pba tour earnings 2022

How Much Do Pro Bowlers Make Per Tournament? The Shocking Payouts Revealed!

• Post published: 1 January 2024
• Reading time: 11 mins read

Bowling may seem like a casual hobby to most, but for professional bowlers, it’s a way of life.

The top athletes in the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) compete in tournaments year-round with hopes of taking home lucrative prize purses and coveted titles.

But just how much money can pro bowlers make at major tournaments?

Payout structures vary based on the type and prominence of each event, but payouts frequently reach five or six figures for the top finishers.

For context, the PBA offers over $6 million in total prize money annually across hundreds of events.

While it takes immense skill to succeed, the financial upside of professional bowling is higher than many realize.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll break down typical payouts for different levels of PBA tournaments and reveal just how much pro bowlers can make per event when they are at the top of their game.

How Payouts Are Structured in PBA Tournaments

Before diving into earnings, it’s helpful to understand how prize money is distributed in professional bowling events.

Payout percentages and numbers of players paid vary based on the type, size, and prominence of each tournament. However, there are some common structures:

• Major tournaments usually pay the top 25% or 33% of the field.
• Smaller events may only pay the top 10 or 15 finishers.
• Payouts are graduated, with the winner earning the largest percentage (around 30%), the runner-up earning less (around 20%), and payments decreasing from there.
• Regional events have lower purses and flatter payouts spread across more finishers.

For example, a tournament with 100 entries and a $100,000 prize fund may pay out like:

1st Place: $30,000 (30%)

2nd Place: $20,000 (20%)

3rd Place: $15,000 (15%)

4th Place: $10,000 (10%)

5th Place: $8,000 (8%)

6th-10th Place: $5,000 (5% each)

11th-25th Place: $2,000 (2% each)

Payout structures reward those at the very top, while still distributing prize money deeper into the field.

Major tournaments offer the biggest purses and highest prizes for winners.

Typical Payouts for Different PBA Tournaments

Now let’s look at the potential winnings up for grabs at various levels of PBA events.

Major Tournaments: $30,000+ for 1st Place

The PBA’s marquee tournaments offer the richest prizes and most prestige. These “majors” include the USBC Masters , U.S. Open , PBA Tournament of Champions , and PBA World Championship .

With first-place prizes reaching $30,000 or more, these high-profile majors give the top stars a chance to win big. Recent examples:

• 2022 U.S. Open : $60,000 to winner Anthony Simonsen
• 2022 PBA World Championship : $60,000 to winner E.J. Tackett
• 2021 PBA Tournament of Champions : $30,000 to winner Kyle Troup

These big-money events can vault a player’s season earnings with one hot week.

Regular PBA Tour Stops: $20,000+ for 1st

The core events on the PBA Tour calendar are the 30-40 standard tournaments that make up the winter and summer seasons. These competitions comprise the bulk of the schedule.

While not quite as lucrative as the majors, PBA Tour stops still offer large five-figure prizes to winners, usually $20,000 and up. Some recent examples:

• 2022 PBA Houston Open : $30,000 to winner Anthony Simonsen
• 2022 PBA Indianapolis Open : $20,000 to winner Jakob Butturff
• 2021 PBA Reno Open : $20,000 to winner Tom Daugherty

With skilled play, a professional bowler can rack up several tour victories per season and build substantial winnings.

Regional Events: $5,000 to $7,500 for 1st

Below the main PBA Tour are the PBA’s regional circuits held across the U.S.

These weekend events have smaller fields and prize funds, making them accessible for up-and-coming pros.

Payouts at regional competitions are much smaller compared to the premier events.

A typical regional PBA tournament will award between $5,000 and $7,500 to the winner.

But they offer crucial experience and rankings points for qualifiers aspiring to reach the big leagues.

While the paydays aren’t enormous, stacking several regional titles over a season provides a healthy income for bowlers earlier in their careers.

Total Season Earnings for Top PBA Bowlers

To further illustrate the earning potential in professional bowling, here’s a look at the total season incomes of the PBA’s top stars:

• Jason Belmonte : $288,338 (2022), $165,637 (2021)
• Anthony Simonsen : $219,750 (2022), $163,490 (2021)
• Kyle Troup : $185,955 (2022), $166,657 (2021)
• E.J. Tackett : $182,490 (2022), $152,672 (2021)
• Tom Daugherty : $140,280 (2022), $113,800 (2021)
• Chris Via : $122,930 (2022), $96,595 (2021)

The list shows the top players in the PBA earning well over $100,000 per year from tournaments.

