Sporting and Athletic Goods Manufacturing — Average Employee Salary

The average employee in the sporting and athletic goods manufacturing industry earns $70,114 per year ($33.71/hour), according to Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW data.

$70,114
Avg Annual Pay
44,045
Total Employees
2,313
Total Establishments
19
Avg Employees/Business

What Do Sporting and Athletic Goods Manufacturing Workers Earn?

At $70,114/year (equivalent to $33.71/hour for a full-time worker), sporting and athletic goods manufacturing wages are near the national average of ~$65,000.

The typical sporting and athletic goods manufacturing business employs 19 people. These are mid-sized operations where payroll is a significant but manageable expense.

Wages as a Percentage of Revenue

20.1%

For the average sporting and athletic goods manufacturing business generating $6.6M/year with 19 employees at $70,114 each, total payroll represents roughly 20.1% of revenue. Labor costs are relatively low compared to revenue — other costs (materials, equipment, overhead) dominate.

What This Means for Business Owners

If you're starting or running a sporting and athletic goods manufacturingbusiness, here's what the wage data means for your bottom line:

  • Per-employee cost: Budget approximately $91,148/year per employee (salary + ~30% for benefits, taxes, and insurance).
  • Typical team size: 19 employees = ~$1,332,166/year in base payroll.
  • Hourly equivalent: $33.71/hour base — factor this into pricing and project estimates.
  • Revenue needed: With average revenue of $6.6M/business, you need strong utilization rates to maintain healthy margins after payroll.

See how these wages compare to total revenue and profit margins.

View full Sporting and Athletic Goods Manufacturing revenue benchmarks →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do sporting and athletic goods manufacturing employees make?
The average sporting and athletic goods manufacturing employee earns $70,114 per year, which is equivalent to $33.71/hour for a full-time worker (2,080 hours/year). This is above the national average of approximately $65,000.
How many people work in the sporting and athletic goods manufacturing industry?
The sporting and athletic goods manufacturing industry employs 44,045 workers across 2,313 establishments in the United States. The average business in this industry has approximately 19 employees.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW 2023).