Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

Median pay, hourly rates, salary ranges, and best-paying states for Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners — from official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$34,980
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$16.82
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$48,270
entry level starts ~$22,090
Pay Grade
C
below-average pay · 9,000 employed

How much do Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners make?

Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners earn a median annual salary of $34,980 in the United States, which works out to roughly $16.82 per hour for full-time work. Most earn between $22,090 at the entry level and $48,270 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $28,150 and $44,840 a year.

That is $26,410 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners salary range by percentile

Half of all Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners earn between $28,150 and $44,840 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$22,090$10.62
25th percentile (early career)$28,150$13.53
50th percentile (median)$34,980$16.82
75th percentile (experienced)$44,840$21.56
90th percentile (top earners)$48,270$23.21

Highest-paying states for Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. New York leads the country for Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners pay at $54,740 a year, followed by New Jersey ($48,260) and Massachusetts ($47,720). At the other end, West Virginia posts the lowest median at $19,740 — a gap of $35,000 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1New York$54,740$26.32+56%
2New Jersey$48,260$23.20+38%
3Massachusetts$47,720$22.94+36%
4Wisconsin$47,250$22.72+35%
5California$44,860$21.57+28%

Workforce and education

About 9,000 people work as Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $36,450 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, per O*NET occupation data.

Frequently asked questions

How much do Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners make in the United States?
The median Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners salary in the United States is $34,980 per year, or about $16.82 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $22,090, while the top 10% of earners make $48,270 or more.
How does Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of C (below-average pay), the Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners median of $34,980 is below the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners the most?
New York is the highest-paying state for Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners, with a median salary of $54,740 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
What education do Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners need?
For most positions, a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, according to O*NET occupation data from the U.S. Department of Labor.
How many Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners work in the United States?
About 9,000 people were employed as Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

Related salaries

Other personal care & service roles with similar pay.

Skincare Specialist

$45,330
median pay · 73,000 employed

Concierge

$38,950
median pay · 49,000 employed

Gambling Service Worker, All Other

$36,310
median pay · 14,000 employed

Recreation Worker

$36,560
median pay · 331,000 employed

Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists

$35,790
median pay · 306,000 employed

Gambling Dealer

$34,320
median pay · 84,000 employed
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.