Simonsen and Troup each banked over $350,000 in combined 2020-2021 earnings.

The all-time PBA career titles leader Walter Ray Williams Jr. has amassed over $3.8 million in total career earnings during his illustrious pro bowling career.

While not quite at the levels of top athletes in other pro sports, the best bowlers in the world can earn a very healthy living through competition winnings alone.

Additional Income Sources for Pro Bowlers

Tournament winnings, however large, are not the only income sources for world-class bowlers. Endorsements, incentives, and other opportunities can provide a big earnings boost.

Sponsorship Deals

Being among the best opens doors for lucrative equipment and sponsorship deals.

Top PBA stars can earn between $200,000 to over $1 million annually in endorsements.

Chris Barnes, Sean Rash, and Jason Belmonte are among those with rich sponsor deals supplementing their competition winnings.

Performance Bonuses

Beyond tournament prizes, bowlers can earn bonus payouts by meeting certain performance goals over a season.

Belmonte has reportedly earned up to $100,000 in season-long bonuses.

Public Appearances

There are always opportunities to make paid appearances, sign autographs, run clinics, and more as a bowling celebrity. While harder to quantify, this income can add up over a career.

Investments

Some top players invest tournament winnings into bowling centers, pro shops, or other business ventures to build their income. Barnes co-owns a successful bowling supply company.

Compare Pro Bowler Salaries to Expenses

While professional bowlers have avenues to earn sizeable incomes, the profession also comes with considerable costs. Annual expenses include:

• Travel – Airfare, hotels, meals, transportation. Bowlers trek worldwide to enter PBA events.
• Equipment – High-end balls, shoes, bags, and accessories can run $10,000+ per year.
• League and Tournament Fees – Hundreds or thousands per event in entry fees.
• Coaching – Private coaching from experts can cost $150 per hour or more.

When you tally the costs, even six-figure tournament winnings get chipped away for most players.

Only the most consistent winners at the top of the bowling world earn truly lucrative incomes after expenses.

That said, the potential for high payouts and income remains attractive for aspiring pros willing to hone their skills tirelessly.

Pro Bowling Can Be a Lucrative Career With the Right Skills

For the rare bowlers who become champions, professional bowling can indeed be a high-paying career.

PBA tournaments dish out some impressive prizes, especially to those who master both the physical and mental side of the sport.

But earning a handsome living as a pro bowler requires immense dedication, repeat performance under pressure, and the willingness to travel and compete nonstop.

Only with the right combination of skill, consistency, and some luck can a bowler win enough tournaments to reach the highest levels of income.

For the top talents willing to put in the work, pro bowling offers financial rewards well above league play at the local alley.

With focus and perseverance, professional bowlers have opportunities to earn a great living doing what they love at the lanes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much money can a bowler make.

The top PBA bowlers can make $100,000 to over $200,000 per year from tournament winnings alone. With endorsements and bonuses, earnings can reach $500,000 or more annually for the very best players. Most PBA members make $50,000 to $100,000.

What is the payout for the pro bowling tournament?

Payouts vary based on the tournament. Major PBA events pay out $30,000+ for first place. Regular PBA Tour stops award $20,000+ to the winner. Regional tournaments payout $5,000 to $7,500 for first place.

What are the PBA lifetime earnings?

The PBA’s all-time career earnings leader is Walter Ray Williams Jr. with total winnings of over $3.8 million over his decades-long career. Other top earners include Norm Duke ($1.8 million), Pete Weber ($1.7 million), and Parker Bohn III ($1.6 million).

How much money can you make from bowling tournaments?

For top professionals, annual earnings from tournaments and bonuses can reach well over $100,000. But for amateurs and lesser pros, bowling tournament winnings may only provide part-time supplemental income in the range of $10,000 to $30,000 per year.

Can you make a living off of bowling?

Yes, the very best PBA bowlers earn a full-time living from tournament winnings and sponsorships. But it requires immense skill and consistency to win events and earn life-changing money from bowling alone. Most supplement with other jobs.

