Nick Symmonds made $350,000 in 2015 as a pro runner.

Ya, the top guys don't make that much. This was 2015? In 2013 he had a world silver medal, literally one person in the world in 2015 could say they did better at the most recent world championships. So a guy that is a world medalist is making a few thousand dollars and that's supposed to be a lot. Meanwhile the people who are qualifying for the olympics or world championships and happy to be there, they're making about $50k-$70k, and the guys who are finishing 5th place at the U.S. championships and sitting at home during the olympics, they're lucky to be making $30k. And the people who qualify for the olympic trials or U.S. championships and aren't really relevant finishing 13th place, they're having a big year in road races if they make $10k from running.

Stay in school kids, unless you have a good shot at being a world medalist!

One more thing, I'm saying these numbers because I've lived close to this world. My best year of running I made about $10k, and was roughly 10th in my event. And I lived with someone who made some world teams on the track and he was making $20k-$40k depending on the year by contract and another $10k-$20k in prize money.

Someone who focuses on the marathon has the best bet to make money. For example someone who would finish 25th at the olympic trials marathon can probably run in the 2:13 range on a gentle marathon course. If they pick the right races they could come away with $10k in a couple different marathons each year totaling $20k, and then pick up $500-$1,000 at a handful of other smaller 10k/half marathon races. So this person who is only 25th in their event in the country can make $25k per year, better than most track people outside of the people likely to make the olympics.

He was the top of the top, dude wrote:

Someone who focuses on the marathon has the best bet to make money. For example someone who would finish 25th at the olympic trials marathon can probably run in the 2:13 range on a gentle marathon course. If they pick the right races they could come away with $10k in a couple different marathons each year totaling $20k, and then pick up $500-$1,000 at a handful of other smaller 10k/half marathon races. So this person who is only 25th in their event in the country can make $25k per year, better than most track people outside of the people likely to make the olympics.

Sheesh. 12 bucks an hour to be in the top 0.001% of the population in terms of running talent in the richest country.

Compare that to $277/hr for minimum salary for a major league baseball player. And I am almost certain, aside from any physical body issues (too short, for example), a pro runner most likely works just as hard, or has more athletic talent than someone hitting .125 in the big leagues.

RunCzar wrote:

Nick just posted a new video where he talks about the most money he made in 1 year as a Pro.

He made $350k gross but after coaches, agents, tax, etc he ended up with $150k net income. I was actually kinda impressed, I hear on the treads that the top guys dont make that much, but $150k living in OR must be pretty decent.

I believe he was with Brooks at the time and although he was well known to us I doubt casual runners knew who he was. What was like Shalane or Meb making at the time? They were way more popular to the general running public.

Thoughts, comments, Discuss.

Then why was he complaining about having no money then? I don't get it.

It's much worse for people outside the United States too. Money is decent in the UK too, but outside of those two there's a big drop off.

100% there are people ranked in the top 10 of major events making well below 100K USD before agent fees + income tax.

Don't go into running for the money, that's for sure.

....and now just 5 years later he shuffles along like a guy with a pogo stick in the backside, selling running gum

I am Sam wrote:

....and now just 5 years later he shuffles along like a guy with a pogo stick in the backside, selling running gum

I never understood how chewing 1 stick of gum could give you enough electrolytes to help in any way!

It’s the caffeine I think I’m not sure

Coke not Pepsi wrote:

I am Sam wrote:

....and now just 5 years later he shuffles along like a guy with a pogo stick in the backside, selling running gum

I never understood how chewing 1 stick of gum could give you enough electrolytes to help in any way!

electrolytes?

I am Sam wrote:

....and now just 5 years later he shuffles along like a guy with a pogo stick in the backside, selling running gum

Huh???

I remember watching a rodeo recently and the top moneymaker made about the same - $350k. I mentioned to my wife that the cowboys must have really loved it or had a low opportunity cost. They all get beat to hell and last a few years.

I wish our sport was more popular, at least more so than rodeo.

If he won a Gold instead of silver in 2013, how much more would he have been paid in 2015?

RunCzar wrote:

Nick just posted a new video where he talks about the most money he made in 1 year as a Pro.

He made $350k gross but after coaches, agents, tax, etc he ended up with $150k net income. I was actually kinda impressed....

Doesn’t seem like much at all. I bet there are swimmers, not silver medalists, who make more.

And why was 2015 his most lucrative year, and not the Olympic year, when the eyes of the world are on you?

And why did his coach and agent and taxes take 60% of his income? That seems outrageous.

CaptainPhillips wrote:

And I am almost certain, aside from any physical body issues (too short, for example), a pro runner most likely works just as hard, or has more athletic talent than someone hitting .125 in the big leagues.

Runner might work harder, but in no way is he more athletic than a major league baseball player. Baseball is a skill sport, and takes a level of hand eye coordination that just isn’t required and running.

Mikeh33 wrote:

CaptainPhillips wrote:

And I am almost certain, aside from any physical body issues (too short, for example), a pro runner most likely works just as hard, or has more athletic talent than someone hitting .125 in the big leagues.

Runner might work harder, but in no way is he more athletic than a major league baseball player. Baseball is a skill sport, and takes a level of hand eye coordination that just isn’t required and running.

Every major league baseball player has spent many more hours training for baseball than a runner has spent training for running. By work ethic and dedication, the major league baseball player has worked far harder to attain that than an Olympic runner.

Mikeh33 wrote:

And why did his coach and agent and taxes take 60% of his income? That seems outrageous.

Let's see Federal Income tax 93k, social security 8k, OR state tax 35k, agent/manager 15%*350=52k, coach 10%=35k?, healthcare/insurance etc. 10k? I can see that adding up to $200k pretty easily.

Here you go.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1Uv0loZx98

kmaclam wrote:

I am Sam wrote:

....and now just 5 years later he shuffles along like a guy with a pogo stick in the backside, selling running gum

Huh???

You haven't seen his youtubes?

Hard to imagine he was world class just a few years ago, hard to even imagine he was a serious runner in fact.

And why does that annoy you?