How much do pro athletes for big sports make out of college?

I'm trying to get an idea of the opportunity costs I gave up when I went into finance, since I played football in college and probably could've went to the NFL if I tried.

How much does the average person who breaks into the NBA/NFL/MLB/NHL make? How much of that are bonuses and are bonuses deferred? Does comp go parabolic like in certain finance roles? Finally, what does lifetime earnings look like? 
 

I'm guessing starting comp is around 500k-1.5mm for a normal shitter in the 4 major leagues, assuming we're discounting the outliers like first pick superstars. Comp pretty much stagnates your whole career from what I've heard unless you lateral to a better/bigger group for a large signing bonus/better total comp. You can make some side money with sponsors and other media/advertising deals, but that's for the cream of the crop. Lifetime earnings is probably 1.25mm on average annually over 15 years, after tax would be in the ballpark of 12-14mm. 

15 Comments
 
[Comment removed by mod team]
 

NFL minimum salary is $660,000.

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

Dude seriously?  This is published information.  Rookie contracts are set by draft order.  Also the average NFL career is like 4 years.

 

What? I can't believe most athletes can only hold a job for 4 years, but than again, that's what I've come to expect from African-Americans, who comprise the majority of athletes.

 

Was a gifted t ball player myself but decided to focus more on social studies

 

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