Can anyone be a pro bowler?

To compete on the PBA Tour, you must be invited to bowl in events after succeeding at lower levels. Becoming a touring pro requires immense talent, dedication to perfecting techniques, and the financial means to support a bowling career. Only a select few can make it professionally.

What is the prize money for the PBA 2023?

Full details on the 2023 PBA prize funds are not yet available. But it’s expected to be around $6 million total paid out across hundreds of events both large and small. Top events will likely payout $30,000 to $60,000 for first place.

Do pro bowlers make a lot of money?

The very top PBA stars can make over $200,000 from winnings, and up to $500,000+ when including endorsements and bonuses. However, many pros make around $50,000 to $100,000 annually. The money is good but bowlers must perform consistently.

How do you become a professional bowler?

Turning pro requires lots of youth training to build techniques, success at the youth and collegiate levels, and then earning a spot in regional PBA events. Performing well regionally can lead to joining the PBA Tour. Only the top bowlers reach the televised finals and big prizes.

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PBA announces 2022 Guaranteed Rate PBA Tour schedule

By Jill Laufer

PBA Public Relations

New York, NY  – The 2022 Guaranteed Rate PBA Tour schedule was announced Friday, and an action-packed season awaits the world’s greatest bowlers.

At the end of February, the PBA’s signature event, the PBA Tournament of Champions, is back at historic AMF Riviera Lanes in Fairlawn. The tourney will begin the week of Feb. 21, with the finals set for Feb. 27.

This will mark the PBA Tour’s lone appearance in Ohio this season.

The 64 th  PBA Tour’s road to the PBA Playoffs begins in January with the first of 13 official events. Players will battle for titles and positioning until April, when the top 16 players on the points list earn a trip to the Playoffs. Every match of the PBA Playoffs elimination bracket will be televised, with the ultimate finals match on FOX on May 15..

 Kyle Troup of Taylorsville, N.C. is the defending champion of the PBA Playoffs. Troup won a record $496,900 in 2021, propelled by his victory at the PBA Players Championship to start the season.

Among the 13 regular-season Tour events are five major championships, each awarding $100,000 first place prizes, with the Playoffs winner also collecting $100,000, for a record six events paying six-figure first prizes. In total, players will be vying for a season purse of approximately $4 million.

All of the majors feature distinct characteristics and traditions that have defined the history of bowling:

On January 15 the PBA Players Championship once again starts things off with five regional qualifying locations for PBA members and the finals in Euless, Texas; 

In early February, the prestigious U.S. Open returns to famed Woodland Bowl in Indianapolis; 

In March, the PBA World Championship is the main event of World Series of Bowling XIII which is being held for the first time in Wauwatosa, Wis.;

April starts with the conclusion of the always exciting double elimination match play of the USBC Masters in Las Vegas, where the final Playoffs field and seedings will be decided.

Guaranteed Rate , one of the top 5 retail mortgage lenders in the United States, continues as title sponsor of the PBA Tour and will also serve as the PBA World Series of Bowling XIII’s presenting sponsor.  

FOX Sports is the primary television home of PBA Tour season coverage for the fourth consecutive year, with more than 50 hours upcoming on FS1, and eight hours on FOX Broadcast Channel.

CBS Sports Network will again present the PBA Tour Finals, featuring the top eight players from a two-year rolling points system, live in June.

FloSports continues in 2022 as the live streaming partner of the PBA for early round coverage of all events, and exclusive start-to-finish coverage of the PBA Storm Cup – four Tour events critical to deciding the Playoffs field, emanating from Jackson, Mich.; Kokomo, Ind.; Lubbock, Texas; and Colorado Springs, Colo.

As part of the 2022 TV season, unofficial PBA special events on FOX Sports were announced that feature top youth and collegiate players:

The PBA Jr. National Championship Finals, featuring the top youth boys’ and girls’ players in the country, returns at the site of the Players Championship in Texas; 

The inaugural PBA Collegiate Invitational team event will happen at the WSOB in Wauwatosa and showcase the excitement and rising stars of the college ranks.

