Or an average of $698,232 per year.
On the other hand, Nick Costello (mist), who sits in the 995th place among the highest esports earners, earned a total of 238,132 (or $47,626 per year).
(Esportsearnings 2)
How Many Esports Players Earn a Salary?
- 36% of Finnish esports organizations paid their esports players a salary in 2020.
18% of organizations used result-based compensation and bonuses, with the other 18% giving some players a salary. 64% of players received other kinds of compensation.
The survey contained 11 organizations.
(KAMK)
How Much Top Gamers Make: The Highest-Paid Esports Players
- Esports player N0tail (real name Johan Sundstein from Denmark) is the highest-paid professional gamer, he’s earned more than $7 million.
Here’s the breakdown of the highest-earning esports players, total earnings throughout their careers, and what game made them the most money:
| Gamer name | Real name | Total earnings | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| N0tail | Johan Sundstein | $7,184,163 | Dota 2 |
| JerAx | Jesse Vainnikka | $6,486,948 | Dota 2 |
| ana | Anathan Pham | $6,024,411 | Dota 2 |
| Ceb | Sebastien Debs | $5,823,909 | Dota 2 |
| Topson | Topias Taavitsainen | $5,690,417 | Dota 2 |
| KuroKy | Kuro Takhasomi | $5,276,347 | Dota 2 |
| Miracle- | Amer Al-Barkawi | $4,877,285 | Dota 2 |
| MinD_ContRoL | Ivan Ivanov | $4,660,359 | Dota 2 |
| Matumbaman | Lasse Urpalainen | $4,532,649 | Dota 2 |
| GH | Maroun Merhej | $4,274,654 | Dota 2 |
- At least 138 professional gamers earned more than $1 million.
Furthermore, more than 1000 gamers earned more than $100,000.
(Esportsearnings)
What are The Highest-Paying Esports Games?
- Dota 2 is the highest-paying game in terms of the prize pool, already awarding $310,338,833 to 4508 players across 1707 esports competitions.
| Game | Total prize pools paid to winners | Number of awarded players | Number of tournaments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dota 2 | $310,338,833 | 4508 players | 1707 tournaments |
| Fortnite | $143,578,381 | 5764 players | 969 tournaments |
| Counter-Strike: Global Offensive | $140,677,047 | 15,276 players | 6423 tournaments |
| League of Legends | $98,171,095 | 8534 players | 2746 tournaments |
| Arena of Valor | $58,682,319 | 1406 players | 123 tournaments |
| PUBG Mobile | $58,615,655 | 3223 players | 218 tournaments |
| PUBG | $48,748,397 | 3509 players | 548 tournaments |
| StarCraft II | $38,193,332 | 2157 players | 6680 tournaments |
| Rainbow Six Siege | $30,450,761 | 2479 players | 466 tournaments |
- China is the largest esports earner in the world, with 6387 esports athletes earning $217,718,754 combined.
Here’s the breakdown:
| Country | Total earnings from all gamers | Number of gamers that earned money |
|---|---|---|
| China | $217,718,754 | 6387 players |
| USA | $210,666,374 | 22417 players |
| South Korea | $119,515,869 | 4813 players |
| Russia | $59,185,737 | 4524 players |
| Denmark | $47,498,895 | 1843 players |
| Sweden | $45,132,721 | 2902 players |
| France | $42,291,797 | 4981 players |
| Brazil | $40,180,725 | 3885 players |
| Canada | $37,763,895 | 3432 players |
| Germany | $36,762,736 | 5371 players |
- Global esports revenue is expected to reach $1.38 billion in 2022.
That’s more than $200 million compared to 2021.
| Year | Global esports revenue |
|---|---|
| 2025 (estimation) | $1.866 billion |
| 2022 | $1.384 billion |
| 2021 | $1.136 billion |
| 2020 | $996 million |
The highest-paid esports gamers by the game
- N0tail is also the highest earner in Dota 2, collecting approximately $7,172,436 in prizes.
Earnings in Dota 2 represent 99.84% of all N0tail’s earnings.
| Player nickname | Game where a player earned money | Total earnings from that game | Percentage of player’s earnings from the game compared to his overall total earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| N0tail | Dota 2 | $7,172,436 | 99.84% |
| Bugha | Fortnite | $3,477,095 | 99.64% |
| Dupreeh | Counter-Strike: Global Offensive | $2,015,831 | 100% |
| Faker | League of Legends | $1,434,271 | 100% |
| paraboy | PUBG Mobile | $1,383,046 | 100% |
| kakip | Shadowverse | $1,228,551 | 100% |
| Fly | Arena of Valor | $1,195,988 | 100% |
| Serral | StarCraft II | $1,182,963 | 100% |
| Loki | PUBG | $975,717 | 100% |
| DrNykterstein | chess24 | $838,242 | 80.85% |
How Do Professional Gamers Make Money?
