39 Series · SOC 39-3012
Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $34,980
- Median / year
- +14.8%
- 2024→2025
- $48,270
- Top 10% earn
- -6.1%
- Growth '24–'34
- 8,950
- Estimated US jobs
Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners earn a median of $34,980 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $34,980, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $22,090 (10th percentile) to $48,270 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 8,950 estimated jobs in covered establishments. The highest published state median in this ranking is New York ($54,740).
The pay verdict
Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners earn a median of $34,980, putting them among the lower-paid US occupations and higher than 2% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Personal Care and Service, it ranks #27 of 32 by median pay. Employment is projected to fall 6.1% by 2034.
- $34,980
- Median annual wage
- Top 98%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #27 of 32
- in Personal Care and Service
- 2.2×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: New York at $54,740. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Observed pay change
What changed, BLS OEWS 2019–2025
- The published national median for Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners moved from $24,750 in May 2019 to $34,980 in May 2025 (+41.3%).
- Across the 749 occupations priced in both releases under SOC-2018, the median occupation changed +24.5%.
- Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners sits +16.9 pp ahead of that median, nominal dollars, no price deflator applied.
Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners (SOC 39-3012) has a national median of $34,980 per year in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release. The published 10th-to-90th-percentile boundaries run from $22,090 to $48,270, and the published mean is $36,450. Those summary statistics describe the estimated distribution; their difference alone does not identify its cause. OEWS estimates 8,950 jobs in covered establishments nationally. WageDex has published rows for 30 state or territory areas and 36 metropolitan or nonmetropolitan wage areas. The published national median moved from $30,460 in the May 2024 OEWS release to $34,980 in May 2025, a rise of $4,520 (+14.8%). This is a change between two BLS survey estimates, not an inflation-adjusted same-worker pay raise.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a -6.1% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which we classify as declining relative to the all-occupations baseline of 3.1%. About 1,200 openings are projected per year from growth, occupational transfers, and labor-force exits. BLS assigns High school diploma or equivalent as typical education needed for entry, and BLS classifies its typical on-the-job preparation as short-term on-the-job training. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for this role in the current release. The safety panel below shows its broad Personal Care and Service Occupations SOC-group context and is not an occupation-level measurement or ranking.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. New York pays the highest state median at $54,740, which is +56% above the national figure. The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ at $57,880. The observed difference does not identify its cause. Pair the national median with the state and metropolitan-area rows below while keeping the geography and statistic consistent. OEWS includes tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses, but not employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, or nonproduction bonuses. See our methodology for the sourcing and calculation details.
Median Salary
$34,980
per year
Median Hourly
$16.82/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$36,450
average
Employment
8,950
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$34,980 Bottom 2% higher than 2% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Read the chart as text · as of May 2025
| Band | Count | Share |
|---|---|---|
| $0–$20,000 | 0 US occupations | 0% |
| $20,000–$40,000 (this entry) | 98 US occupations | 12% |
| $40,000–$60,000 | 298 US occupations | 36% |
| $60,000–$80,000 | 209 US occupations | 25% |
| $80,000–$100,000 | 82 US occupations | 10% |
| $100,000–$120,000 | 58 US occupations | 7% |
| $120,000–$140,000 | 32 US occupations | 4% |
| $140,000–$160,000 | 14 US occupations | 2% |
| $160,000–$180,000 | 9 US occupations | 1% |
| $180,000 and above | 25 US occupations | 3% |
$34,980 · 2nd percentile of 825 US occupations
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 39-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Read the chart as text
- Childcare Workers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -2.9%, Median annual wage $34980
- Amusement and Recrea…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.4%, Median annual wage $32150
- Recreation Workers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.1%, Median annual wage $36560
- Exercise Trainers an…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 11.9%, Median annual wage $47160
- Hairdressers, Hairst…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.6%, Median annual wage $35790
- Animal Caretakers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 12.1%, Median annual wage $35360
- Manicurists and Pedi…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 7%, Median annual wage $35760
- Ushers, Lobby Attend…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.2%, Median annual wage $32910
- First-Line Superviso…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6.7%, Median annual wage $48590
- First-Line Superviso…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6.3%, Median annual wage $48560
- Residential Advisors: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.8%, Median annual wage $42240
- Gambling Dealers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -0.6%, Median annual wage $34320
- Skincare Specialists: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6.7%, Median annual wage $45330
- Personal Care and Se…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6.4%, Median annual wage $41600
- Tour and Travel Guides: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 8.1%, Median annual wage $38120
- Concierges: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.3%, Median annual wage $38950
- Funeral Attendants: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.1%, Median annual wage $35680
- Baggage Porters and …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -1.6%, Median annual wage $37080
- First-Line Superviso…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2%, Median annual wage $63820
- Morticians, Undertak…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.1%, Median annual wage $55010
- Animal Trainers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.1%, Median annual wage $39990
- Locker Room, Coatroo…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6.4%, Median annual wage $36300
- Barbers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.1%, Median annual wage $38210
- Gambling Service Wor…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -0.6%, Median annual wage $36310
- Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -6.1%, Median annual wage $34980
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
-6.1%
Declining
Annual Openings
1,200
per year (projected)
Employment Change
-500
8,200 (2024) → 7,700 (2034)
Typical Education
High school diploma or equivalent
On-the-Job Training
Short-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Personal Care and Service Occupations context
Broad SOC context, not an occupation grade
Fatality Rate
1.5/100K
Injury Rate
2/100
Danger Index
8.8/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ Conduct gambling tables or games, such as dice, roulette, cards, or keno, and ensure that game rules are followed.