The PBA League also will make its return to raucous Bayside Bowl in Portland, Maine, in July, for the elite team competition’s ninth season after one year off due to the pandemic, with 10 teams of PBA Tour stars hoping to hoist the Elias Cup. The Portland Lumberjacks are the two-time defending champions of the PBA League, which will also include fan-favorite individual TV events, the PBA Strike Derby and PBA League All Star Clash.

Ticket sales will be announced at a later date.

2022 Guaranteed PBA Tour Schedule

FOX, FS1, CBS Sports Network, and FloBowling

  PBA Players Championship East Region Finals  – Saturday, Jan. 22, 4 p.m. ET on FS1 (LIVE)

Bowlero Euless, Euless, Tex.

PBA Players Championship South Region Finals  – Saturday, Jan. 22, 6 p.m. ET on FS1 (LIVE)

PBA Players Championship Midwest Region Finals – Sunday, Jan. 23, 4 p.m. ET on FS1 (LIVE)

PBA Players Championship Southwest Region Finals  – Sunday, Jan. 23, 6 p.m. ET on FS1 (LIVE)

PBA Players Championship West Region Finals – Monday, Jan. 24, 7 p.m. ET on FS1 (LIVE)

Bowlero Euless, Euless, Tex. 

PBA Players Championship Finals  – Saturday, Jan. 29, 8:30 p.m. ET on FS1 (LIVE)

PBA Jr. National Championship Finals and PBA/PBA Jr. Doubles  – Sunday, Jan. 30, 2:30 p.m. ET on FS1

U.S. Open  – Sunday, Feb. 6, 5 p.m. ET on FS1 (LIVE)

Woodland Bowl, Indianapolis, Ind. 

David Small’s PBA Best of the Best Championship  – Wednesday, Feb. 9, 6:30 p.m. ET on FloBowling (LIVE)

JAX60, Jackson, Mich. 

David Small’s PBA Kokomo Championship  – Wednesday, Feb. 16. 6:30 p.m. ET on FloBowling (LIVE)

Heritage Lanes, Kokomo, Ind. 

PBA Tournament of Champions Finals  – Sunday, Feb. 27, 1 p.m. ET on FOX (LIVE)

AMF Riviera Lanes, Fairlawn, Ohio 

WSOB PBA Roth/Holman Doubles Championship Finals  – Sunday, March 6, 12 p.m. ET on FS1 (LIVE)

 Bowlero Wauwatosa, Wauwatosa, Wis. 

WSOB PBA World Championship Finals  – Sunday, March 13, 1 p.m. ET on FOX (LIVE)

Bowlero Wauwatosa, Wauwatosa, Wis. 

WSOB PBA Cheetah Championship Finals  – Monday, March 14, 8 p.m. ET on FS1 (LIVE)

WSOB PBA Scorpion Championship Finals  – Tuesday, March 15, 8 p.m. ET on FS1 (LIVE) 

WSOB PBA Shark Championship Finals  – Wednesday, March 16, 8 p.m. ET on FS1 (LIVE)

WSOB PBA Collegiate Invitational  – Sunday, March 20, 2:30 p.m. ET on FS1

PBA Lubbock Sports Open  – Sunday, March 20, 4:30 p.m. ET on FloBowling (LIVE)

South Plains Lanes, Lubbock, Texas 

PBA Colorado Springs Open  – Thursday, March 24, 8:30 p.m. ET on FloBowling (LIVE)

Harmony Bowl, Colorado Springs, Colo. 

USBC Masters  – Sunday, April 3, 1 p.m. ET on FOX (LIVE)

Gold Coast Bowling Center, Las Vegas 

PBA Playoffs Round of 16 , Sunday, April 10, 12 p.m. ET on FS1

Location TBC 

PBA Playoffs Round of 16 , Sunday, April 10, 2 p.m. ET on FS1

PBA Playoffs Round of 16 , Saturday, April 16, 1 p.m. ET on FS1

PBA Playoffs Round of 16 , Sunday, April 17, 6 p.m. ET on FS1

PBA Playoffs Quarterfinals , Sunday, April 24, 12 p.m. ET on FS1

PBA Playoffs Quarterfinals,  Sunday, May 1, 12 p.m. ET on FS1

PBA Playoffs Semifinals,  Sunday, May 8, 12 p.m. ET on FS1

PBA Playoffs Finals,  Sunday, May 15, 1 p.m. ET on FOX (LIVE)

PBA Tour Finals Qualifying Rounds , *June on CBS Sports Network. *Timing TBC.

