how much do pros make? all all the tinman elite guys sponsored? guesses on hocker and tear salary?

The reality is that most of the Tinman guys are supported by their parents (except financially for Drew who has a nice contract). But yea, if you see a video of these guys driving a Tesla around Boulder eating out all the time...yea that's not running money from a 13:30 5k. That's Mommy and Daddy.

Hocker and Teare are a bit different because they've laid down serious times and placings/titles + are young so I'd wager $200-$250k.

yea that makes sense. part of me wants to bash those kids that are just supported by the parents. i obviously dont know any of their personal situations but parsons for instance comes off as having money from his parents - i just wasnt sure if he might also be on a solid salary from adidas or not. its easy to hate on those who are just getting money from mommy and daddy to run/train full-time and not have to bother with an actual job..but part of me is just jealous lol because id love to be able to do what they're doing and not have to worry about money. priviledge and wealth must be nice.

crazy to think that hocker and teare are making such good money as brand new pros. 200k is a fat salary and i think that could be accurate too, its just crazy to me how much the best guys can make from running. must be amazing to do what you enjoy and be making a ton of $ from it as well

I'm just spitballing on Hockers and Teares salary, but it wouldn't surprise me if they make that. Nike likes to pay a lot for the young talent and national titles will bring bonus money to them.

Privilege and wealth are nice yes, but it also skews your views on things like knowing you won't make the US team and then changing countries so you have a better shot. Stuff like that rubs people the wrong way.

yup im not impressed with guys training in the US and are americans at the end of the day, but repping their other nationality they hold. seems like a cop out since its easier for them to make a world team. still at the end of the day im sure they're enjoying life with no job and being able to be a pro runner and train in their 20s and post on social media all day. ill hate a bit that they are being supported by their parents through it, but i guess its driven by jealously for me personally haha.

They all sign strict NDAs so we'll never know exactly. There's a Nick Symmonds video (I clicked around his channel for a while before he went all-in on clickbait) where he says he got like 90K for getting silver(?) at Worlds. I was surprised that it was that much given what we know about the paltry sums offered for many other track and road races.

On the one hand, it seems lame that you can be the best in the US in your event and still make significantly less than the minimum salary in the NFL or NBA. On the other hand, it's still good money and I won't shed any tears for them. The people I have more sympathy for are the people who are fast enough to make US finals in their event but still need to work at a shoe store to make ends meet. In a different sport that equivalent performer can easily support themselves by competing.

This is from 2018, but a good place to start. Doesn't answer all the questions, but it's a good read.

letsrun.com

Pro Runners' Salaries: How Much Do Pro Runners Make? We Unveil One of The Sport's Biggest Secrets

LetsRun.comSeptember 7

2018 Pro Runner Salary Survery

Open link

Whose tear? Yes of course all the Tinmen guys are sponsered. Not sure why anyone's income should be your beeswax.

I mean, pro salaries should be more widely shared so they have more negotiating power. This probably isn't the right forum for that.

I would guess the Nike kids get around $100k/year with certain things you have to do/hit to get all of it & the ability to make a good bit more in bonuses.

I would guess that Tinman runners probably have a base that they all receive that basically covers enough to keep the dream alive -- $30k-40k/year. Some of them probably make a little more based on PRs & bonuses/incentives.

Hunter got ~400K a year for 10 years + college paid for + a coaching stipend. Not sure who started the 100k rumor on here, but its just simply not correct. Also, according to Rojo, Kessler got close to ~600k last year.

Wouldnt shock me if Hocker was closer to 500k, but he is also probably the best collegiate prospect in a long time (Centro?). Most pros though are well under 100k with a lot of the money structured through performance incentives. The top few American guys that are competing or estimated to compete for global medals in a few years can get a bit more. Africans get pennies compared to Americans, even guys that can run 12:50 or 2:03. Guys like Kipchoge/Bekele will make a lot, but your average African Olympic finalist makes pennies compared to them.

That’s wild to me. On one hand I can see how a talent like hocker can command that much money. On the other hand I still see track as nowhere near as popular or profitable as major sports (football, bball). is Nike really benefiting financially from paying 500k a year? Or are they losing money on him? It just baffles me to think that hocker is somehow making Nike half a million dollars annually - sure maybe some kids buy Nike gear cus they see him, but I just am shocked to think Nike shells out 500k to him to run when they could easily pay him half of that or something. Not arguing at all but I just wonder how the financials and benefits really work for these companies and the athletes they sponsor. I’m sure I’m not looking at it all correctly or don’t know the full picture

I’m more curious at how old you are, and still writing “lol”.

Do not forget Drew charges the local kids $200/month as well.

Or it would give the companies more negotiating power. If Nike finds out that top pros only earn 1/2 as much as rumored, they would offer about the same.

Im pretty sure Nike knows how much money people are making lol.

Every year we debate this and come to same conclusion no one knows anything . why don’t share I agree . another reason why the sport is a disaster

Just spit balling here but whether or not they lose money on their athletes directly it's all about building the brand. When high school runners see the best runners winning in a particular brand or shoe, it stays with them and could be worth tens of thousands of dollars over a customer's life time

There is insight. We published this piece in 2018.

letsrun.com

Pro Runners' Salaries: How Much Do Pro Runners Make? We Unveil One of The Sport's Biggest Secrets

LetsRun.comSeptember 7

2018 Pro Runner Salary Survery

Open link

Would you ever do something similar to this again Rojo? Thought this was interesting, would be curious as to how much agents think some of these new guys like Hocker/Teare/Fisher are making.

Those who get paid something knows those contracts don't last forever. We still have plenty of off-time for over two years until January, 2024 when the big sponsorships kick in for Paris. It's an opportune time to obtain your Crisper, Java, Mandarin, AWS, Real Estate, CPA, etc. certifications so you can earn a living after athletics.