Do Gymnasts Get Paid? | How Much Do Gymnasts Make?

Gymnasts create enchanting magic using their bodies. We see professional gymnasts performing various unbelievable moves in pointed toes, complex routines, and shiny and shimmery leotards. They perform on various apparatus like uneven bars and parallel bars.

Many gymnasts earn enough money. Whereas, some may take a halt from the gymnastics career. Again, there are many gymnasts who continue doing part-time jobs. 

Moreover, competitions are held and participating in them fetch good cash. Gymnastics is extremely hard but offers a rewarding career. The salary of gymnasts varies depending on location and work settings.

Does a gymnast get paid?

‘Yes’. Gymnasts do get paid.

Various ways are there to make good money being a gymnast.. 

  • Media earns money through broadcasting a gymnastics event. 
  • The FIG or International Gymnastics Federation earns a lot of money by obtaining profits from tickets sold in the events of gymnastics. 
  • The FIG also acquire money from teams as they have to pay a certain fee to get entry and remain in the organization. 
  • Agents can make good money by working for specific gymnasts. 
  • Fans and spectators purchase tickets to watch fabulous gymnastics performance. 
  • A certain amount of money is dedicated for the stadium.
  • Advertisements and campaigning are other ways for professional gymnasts to earn money. Gymnasts get good payment for wearing a particular brand’s products through sponsorships that attracts people to become customers of that brand. 

How much do gymnasts make per year?     

Salary of Gymnasts
Monthly Salary Annual Salary
Top earners $8,041$96,500
75th Percentile$5,083$61,000
Average$4,318$51,826
25th Percentile$2,458$29,500
  • The average salary of gymnasts is approximately $30,000.
  • Lifetime earnings as expected is approximately $1,252,440.
  • The U.S. Olympic Committee pays $25,000 to gold medalists, $15,000 to silver medalists, and $10,000 to bronze medalists. 

According to experts, the real money comes from sponsorships. Big brands like Procter & Gamble, Nike, Adidas, McDonalds, GK Elite, Alpha Factor, Snowflake Designs, etc. spend money to make original gymnasts as models who will wear their leotards. 

The average salary of Olympic Gymnasts is $62,029 annually. 

If we compare male vs female gymnastics salary, the there is definitely a positive growth for both. Again, more number of women are now participating in gymnastics events and earning good package. However, the amount of salary of both male and female gymnasts depends on medals won, endorsements, location, degree of events, etc.

Pay equality is now a growing trend. Hence, there is not much gap or zero-gap or doubt respecting how much do male gymnasts make or how much do female gymnasts make.

How much money do gymnasts’ coaches make?

Gymnastics coaches typically earn between $30,000 – $40,000 annually. The earning depends on the coach’s location of job, and work settings.

Required qualification of Gymnastics coach: 

As per a data collected from a job website named Simply Hired, a gymnastics coach can earn an average salary of approximately $32,000. The main criteria to get a job as a gymnastics coach is:

  • Detailed experience in gymnastics
  • High school diplomas are required for those who want to teach gymnastics to children
  • Bachelor’s degree to those who want to teach students of secondary school. If the coach wants to teach in school, then bachelor’s degree in sports science or physical education will be given preference.

Other qualifications are:

  • Physical stamina
  • Patience
  • Good interpersonal skills
  • Ability to plan
  • Organizational skills

Salary depending on states and districts:

Average salaries for the designation of gymnastics coach can differ depending on states and districts. As per data, the approximate highest salary of a coach is $51,000. Some coaches have earned this amount in the District of Columbia.

Again, in locations like Massachusetts and New York, coaches have earned $39,000 and $38,000 annually. In Ohio, coaches have made $30,000 per year. In North Carolina, the amount is $29,000 annually, and in Texas, it is $30,000 per year.

Who is the highest-paid gymnast?

There are few world famous gymnasts who earn the highest. 

Nadia Elena Comăneci:

She is from Romania. She is the very first gymnast who achieved a perfect scoring of 10.0 in the Olympic Games of 1976. She was the winner of five gold medals.

She achieved a perfect 10 for seven times at Olympics Games. She was gracefully recognized by the Laureus World Sports Academy as one of the best ‘Athletes of the 21st Century. She earned the prestigious title of ‘Hero of Socialist Labor’.

The then Romania president, Honorable Nicolae Ceausescu gave her the ‘Hammer and Sickle’. 

Shannon Lee Miller:

She is also a retired gymnast from America. She won seven medals at Olympics. In the 1996 Olympics, she used to be a valid member of the ‘Magnificent Seven Team’.  She has bagged 16 medals in World Championship and Olympic in totality. 

Simone Arianne Biles:

She is from America. Being an artistic gymnast, she is excellent in various movements. The 2016 Rio Olympics has witnessed her winning four gold medals. Her earning reached $110,000 after that.

Biles is the first African-American gymnast who won an ‘All-Round’ title. She earned 20 medals and set a record of grabbing the lion’s share of World Championship Medals.

In 2016, Nickelodeon gave her the ‘Favorite Newcomer Award’. In 2014, the Women’s Sports Foundation has named her ‘Sportswoman of the Year’. She earns a lot from endorsements and has partnered with big brands like Hershey, Kellogg’s, and Nike. 

Other highest-paid gymnasts are Kyle Keith Shewfelt, Gabrielle Christina Victoria Douglas, Bart Conner, Anastasia Valeryevna”Nastia” Liukin, Mary Lou Retton, Alicia Marie Sacramone Quinn, etc.

Conclusion:

Gymnastics, if taken seriously as a career, can be a good source of income. Choose the location and organization carefully. Gymnasts are advised to take part in as many events as they can and win medals and cash prizes.