Professional gamers earn money from various sources:
- Tournament prize money
- Salary
- Sponsors: Just to stream playthroughs, sponsors can pay anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000 per hour, depending on how “big” the streamer is (Quora)
- Bonuses: Gamers can receive a bonus worth up to $20,000 per tournament if they win (allTop9)
- Streaming (Twitch’s cut is usually 50/50, but some streamers were able to negotiate a 30/70 cut to retain more earnings)
- Online videos (like posting videos on YouTube or other platforms where they can be monetized)
Read more:
- Little-Known Metaverse Statistics
- Discord users
Conclusion
This is a little glimpse of how much do esports players make by playing video games at a high level.
You have to keep in mind that while working in the esports industry sounds like a dream job, in reality, it’s extremely physically exhausting. So those high paychecks are well deserved.
Have you ever played professionally? What video game did you play and did you earn any money? We’d be curious to know, so leave a comment below.
Sources: Esports Grizzly, CNBC, Weplay Esports, Comparably, Esportsearnings, Esportsearnings 2, Esportsearnings 3, Esportsearnings 4, Esportsearnings 5, Quora, allTop9, Teknos, KAMK, SBJ, Cyber Athletiks, youRshape, hotspawn, ZipRecruiter, ZipRecruiter 2, 2k League, CoD League, LeagueFeed, Novint, AFK
Peter Susic
From a childhood fascination with sound, Peter’s passion has evolved into a relentless pursuit of the finest headphones. He’s an audio expert with over 5 years of experience in testing both audiophile and consumer-grade headphones. Quote: “After many years, I can confidently tell which headphones are good and which are terrible.” Find his honest opinion in his reviews.
As a seasoned expert deeply entrenched in the world of esports and gaming, my expertise spans various facets of the industry, from the nuanced details of professional player salaries to the intricacies of different esports games and their global landscape.
Let's delve into the key concepts presented in the article:
-
Esports Player Earnings:
- The article highlights a wide range of earnings for esports players, ranging from $12,000 to $187,200 per year, excluding sponsorships and bonuses.
- Notable information includes the fact that more than 138 professional gamers have earned over $1 million, with N0tail leading with over $7 million in earnings.
-
Top Earning Games and Players:
- Fortnite stands out with the highest prize pool of over $143 million, while Counter-Strike: Global Offensive has awarded the most players and held the most tournaments.
- The article lists the top-earning esports players, with N0tail, JerAx, and ana from Dota 2 leading the pack.
-
Global Esports Landscape:
- China emerges as a dominant force in esports, with Chinese esports gamers earning a total of $217 million in prizes compared to the USA's $210 million, despite having three times more pro players.
-
Esports Player Salaries:
- Esports player salaries vary widely based on factors such as game popularity, player skill, and team affiliation. A detailed table showcases annual salaries for top, average, and low-ranking players in various popular esports titles.
-
Professional Gamer Workload and Health Impact:
- Professional gamers spend an average of 12 to 18 hours per day playing games, which can have adverse effects on their health, including exhaustion, injuries, and burnout.
-
Average Monthly Earnings and Rank-Dependent Salaries:
- The average monthly salary for professional esports gamers is estimated to be between $500 and $35,000, depending on the game and the player's skill level.
- Detailed information is provided about the earnings of top and average-ranking players in various esports titles.
-
Esports Revenue and Growth:
- The article touches upon the global esports revenue, which is expected to reach $1.38 billion in 2022, showcasing the significant growth of the industry.
-
Country-wise Earnings and Global Trends:
- China leads in esports earnings globally, with $217 million, followed by the USA with $210 million. The article provides a breakdown of earnings from various countries and predicts a substantial increase in global esports revenue.
-
Highest-Paid Esports Players and Their Games:
- A comprehensive list details the highest-earning esports players, their total earnings, and the games that contributed to their success. N0tail, Bugha, and others are highlighted.
-
Dota 2 as the Highest-Paying Game:
- Dota 2 emerges as the highest-paying esports game, with a total prize pool of over $310 million, awarded to 4508 players across 1707 esports competitions.
-
Professional Gamer Income Sources:
- The article sheds light on the diverse income sources for professional gamers, including tournament prize money, salaries, sponsorships, bonuses, streaming, and online videos.
-
Gaming Industry Growth and Challenges:
- The article concludes by emphasizing the booming growth of the esports industry, reaching an estimated $1.38 billion in revenue in 2022, and acknowledges the physical challenges faced by professional gamers despite the lucrative paychecks.
In summary, this article provides a comprehensive overview of the esports landscape, offering detailed insights into player earnings, game popularity, global trends, and the multifaceted income streams within the industry.
