Poll finds New Yorkers think athletes overpaid - Albany Business Review (2024)

Just days before the Super Bowl, most of those watching will be thinking to themselves that the athletes on the field are overpaid and that teachers, police officers and firefighters should make more money than those on the gridiron, according to a new poll.

More than 90 percent of respondents in a recent poll by the Siena Research Institute believe teachers, police and firefighters are more valuable to society than pro athletes and 80 percent think pro athletes are overpaid. Three out of four surveyed think public servants should be paid more than the pro athletes.

"As much as New Yorkers enjoy this American sports tradition, they clearly believe some of our social values as to what's important have been skewed -- especially since Sept. 11," said Douglas Lonnstrom, SRI director.

But none of this will change their TV watching habits on Feb. 3. The poll found 55 percent of New Yorkers plan to watch the Super Bowl (69 percent of men, 40 percent of women). And 78 percent said they would just as likely attend a sporting event.

The telephone poll of 610 New York residents over the age of 18 was conducted in January and had a margin of error of plus or minus 4 points.

rderrico@bizjournals.com | 518-437-9855
Poll finds New Yorkers think athletes overpaid - Albany Business Review (2024)

FAQs

What percentage of people think athletes are overpaid? ›

More than 90 percent of respondents in a recent poll by the Siena Research Institute believe teachers, police and firefighters are more valuable to society than pro athletes and 80 percent think pro athletes are overpaid. Three out of four surveyed think public servants should be paid more than the pro athletes.

Are professional athletes really overpaid the answer may surprise you? ›

Essentially, pro athletes are paid their fair share, and in some cases are undervalued. For how much they earn their league and owners and how much they contribute to people's lives, athletes deserve to be paid what they are worth.

Why are professional athletes not overpaid? ›

Fans pay to watch them perform because they really enjoy seeing them. Like other entertainers, such as actors and singers, athletes are paid large amounts for their performances. Professional athletes are not overpaid for the amount of physical and mental stress they go through to do their job.

Why do pro athletes get paid so much? ›

Sports is only such a massive and profitable industry because of the enormous global fan bases that love it. If there was not such a high demand for these athletes and their performances, the industry would not be turning over so many figures a year.

What is the most overpaid profession? ›

Here is a list of the most overpaid jobs in the world.
  • Televangelists. IM Score: 9. ...
  • Management Consultants. IM Score: 11. ...
  • Software Tester. IM Score: 12. ...
  • Optometrist. IM Score: 13. ...
  • Meteorologist. IM Score: 15. ...
  • Hedge Fund Managers. IM Score: 16. ...
  • Corporate Lawyers. IM Score: 17. ...
  • Congressional Representatives. IM Score: 18.
Oct 19, 2023

Do athletes deserve their high salaries? ›

They also have the celebrity effect, which draws more paying fans in. Therefore, they deserve to earn more. While the highest paid athletes draw more attention, the truth is that most athletes are fairly paid. Plus, we tend to forget that published professional athletes' salaries are gross salaries.

What is the most common mistake an athlete can make? ›

7 most common training mistakes by masters athletes
  1. Believing the body and mind are still 20. There is no doubt about it. ...
  2. Not using the principles of training. ...
  3. Not listening to your body. ...
  4. Not training hard enough. ...
  5. Not recovering hard enough. ...
  6. Cutting back during times of stress. ...
  7. Not training smart.

Do you have to say something if you get overpaid? ›

In most circ*mstances an employer has the right to claim back money if they've overpaid someone. They should contact the employee as soon as they're aware of the mistake. If an employee notices an overpayment in their payslip, they should talk to their employer as soon as possible.

Why are athletes paid more than doctors? ›

Therefore, athletes who are a part of sporting leagues like NBA and NFL make more money than doctors as the industry that they are in makes more money than the medical field and because of their celebrity status, where their fans would go all across the world to see their favourite players play live, not because they ...

How many professional athletes lose their money? ›

(16% of retired NFL players go bankruptcy, Fortune.com). A Sports Illustrated article reports that 78% of NFL players and 60% of NBA players face serious financial hardships after retirement. So why do so many athletes wind up bankrupt? We can begin by looking at the nature of how athletes earn their money.

Why can't athletes be paid? ›

States have passed laws that require student-athletes to be compensated by third parties for the use of their name, image and likeness. These laws directly contradict past NCAA rules that made this type of compensation an explicit NCAA violation because they threaten the notion of amateurism.

What percentage of professional athletes lose all their money? ›

Being a professional athlete can be extremely rewarding and lucrative. However, a stark 78% of them will go broke after just 3 years of retirement, Craig Brown, an NKSFB Sports Business Division partner, told FOX Business' "Mornings with Maria" on Wednesday.

What major sport makes the most money? ›

NBA. NBA generates huge sums of money yearly – from sponsorship rights to income generated from NBA odds. Basketball is the highest-paid sport in the world, with an average annual NBA salary in 2023 of nearly $10.5 million. The league has over 30 teams and pays the highest player salary of $48 million.

How much do NBA nurses make? ›

How much does a Nba Nurse make in Los Angeles, California? As of Apr 13, 2024, the average hourly pay for a Nba Nurse in Los Angeles is $37.45 an hour.

When did athletes start getting paid so much? ›

The '60s was a time of great political and technological change. The introduction of television in the 1950's, along with lucrative broadcasting deals, had begun to make many professional athletes significantly wealthier.

How many college athletes think they should get paid? ›

About 77% of all students said they favor or strongly favor that policy and 81% of athletes said the same. An overwhelming 80% of all students and 83% of athletes agreed that college athletes should be paid if their image is used for purposes such as selling merchandise.

What are the statistics of athlete burnout? ›

A study of American College students revealed that 39.2% of female athletes and 34.7% of male athletes experience burnout. According to a New York University review, 45% of youth athletes quit sports because of burnout.

How many athletes waste their money? ›

A Sports Illustrated article reports that 78% of NFL players and 60% of NBA players face serious financial hardships after retirement. So why do so many athletes wind up bankrupt? We can begin by looking at the nature of how athletes earn their money.

What percentage of professional athletes have financial hardships? ›

Yet, the documentary “Broke,” an episode of ESPN's “30 for 30” series, claims that over 70% of professional athletes fall on financial hardships shortly after they retire.

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