Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for gambling and sports book writers and runnerss across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).
Job Outlook, 2024–2034
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Salary Map
Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.
💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States
- New York$56,940
- Ohio$51,510
- New Jersey$46,330
- Massachusetts$44,780
- Washington$44,500
📉 5 Lowest-Paying States
- Montana$22,360
- West Virginia$24,790
- Louisiana$24,820
- Mississippi$28,640
- North Dakota$30,870
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $56,940 | $54,740 | $27 | +56.2% | 100 |
| 2 | Ohio | $51,510 | $38,460 | $25 | +41.3% | 360 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $46,330 | $48,260 | $22 | +27.1% | 90 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $44,780 | $47,720 | $22 | +22.9% | — |
| 5 | Washington | $44,500 | $42,180 | $21 | +22.1% | 220 |
| 6 | California | $43,760 | $44,860 | $21 | +20.1% | 1,480 |
| 7 | Wisconsin | $42,110 | $47,250 | $20 | +15.5% | 80 |
| 8 | Minnesota | $38,860 | $35,370 | $19 | +6.6% | 350 |
| 9 | Illinois | $38,330 | $34,610 | $18 | +5.2% | 130 |
| 10 | Kentucky | $37,940 | $37,910 | $18 | +4.1% | 60 |
| 11 | Nevada | $37,580 | $37,500 | $18 | +3.1% | 1,440 |
| 12 | Florida | $36,590 | $34,160 | $18 | +0.4% | — |
| 13 | Michigan | $36,550 | $37,720 | $18 | +0.3% | — |
| 14 | Maryland | $36,290 | $35,230 | $17 | -0.4% | — |
| 15 | Arizona | $35,810 | $35,640 | $17 | -1.8% | 260 |
| 16 | Iowa | $35,680 | $37,440 | $17 | -2.1% | 100 |
| 17 | Texas | $35,650 | $30,660 | $17 | -2.2% | 440 |
| 18 | Connecticut | $35,450 | $34,420 | $17 | -2.7% | 70 |
| 19 | Colorado | $34,570 | $34,450 | $17 | -5.2% | — |
| 20 | South Carolina | $34,410 | $33,650 | $17 | -5.6% | 130 |
| 21 | Indiana | $34,040 | $32,730 | $16 | -6.6% | 90 |
| 22 | Pennsylvania | $33,870 | $30,690 | $16 | -7.1% | 90 |
| 23 | Kansas | $32,630 | $31,550 | $16 | -10.5% | 40 |
| 24 | South Dakota | $32,290 | $30,620 | $16 | -11.4% | 80 |
| 25 | Nebraska | $30,950 | $29,670 | $15 | -15.1% | 360 |
| 26 | North Dakota | $30,870 | $30,640 | $15 | -15.3% | 110 |
| 27 | Mississippi | $28,640 | $28,340 | $14 | -21.4% | 110 |
| 28 | Louisiana | $24,820 | $26,620 | $12 | -31.9% | 180 |
| 29 | West Virginia | $24,790 | $19,740 | $12 | -32% | 180 |
| 30 | Montana | $22,360 | $22,030 | $11 | -38.7% | 1,050 |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 36 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $57,880 | $62,930 | 90 |
| 2 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $52,140 | $51,940 | 60 |
| 3 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $47,720 | $45,940 | 140 |
| 4 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $43,790 | $45,370 | 90 |
| 5 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $43,680 | $43,000 | — |
| 6 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $39,660 | $41,440 | 70 |
| 7 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $38,390 | $38,010 | 1,190 |
| 8 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $37,000 | $36,870 | 190 |
| 9 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $36,360 | $40,140 | 240 |
| 10 | Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $36,190 | $36,310 | 30 |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing gambling and sports book writers and runnerss (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries | $37,360 | $41,190 | 490 |
| 2 | Spectator Sports | $37,190 | $41,070 | 470 |
| 3 | Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS | $36,700 | $38,050 | 1,320 |
| 4 | Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $36,700 | $38,050 | 1,320 |
| 5 | Other Amusement and Recreation Industries | $36,540 | $37,800 | — |
| 6 | Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations | $36,110 | $38,530 | 630 |
| 7 | Civic and Social Organizations | $36,110 | $39,370 | 520 |
| 8 | Sector 81 - Other Services (except Public Administration) | $36,110 | $38,530 | 630 |
| 9 | Amusement Parks and Arcades | $36,100 | $40,070 | 210 |
| 10 | Sector 71 - Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | $35,330 | $36,590 | 6,610 |
| 11 | Social Assistance | $35,100 | $34,680 | — |
| 12 | Sector 62 - Health Care and Social Assistance | $35,100 | $34,680 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do gambling and sports book writers and runners make in the U.S.?
The median gambling and sports book writers and runners salary in the United States is $34,980 per year (mean $36,450), and about 80% earn between $22,090 and $48,270.
How much do gambling and sports book writers and runners make per hour?
Roughly $18 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $36,450 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays gambling and sports book writers and runners the most?
New York has the highest average pay for gambling and sports book writers and runners at $56,940 per year (median $54,740).
What is the job outlook for gambling and sports book writers and runners?
Employment is projected to change -6.1% from 2024 to 2034 (Decline), with about 1,200 openings per year.