It’s every gamer’s dream to be able to earn a living while playing video games. While it wasn’t for the longest time, it is now finally possible. Here is our take on how much money professional gamers make.
Key Takeaways
- Professional gamers can earn a decent living, but the highest earners can make well over the salaries of some of the most renowned professions like engineers and doctors.
- A professional gamer’s skill level and the popularity of the game they play are the two primary factors that affect their salary.
- While popular games like CSGO, Valorant, and Dota 2 can provide a steady salary for professional gamers, less popular games may require relying on prize money.
- Professional gamers need to work hard and win almost all matches at the top ranks to achieve a decent salary.
- Esports is a rapidly growing industry, and with dedication and hard work, aspiring gamers can achieve success in this field.
The Average Salaries Of Professional Gamers
While the top earners in the esports scene get paid a ton of money to play for specific teams, and they get even more money through tournament winnings, average pro gamers don’t make that much. However, it is enough to make a decent living.
On average, a professional esports player in the USA can earn around 50,000 to 60,000 U.S. dollars annually. However, they can take this number up to nearly 170,000 U.S. dollars with prize money and earnings from their live streams.
The Highest Payed Professional Gamers
While the average salary of an esports player is enough for them to have a decent standard of living, it is not nearly close to what the top earners make. The top earners in the esports scene can make well over the salaries for some of the most renowned professions like engineers and doctors.
Johan Sundstein or N0tail is one of the top earners in the esports scene, making over 7 million U.S. dollars, just from tournament prize money. Next up is Jesse Vainikka or JerAx, who has made nearly 6.5 million U.S. dollars from esports prize money. Along with that, both of these players are paid some of the highest salaries, which can bring their average yearly earnings to well over 200,000 U.S. dollars.
What Factors Affect The Amount Of Money That Professional Gamers Make?
With some professional gamers making only enough for a decent lifestyle while others are practically swimming in money, it makes you wonder why is that. Here are some of the most common factors that affect the amount of money that professional gamers make.
Better Gamers Get Paid More
First of all, what has the most effect on how much money a professional gamer will make is their skill level. A really good gamer will make much more money than gamers that are not as good. Gamers that are great at the game they play usually win more matches for their teams, and consequently, the team organizers are willing to pay a lot more to keep them in their teams.
Popular Game Equals More Salary
The next thing that has the most effect on a professional gamer’s salary is the game that the gamer plays. If a professional gamer plays CSGO, Valorant, or Dota 2, all of which are popular games, they will probably start earning a decent salary as soon as they are recruited by a team. But when it comes to games that are not that popular, professional gamers find it difficult to even find organizers that will pay them a salary. In these types of situations, most professional gamers rely on prize money for income.
While most salaried professional gamers earn around 5000 U.S. dollars a month, the sad truth about esports is that getting even to that point will take a ton of work. Likely, you won’t be paid anything in the first six or so months of your professional esports career.
However, if you are really good at the game you play and win almost all matches at the top ranks, you might just start getting a decent salary the instant you enter the world of esports. With some hard work, you may even achieve the top earner spot.
FAQ
What is the average salary of a professional gamer in the USA?
A professional esports player in the USA can earn around 50,000 to 60,000 U.S. dollars annually.
Can professional gamers earn more than their salaries?
Professional gamers can earn more than their salaries through prize money and earnings from their live streams.
Who are some of the top earners in the esports scene?
Johan Sundstein or N0tail and Jesse Vainikka or JerAx are some of the top earners in the esports scene, making over 7 million and 6.5 million U.S. dollars, respectively, just from tournament prize money.
What factors affect the amount of money that professional gamers make?
The gamer’s skill level and the game’s popularity are two of the most common factors that affect the amount of money that professional gamers make.
How long does a professional gamer take to earn a salary?
Getting to the point of earning a salary as a professional gamer will take a ton of work, and likely, you won’t be paid anything in the first six or so months of your professional esports career.
