1,000th Best Athlete in Your Sport: How Much Do You Make?

Being the 1,000th best player in a given sport usually puts you into the “solid professional” or “fringe pro” tier.

You’re good enough to compete internationally, but not good enough to earn from the top leagues, sponsorships, or prize pools.

What you make depends heavily on the sport’s economics: global reach, prize money, sponsorship culture, and league structures.

Here’s a breakdown across many sports:

Tennis

• Around ATP/WTA rank #1,000: You’re mostly playing ITF Futures or Challenger qualifying. Prize money might total $10k–$25k/year before travel costs. Many lose money unless supported by sponsors, federations, or family.

Golf

• Around #1,000 in the world: Playing mini-tours, developmental tours, or rarely qualifying for a DP World / PGA Tour event. Annual take-home might be $15k–$40k, but expenses (travel, entry fees, caddies) often exceed income. Many work part-time jobs.

Soccer (Football)

• FIFA rankings don’t go to individuals, but #1,000 in player value roughly equals a journeyman in smaller leagues (2nd division Europe, top leagues in Asia or Africa). Salaries range $40k–$150k/year, with wide variance.

Basketball

• NBA has ~450 players; #1,000 means G-League, EuroLeague, or Asian leagues. Salaries range from $40k in G-League to $250k–$500k in Europe/China.

Baseball

• MLB has ~1,200 roster spots. #1,000 is a mid-level minor leaguer. Salaries are notoriously low: $15k–$30k/year in MiLB unless on a big signing bonus.

American Football (NFL)

• NFL has ~1,700 players. #1,000 = back-up, practice squad, or fringe starter. Practice squad minimum is about $200k/year, active roster minimum $795k/year. So the 1,000th best is easily a six-figure earner.

Ice Hockey

• NHL has ~750 players. #1,000 = AHL starter, KHL, or European pro leagues. Salaries range $70k–$300k depending on league.

Track & Field

• Global sport but money is concentrated at the very top. The #1,000th ranked sprinter, thrower, or jumper often makes $0–$10k/year from competition. Might get a small federation stipend or shoe company support.

Swimming

• Similar to track. The 1,000th ranked swimmer makes nothing directly. May get college scholarships (in U.S.) or small federation stipends in other countries.

MMA / Boxing

• UFC has ~700 fighters, so #1,000 means local circuits. Fighters make $500–$5,000 per fight, maybe $15k–$30k/year before costs. Some break even, many lose money unless they coach on the side.

Esports (League of Legends, CS:GO, Dota, etc.)

• Prize money and salaries are highly skewed. The #1,000th ranked player earns very little — maybe $5k–$20k/year, unless streaming or coaching provides extra income.

Cricket

• #1,000 globally = playing domestic leagues in smaller cricketing nations. Earnings could be $20k–$80k/year, unless breaking into IPL or other big leagues.

Cycling

• UCI rankings beyond top 500 = continental team riders. Salaries range €20k–€60k/year, many closer to minimum wage for pro cyclists.

Rowing, Wrestling, Judo, etc.

• Olympic sports outside the big money circuits. #1,000th best earns close to zero, maybe federation support, small sponsorships, or coaching income.

💡 General pattern:

• Team sports with major leagues (NFL, NBA, soccer, hockey): Even the 1,000th player can earn $100k+, sometimes millions.

• Individual sports (tennis, golf, combat sports): The 1,000th is often breaking even or losing money without outside funding.

• Olympic sports (track, swimming, wrestling): The 1,000th is usually amateur or semi-pro, with little to no income.

Here’s a clear comparison table showing how much the 1,000th best player in the world typically makes, by sport:

Earnings of the 1,000th Best Player by Sport

👉 At a glance:

• Best-paying at #1,000: American football, basketball, hockey — league structures guarantee solid salaries even for fringe pros.

• Worst-paying at #1,000: Tennis, golf, Olympic sports — money is concentrated at the very top, leaving the #1,000th ranked athlete struggling or subsidizing their career.