- ▸ Operate games in which players bet that a ball will come to rest in a particular slot on a rotating wheel, performing actions such as spinning the wheel and releasing the ball.
- ▸ Exchange paper currency for playing chips or coins.
- ▸ Compare the house hand with players' hands to determine the winner.
- ▸ Open or close cash floats or game tables.
- ▸ Pay off or move bets as established by game rules and procedures.
- ▸ Collect bets in the form of cash or chips, verifying and recording amounts.
- ▸ Start gaming equipment that randomly selects numbered balls and announce winning numbers and colors.
- ▸ Check to ensure that all players have placed their bets before play begins.
- ▸ Collect cards or tickets from players.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners pay history, 2015–2025
Published national median across 11 BLS OEWS releases. Nominal dollars, not inflation-adjusted.
Read the chart as text
| Period | National median |
|---|---|
| 2015 | $22,700 |
| 2016 | $22,600 |
| 2017 | $24,030 |
| 2018 | $24,430 |
| 2019 | $24,750 |
| 2020 | $25,220 |
| 2021 | $27,530 |
| 2022 | $28,940 |
| 2023 | $29,170 |
| 2024 | $30,460 |
| 2025 | $34,980 |
2015 median
$22,700
2025 median
$34,980
2019–2025 change (same SOC)
+$10,230 (+41.3%)
Avg/year (same SOC)
+5.9%
| Release | Median | Change | Estimated jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2015 | $22,700 | First banked release | 12,370 |
| May 2016 | $22,600 | -0.4% | 11,460 |
| May 2017 | $24,030 | +6.3% | 11,210 |
| May 2018 | $24,430 | +1.7% | 11,150 |
| May 2019 | $24,750 | Classification break | 9,970 |
| May 2020 | $25,220 | +1.9% | 7,500 |
| May 2021 | $27,530 | +9.2% | 7,340 |
| May 2022 | $28,940 | +5.1% | 7,910 |
| May 2023 | $29,170 | +0.8% | 8,700 |
| May 2024 | $30,460 | +4.4% | 7,600 |
| May 2025 | $34,980 | +14.8% | 8,950 |
Across the 11 releases WageDex holds for this occupation, the published national median went from $22,700 in May 2015 to $34,980 in May 2025. Within the SOC-2018 classification (2019–2025), the like-for-like change averages +5.9% per year in nominal terms. Within the same SOC classification, estimated employment went from 9,970 in May 2019 to 8,950 in May 2025.
Each figure is a separate BLS survey estimate, so a change between releases reflects the estimated occupation-wide median in each year. It is not the raise any individual worker received, and it is not adjusted for inflation. Years where BLS did not publish an annual median for this occupation are omitted rather than filled in. This span also crosses a classification change: releases before May 2019 use the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification and later releases use the 2018 SOC, so figures either side of that boundary are not strictly like-for-like. Headline change rates on this page use only the same-classification subset.