PBA Tour Finals Divisional Finals and Championship Final , June* on CBS Sports Network. *Timing TBC.

PBA League Anthony Division Finals  – Wednesday, July 6, 8 p.m. ET on FS1 (LIVE)

Bayside Bowl, Portland, Maine 

PBA League Carter Division Finals  – Thursday, July 7, 8 p.m. ET on FS1 (LIVE)

PBA League Elias Cup Finals  – Sunday, July 10, 1 p.m. ET on FS1 (LIVE)

PBA League Strike Derby  – Saturday, July 16, 1 p.m. ET on FS1 (LIVE)

PBA League All Star Clash  – Sunday, July 17, 1:30 p.m. ET on FS1

Bayside Bowl, Portland, Maine

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Professional bowler salary: How much do they make?

October 11, 2021

Modern professional bowlers don’t fit the bowling stereotypes displayed in wacky movies like Kingpin and The Big Lebowski . The best pro bowlers are true professional athletes that command big money payouts and lucrative sponsorships with their charisma and level of play. While professional bowling’s decline has been a hot-button issue over the past couple of decades, pro bowlers can still make a decent living off of the multiple revenue streams the PBA Tour (and other tours) facilitate.

If you’ve ever wondered about the average annual salary of a PBA bowler or how prize money works at the highest levels of the game, we’re here to shine a light on things. While few bowlers are raking in seven figures a year, top bowlers in the sport make money hand over fist from tournaments, sponsorships from bowling companies and other companies, and other revenue sources.

What is the average salary for professional bowlers?

During the golden age of professional bowling in the 1960s and 1970s, the average professional bowler made twice as much money as NFL stars of the time. The Professional Bowlers’ Association was at its peak and PBA bowlers were making cash hand over fist for tournament cashes, sponsorships for everything from bowling balls to soft drinks, and other side contracts.

The top earners of the time signed million-dollar contracts and became international celebrities in the process. Many young folks started bowling in the 1960s and 1970s with dreams of emulating greats like Pete Weber, Don Carter, and Earl Anthony.

Nowadays, the average yearly salary of a pro bowler is much more modest. With a decrease in popularity and television ratings, pro bowling doesn’t offer the boom/bust earning potential it once did.

So, how much money does a pro bowler make? According to recent estimates, bowlers with a PBA membership typically make $45,000 to $50,000 a year with sponsorships not factored in. The best bowlers like Walter Ray Williams Jr. make much more that, though, with the average top pro bowlers clearing around $250,000 to $300,000 a year.

It’s just not the same as it once was during the Golden Era. Compared to top athletes in other sports, the best bowler in the world brings home a salary that pales in comparison to a top football player or tennis player like Novak Djokovic. However, bowling is still a professional sport and there’s real money to be made if you’re good enough and know what you’re doing.

How do pro bowlers make a living?

Pro bowlers are independent contractors. While they play in PBA events as members of the PBA Tour, they don’t receive binding contracts like athletes in team-based professional sports organizations. Professional bowlers mostly cover their own living expenses, travel expenses, and entry fees unless they have a sponsorship deal that stipulates otherwise.

So, how exactly does a professional bowler make their nest egg? It depends on the bowler.

Some pro bowlers and semi-pro bowlers invest in a bowling center or buy it outright, coordinating everything from cosmic bowling to league nights as an added source of income. Other bowlers make enough off of the prize money earned from winning or placing in tournaments to cover their income. Also, most PBA bowlers have some sort of sponsorship deal (or deals) on the books that provide added cash or free bowling accessories for practice and PBA Tour play.

Bowlers may not be landing on the cover of Sports Illustrated with regularity or landing lucrative paid advertisements with Coca Cola, but there are still plenty of ways for them to cash in on their skills.

Other outside sources of income that promise more money for PBA bowlers include performing in local bowling tournaments and working at second jobs in a related or unrelated field.

With the boom/bust earning potential of most pro bowling tournaments, having other jobs on the backburner is often a good idea for those pro players just breaking in to the bottom ranks of the PBA Tour.

What is the average payout for professional bowling tournaments?

