$3M vs. $5M: What Pays More Than a Pro Athlete Career?

Most people know the odds of going pro in sports are slim. But what really surprises people?

You can actually make more money in a STEM career than in professional sports — and with far fewer injuries, setbacks, or career cliff-dives.

Let’s talk real numbers:

• A professional athlete earns about $605,000/year on average. That’s $3 million total — over a typical 5-year career.

• A STEM professional earns around $128,000/year, but across a 40-year career, that’s over $5.1 million in lifetime income.

So while the sports paycheck sounds huge, it’s more like a short-term spike. STEM is a marathon, not a sprint — with way more long-term payoff.

And the odds of ever cashing that pro sports check? They’re incredibly small.

Out of 10,000 high school athletes:

• Just 18 will make it to the NFL
• 12 to the MLB
• 5 to the NBA
• 3 to the WNBA

That’s not negativity — that’s math.

It’s easy to get caught up in the dream. Kids love sports. Parents love cheering them on. And the truth is, there are some amazing life lessons in playing on a team, showing up, working hard, and chasing a goal. Those lessons matter.

But it’s also important to ask: What’s the plan after the dream?

Because even for the handful of athletes who do beat the odds, the clock starts ticking immediately.

The average professional career lasts:

• NFL: 3.3 years
• NBA: 4.8 years
• MLB: 5.6 years
• NHL: 5.5 years

Many leave the game with injuries that affect them for life. Some leave with no backup plan. And far too many — 16% of NFL players, for example — file for bankruptcy within a dozen years of retirement.

By contrast, the average STEM career starts in your early 20s and can stretch well into your 60s. It’s flexible. You can change industries. You can work remote. You can move up. You can start your own company. You can teach others.

And the demand? Massive.

STEM jobs are projected to grow by 10.4% over the next decade — nearly three times faster than non-STEM jobs. That’s 3.5 million new roles by 2033.

And they aren’t all lab coats and PhDs. Today’s STEM careers span game development, cybersecurity, robotics, health tech, AI, green energy, space, and more. Many roles don’t require a graduate degree — just experience, curiosity, and the right exposure early on.

So here’s the question for parents:

Are we putting our time, energy, and resources where the opportunities really are?

Each year:

• $4.2 billion is awarded in athletic scholarships
• $1.6 billion goes to STEM scholarships

And yet, fewer than 2% of college students get athletic scholarships at all. Most kids — even great athletes — are paying their way through college. And in a world where a $456 average scholarship is all most STEM students receive, the imbalance is hard to ignore.

We say we want to prepare kids for the future. But the future is being built in classrooms, garages, and makerspaces — not just on fields and courts.

Sports still have a place, of course. They build grit, confidence, and camaraderie. Kids should absolutely play and compete and push themselves. But let’s not confuse a valuable activity with a realistic career plan.

There’s room for both.

Let them shoot hoops and build rockets. Let them run drills and write code.

Let’s get as excited about a first Arduino project or Scratch game as we do about a game-winning goal.

And for the kids who love both? That’s even better.

The future of sports is becoming increasingly technical:

• Data analysts track every play
• Biomechanical engineers design safer equipment
• VR developers create training simulations
• Coders and designers build eSports platforms and sports apps

Kids can love the game and still build a career around it — just not always on the field.

So here’s the takeaway:

Encourage dreams, yes. But also show them options.

Support the spark of curiosity.

And if your child likes to build, problem-solve, or figure things out — give that just as much attention as a jump shot or sprint time.

The world needs more creators, builders, engineers, and innovators.

And kids? They’re ready — as long as someone shows them the path.

Do you ever find yourself curious to learn more about how to get started? That’s exactly what we do at iCode Westchase.

👉 Book a free trial class and let your child explore what’s possible.