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 30 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $54,740 | +56% above national |
| 2 | New Jersey | $48,260 | +38% above national |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $47,720 | +36% above national |
| 4 | Wisconsin | $47,250 | +35% above national |
| 5 | California | $44,860 | +28% above national |
| 6 | Washington | $42,180 | +21% above national |
| 7 | Ohio | $38,460 | +10% above national |
| 8 | Kentucky | $37,910 | +8% above national |
| 9 | Michigan | $37,720 | +8% above national |
| 10 | Nevada | $37,500 | +7% above national |
| 11 | Iowa | $37,440 | +7% above national |
| 12 | Arizona | $35,640 | +2% above national |
| 13 | Minnesota | $35,370 | +1% above national |
| 14 | Maryland | $35,230 | +1% above national |
| 15 | Illinois | $34,610 | 1% below national |
| 16 | Colorado | $34,450 | 2% below national |
| 17 | Connecticut | $34,420 | 2% below national |
| 18 | Florida | $34,160 | 2% below national |
| 19 | South Carolina | $33,650 | 4% below national |
| 20 | Indiana | $32,730 | 6% below national |
| 21 | Kansas | $31,550 | 10% below national |
| 22 | Pennsylvania | $30,690 | 12% below national |
| 23 | Texas | $30,660 | 12% below national |
| 24 | North Dakota | $30,640 | 12% below national |
| 25 | South Dakota | $30,620 | 12% below national |
| 26 | Nebraska | $29,670 | 15% below national |
| 27 | Mississippi | $28,340 | 19% below national |
| 28 | Louisiana | $26,620 | 24% below national |
| 29 | Montana | $22,030 | 37% below national |
| 30 | West Virginia | $19,740 | 44% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 27 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $57,880 | +65% above national |
| 2 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $52,140 | +49% above national |
| 3 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $47,720 | +36% above national |
| 4 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $43,790 | +25% above national |
| 5 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $43,680 | +25% above national |
| 6 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $39,660 | +13% above national |
| 7 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $38,390 | +10% above national |
| 8 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $37,000 | +6% above national |
| 9 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $36,360 | +4% above national |
| 10 | Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $36,190 | +3% above national |
| 11 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $35,580 | +2% above national |
| 12 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $35,440 | +1% above national |
| 13 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $35,370 | +1% above national |
| 14 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $35,100 | same as national |
| 15 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $34,980 | same as national |
| 16 | Reno, NV | $33,780 | 3% below national |
| 17 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $31,870 | 9% below national |
| 18 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $31,690 | 9% below national |
| 19 | Omaha, NE-IA | $30,610 | 12% below national |
| 20 | Oklahoma City, OK | $29,970 | 14% below national |
| 21 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $29,800 | 15% below national |
| 22 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $29,780 | 15% below national |
| 23 | Lincoln, NE | $29,670 | 15% below national |
| 24 | Fargo, ND-MN | $28,620 | 18% below national |
| 25 | Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $28,580 | 18% below national |
| 26 | Missoula, MT | $22,580 | 35% below national |
| 27 | Helena, MT | $22,300 | 36% below national |
Same SOC major group
Other detailed occupations in SOC major group 39 (Personal Care and Service Occupations) - category peers, not a pay match.
Amusement and Recreation Attendants
SOC 39-3091
Animal Caretakers
SOC 39-2021
Animal Trainers
SOC 39-2011
Baggage Porters and Bellhops
SOC 39-6011
Barbers
SOC 39-5011
Showing 5 of 31 detailed occupations BLS assigns to this SOC major group.
Nationwide occupations with similar pay or employment scale
Two OEWS peer sets outside this SOC major group (Personal Care and Service Occupations). Same-category cards above stay inside the group; these neighborhoods are cross-group nearest neighbors on national median pay ($34,980 here) and reported employment (8,950 jobs here).
Similar median pay
Nearest other detailed occupations by BLS OEWS national median annual wage.
Similar employment scale
Nearest headcount peers (floor 1,000 national jobs), distinct from the pay column.
Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS national median annual wage and reported employment. Employment peers exclude occupations already listed in the pay column so the two link sets stay distinct.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners make? ▼
Where does Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners pay rank nationally? ▼
What state pays Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners the most? ▼
What education do Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners need? ▼
Does BLS publish a safety rate for Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners? ▼
Is Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners a good career? ▼
How does Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners pay vary by state? ▼
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What to do with this data
How to use Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners pay figures in a real decision
- The 75th-percentile wage is about $44,840/year. Treat it as the upper-quartile market boundary, not an automatic target for experience alone; role scope, location, industry, credentials, performance, and employer context still need separate evidence. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: New York leads at $54,740/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Occupation wages use BLS OEWS May 2025; outlook uses BLS Employment Projections for 2024–2034; safety, skills, knowledge, and task panels identify their BLS or O*NET sources in context. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.