Updated September 14, 2023
Average jockey salary
To create our salary estimates, Zippia starts with data published in publicly available sources such as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Foreign Labor Certification Data Center (FLC) Show More$52,645
$25.31 hourly rate
Entry-level jockey salary
$35,000 yearly salary
How much does a jockey make?
The average jockey salary in the United States is $52,645. Jockey salaries typically range between $35,000 and $77,000 yearly. The average hourly rate for jockeys is $25.31 per hour.
Jockey salary is impacted by location, education, and experience. Jockeys earn the highest average salary in Alaska, Utah, North Dakota, California, and Nevada.
Jockey salary summary.
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The average salary for a jockey is $52,645 in the US. -
The average jockey salary ranges between $35,000 and $77,000 in the US. -
Jockeys' hourly rates in the US typically range between $16 and $37 an hour. -
Jockeys earn the highest salaries in Alaska ($71,164), Utah ($69,246), and North Dakota ($66,126). -
Jockey salaries at HCSC are the highest of any company. -
Jockeys in the transportation industry are the highest-paid in the US.
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Average jockey salary by state
The highest-paying states for jockeys are Alaska, Utah, and North Dakota. The lowest average jockey salary states are Washington, Maine, and Idaho.
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Highest paying states for jockeys
| Rank | State | Avg. Salary | Hourly Rate | Job Count |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | $66,126 | $31.79 | 4 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | $62,203 | $29.91 | 7 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $63,210 | $30.39 | 2 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $62,834 | $30.21 | 10 |
| 5 | Utah | $69,246 | $33.29 | |
| 6 | Vermont | $60,554 | $29.11 | 2 |
| 7 | Arizona | $61,087 | $29.37 | 10 |
| 8 | Oregon | $62,528 | $30.06 | 6 |
| 9 | Iowa | $58,711 | $28.23 | 6 |
| 10 | Nevada | $63,707 | $30.63 | |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $62,838 | $30.21 | 10 |
| 12 | Ohio | $55,088 | $26.48 | 31 |
| 13 | Maryland | $58,837 | $28.29 | 35 |
| 14 | Alaska | $71,164 | $34.21 | |
| 15 | California | $63,898 | $30.72 | 43 |
| 16 | Texas | $59,345 | $28.53 | 24 |
| 17 | New Jersey | $58,664 | $28.20 | 19 |
| 18 | Kansas | $58,390 | $28.07 | 3 |
| 19 | Louisiana | $54,039 | $25.98 | 11 |
| 20 | Delaware | $60,304 | $28.99 | 1 |
| 21 | New Mexico | $58,545 | $28.15 | |
| 22 | Arkansas | $52,589 | $25.28 | 7 |
| 23 | New York | $58,398 | $28.08 | 21 |
| 24 | Georgia | $51,913 | $24.96 | 36 |
| 25 | Wyoming | $56,091 | $26.97 | |
| 26 | South Dakota | $54,889 | $26.39 | 1 |
| 27 | District of Columbia | $58,276 | $28.02 | 3 |
| 28 | Montana | $57,093 | $27.45 | |
| 29 | North Carolina | $52,629 | $25.30 | 18 |
| 30 | South Carolina | $51,409 | $24.72 | 11 |
| 31 | Virginia | $56,662 | $27.24 | 10 |
| 32 | Florida | $52,499 | $25.24 | 32 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $48,031 | $23.09 | 13 |
| 34 | Illinois | $52,489 | $25.24 | 23 |
| 35 | West Virginia | $46,571 | $22.39 | 4 |
| 36 | Pennsylvania | $45,377 | $21.82 | 59 |
| 37 | Oklahoma | $53,834 | $25.88 | 1 |
| 38 | Colorado | $47,423 | $22.80 | 18 |
| 39 | Hawaii | $56,452 | $27.14 | |
| 40 | Mississippi | $44,648 | $21.47 | 6 |
| 41 | Kentucky | $44,625 | $21.45 | 9 |
| 42 | Wisconsin | $45,022 | $21.65 | 13 |
| 43 | Maine | $40,833 | $19.63 | 10 |
| 44 | Missouri | $44,965 | $21.62 | 8 |
| 45 | Nebraska | $45,933 | $22.08 | 1 |
| 46 | Indiana | $36,163 | $17.39 | 21 |
| 47 | Michigan | $39,343 | $18.91 | 16 |
| 48 | Minnesota | $41,524 | $19.96 | 8 |
| 49 | Alabama | $39,090 | $18.79 | 6 |
| 50 | Washington | $41,227 | $19.82 | 7 |
| 51 | Idaho | $39,648 | $19.06 | 1 |
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Highest paying cities for jockeys
The highest-paying cities for jockeys are Salt Lake City, UT, Modesto, CA, and Houston, TX.