It just depends on the tournament. Exactly what a bowler makes from a particular tourney depends on the type of tournament, the amount of prize money available, and their order of finish.

In some PBA tournaments and semi-pro events, the vast majority of bowlers go away empty-handed. Prize earnings are concentrated at the top of the standings, leaving some bowlers with barely enough money to book their travel plans back home.

Other events are much more generous, paying $5,000 to $10,000 to bowlers eliminated in the opening rounds. A top-tier bowling showcase in New York State might have more money to hand out based on sponsorships and attendance, while a low-profile event somewhere in Nebraska may have to be much more creative with its payout structures.

In other countries, the payouts can vary based on the popularity of bowling in the area and the notoriety of the tournament itself.

There’s a lot more money available, though, for the winners of major tournaments such as the PBA Championship. The 2021 PBA Players’ Championship featured a record-breaking $1 million prize fund and a whopping $250,000 payout for the winner.

Most top tournaments pay anywhere from $50,000 to $100,000 to the victors, and about half of that to the runner-up. Payouts for other placements decrease from there.

How much does a professional bowler make from sponsorships?

The difference in sponsorship earnings between a former or current PBA Player of the Year and a mid-level PBA bowler is quite significant. Because bowling isn’t the television ratings draw it once was, big-money sponsorship deals are often reserved for top performers and legends like Norm Duke.

Bowler sponsorship earnings can range from a few hundred dollars to cover the price of a bowling ball to thousands of dollars for wearing a logo on their shirt. Also, some bowlers have backers who cover their entry fees and living expenses to help them save money as the PBA Tour season goes on. Often, these arrangements come with a caveat of shared earnings if the bowler strikes it big with a tournament victory.

How much do women’s pro bowlers make compared to male bowlers?

The average women’s professional bowler makes anywhere from $30,000 to $50,000 a year. Top women’s bowlers make anywhere from $75,000 to the low six figures in earnings. The cold reality about professional bowling is that earnings are down across the board. And with a marked gap in television ratings between men’s and women’s professional bowling, it’s even harder to make a decent living as a women’s bowler trying to make your name.

That’s not to say that the earning potential isn’t there. These things tend to ebb and flow, and there’s no reason why a women’s bowling boom isn’t possible or waiting on the horizon.

Who are the highest-paid professional bowlers in the world? Who is the highest-paid bowler?

With an amazing run during the 2021 PBA Tour season, Kyle Troup has set a PBA single-season earning record with an eye-popping $496,900 prior to the first of September. This eclipsed Walter Ray Williams Jr.’s previous record of $419,700 set during the 2002-03 PBA Tour season.

The five top earners from the Covid-interrupted 2020 PBA Tour season were as follows:

• Jason Belmonte ($293,050)
• Bill O’Neill ($272,285)
• Anthony Simonsen ($227,130)
• Kristopher Prather ($223,285)
• EJ Tackett ($149,250).

Compared to the multi-million dollar contracts earned by top performers in the four major American sports, these are pretty modest numbers. Yet, with sponsorships and other earnings factored in, many of these bowlers are approach the high six figures to low seven figures in overall yearly income.

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How Much Do Professional Bowlers Make? Shocking PBA Stats

Professional bowlers are the top earners like Pete Weber, Norm Duke, and Walter Ray Williams Jr. that made huge around $200,000 to $300,000 per year.

You will be shocked to know how much do professional bowlers make from tournaments. Among several tournaments, the PBA player’s championship is the highly paid bowlers. You can estimate from the 2021 PBA that the record-breaking prize is 1M$ in which the winner is rewarded with $250,000 and the runner-up is $130,000 which is considered a high prize.

If you are still curious about how much professional bowlers make on average yearly and what is the mainstream of their earnings or if they also do other jobs. Some bowlers join pro shops or invest in bowling centers whereas many of them become partners of top brands like Brunswick, Hammer, Motiv or Storm, etc.

What Is The Average Salary For Professional Bowlers?

To conclude, the average salary of bowlers depends on several factors to measure, and mainly it depends on the level of bowlers, the number of prizes distributed in tournaments, and the popularity of bowling in a particular country.

Just like other sports, professional bowlers also stand high in the line and generate a quite handsome amount. In 1960-70, when the bowling industry was booming, the top bowlers earned 6-7 figures including Tom Baker, Pete Weber, and Earl Anthony, etc.