| Rank | City | Avg. Salary | Hourly Rate | Job Count |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Salt Lake City, UT | $68,972 | $33.16 | |
| 2 | Modesto, CA | $65,667 | $31.57 | |
| 3 | Houston, TX | $59,226 | $28.47 | |
| 4 | Hackensack, NJ | $59,020 | $28.38 | |
| 5 | Elmont, NY | $58,625 | $28.19 | |
| 6 | Ottumwa, IA | $58,337 | $28.05 | |
| 7 | Hampton, VA | $56,735 | $27.28 | |
| 8 | Grove City, OH | $54,349 | $26.13 | |
| 9 | Greensboro, NC | $52,888 | $25.43 | |
| 10 | Savannah, GA | $51,955 | $24.98 | 1 |
| 11 | Normal, IL | $51,590 | $24.80 | |
| 12 | Memphis, TN | $48,266 | $23.20 | |
| 13 | Aurora, CO | $47,414 | $22.80 | |
| 14 | Bensalem, PA | $46,081 | $22.15 | |
| 15 | Grand Rapids, MI | $38,956 | $18.73 | |
| 16 | Plainfield, IN | $35,910 | $17.26 |
Jockey salary details
A jockey's salary ranges from $35,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $77,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a jockey's salary?
| Percentile | Annual Salary | Monthly Salary | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $77,000 | $6,417 | $37 |
| 75th Percentile | $64,000 | $5,333 | $31 |
| Average | $52,645 | $4,387 | $25 |
| 25th Percentile | $42,000 | $3,500 | $20 |
| 10th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
Highest paying jockey jobs
The highest paying types of jockeys are karate black belt, disc jockey, and minor league baseball player.
| Job Title | Annual Salary | Monthly Salary | Hourly Rate | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athlete | $51,729 | $4,311 | $24.87 | 7,350 |
| Swimmer | $51,630 | $4,303 | $24.82 | 1,108 |
| Karate Black Belt | $83,649 | $6,971 | $40.22 | 1,621 |
| Yard Jockey | $44,440 | $3,703 | $21.37 | 3,910 |
| Disc Jockey | $54,894 | $4,574 | $26.39 | 1,991 |
Top companies hiring jockeys now:
Which companies pay jockeys the most?
Jockey salaries at HCSC and Perdue Farms are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average jockey salary at companies like Estes Express Lines and Mountaire Farms are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average Salary | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | HCSC | $65,156 | $31.32 |
| 2 | Perdue Farms | $51,272 | $24.65 |
| 3 | Estes Express Lines | $51,211 | $24.62 |
| 4 | Mountaire Farms | $51,181 | $24.61 |
| 5 | Lineage Logistics | $50,608 | $24.33 |
| 6 | Performance Food Group | $49,040 | $23.58 |
| 7 | Kleen Test Products | $44,845 | $21.56 |
| 8 | Green Mountain Coffee Roasters | $43,045 | $20.69 |
| 9 | New York Racing Association | $41,214 | $19.81 |
| 10 | The Reserves Network | $38,878 | $18.69 |
| 11 | Ambassador Personnel | $37,646 | $18.10 |
| 12 | Floor & Decor | $35,594 | $17.11 |
Jockey salary trends
The average jockey salary has risen by $11,575 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average jockey earned $41,070 annually, but today, they earn $52,645 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for jockeys over the last decade.
Compare jockey salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average jockey salary over time
Compare jockey salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Jockey salary by year
| Year | Avg. Salary | Hourly Rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $52,600 | $25.31 | -1.0% |
| 2022 | $53,200 | $25.57 | +1.4% |
| 2021 | $52,400 | $25.21 | -1.4% |
| 2020 | $53,200 | $25.57 | +7.1% |
| 2019 | $49,400 | $23.75 | +6.4% |
Show more
Recently added jockey salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date Added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estes Express Lines | Jockey | Toledo, OH | 06/29/2023 | $51,445 |
| The Reserves Network | Jockey Driver | Garden City, GA | 06/14/2023 | $37,566 |
| Estes Express Lines | Jockey | Elkton, MD | 06/07/2023 | $56,975 |
| Lineage Logistics | Jockey Driver-3Rd Shift | Mira Loma, CA | 05/11/2023 | $34,957 |
| HCSC | Dock Jockey/Driver-1St. & 2Nd Shift | Asbury Park, NJ | 05/03/2023 | $53,260 |
| Estes Express Lines | Jockey | Chula Vista, CA | 04/06/2023 | $54,992 |
| Estes Express Lines | Jockey | Stafford Courthouse, VA | 03/31/2023 | $51,549 |
| Estes Express Lines | Jockey | Toledo, OH | 03/14/2023 | $51,445 |
| United Natural Foods | Wash Bay Jockey | Schnecksville, PA | 03/09/2023 | $40,175 |
| Estes Express Lines | Jockey | Aurora, CO | 03/01/2023 | $51,758 |
Show more
Jockey salary FAQs
What state pays Jockeys the most?
Alaska pays Jockeys the most in the United States, with an average salary of $71,164 per year, or $34.21 per hour.
How do I know if I'm being paid fairly as a Jockey?
You know if you are being paid fairly as a Jockey if your pay is close to the average pay for the state you live in. For example, if you live in Utah you should be paid close to $69,246 per year.
Have more questions?
See all answers to common arts, entertainment, sports, and media questions.Search for jockey jobs
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Updated September 14, 2023