According to a recent report on updated average salary, professional bowlers make $30,000 to $50,000 having a PBA membership however ZipRecruiter, A Employer search engine claims that the annual salary of bowlers as high as $99,500 and low as $17,000, and average bowlers have 25% salary of top bowlers. The average salary of pro bowlers is $43,872 in the US reported recently .

How Do Pro Bowlers Make Money?

Pro bowler has several income streams to bear their expenses from bowling balls to managing tours. 

Following these income resources, the tournaments especially PBA events are highly paid and it requires high dedication with skills to compete but when you appear in these high events there are bright chances that top brands reach them for sponsors or paid advertisements.

Tournaments

Tournaments are the most significant option for professional bowlers to build a bright future and make a good amount in minimum time. These tournaments are highly rewarded prizes to winners and runners-up where professionals routinely participate. 

Other than the PBA championship which highly rewards tournaments around $250,000 to the winner however there are other top tournaments that pay also great prizes to top positions from $50,000 to $100,000. 

A personal opinion would be to first participate in local tournaments to improve your bowling skills and justify your appearance among other bowlers. Once you are confident enough to compete in any tournaments and reach consistently in the top scorer list, you can also move to Professional/International tournaments.

Sponsorship or Paid Advertisement :

Sponsorship is another best deal for pro bowlers to maximize their bank account balance. 

In previous decades when bowling was at its peak, a pro bowler was not less than any TV celebrity and you will wonder know that the first sponsor given to a bowler was $1 Million which is just crazy.

When the popularity of any pro bowler appears constantly in tournaments or events, the bowling top brands will start reaching them to promote their products. It’s an agreement between both parties where bowlers are rewarded with free equipment to use in the tournaments and of course with the amount.

The amount of sponsors depends on the level of bowlers and company credibility however it could be 3 to 4 digits from covering the bowling balls to using the logo on shirts or appearing in commercials with their brands.

Endorsements

Endorsements or appearing at events is another added income stream for professional bowlers. In different events, a bowler can interact with guests and deliver speeches to attendees, and in return, they are paid a good amount. 

Events management

If you know how to manage or host events properly, this could be another option for any bowlers to generate additional income.  

An event organized in a local bowling alley is also a great opportunity for intermediate or advanced bowlers to test their skills with different bowlers in the town. 

Who Is The Highest-Paid Bowler?

Walter Ray WIlliams Jr. an American bowler is one of the highest-paid bowlers, he reached $4.9M Total PBA earnings in 2019 and was listed in PBA statistical categories to earn $152,670 in leading tours of the 2009 to 2010 season.

Williams also holds many records in his journey including seven-time PBA player of the year, PBA standard titles (47), and sustains at least one PBA player for 17 seasons consecutively in a row. He is also owned by many sponsors and also Brunswick pro staff members.

What Is the Net Worth Of the Top 5 Pro Bowlers?

Every pro bowler bounded with their skill level to perform aggressively in their bowling journey to generate a handsome amount. 

To conclude the final list of 5 top performers with high earnings of all time in bowling is as follows.

List of top highest-paid Bowlers of all time:

• Walter Ray WIlliams Jr.($4.9M)
• Pete Weber($4,023,488)
• Norm Duke($3,344,193)
• Parker Bohn III($3,171,106)
• Brian Voss($2,563,554)

How Much Do Professional Female Bowlers Make?

Professional women bowlers are also on the list to make a decent income. The average earning of women yearly is about $30,000 to $50,000 and top performers relatively earn a huge sum which is about $60,000 to $70,000 yearly.

However many people still want to know, Do Professional Women Bowlers Earn Less Than Men? Well, nowadays both men’s and women’s bowler salaries are low however male bowlers earn comparatively more than women just like several other sports.

Why Do Bowlers Make Less Money Today?

During the old days back in 1960-70 which was considered a golden age for bowling and the industry of bowling was at its peak.

In that time, the average earning of bowlers per year was $446,710 which is more than compared to current days. 

The fall in salaries due to loss of interest in bowling and less coverage of Live streaming of bowling events and tournaments made huge declines.

While you hear from many other sports about its earnings, People who love to play bowling are also curious to know how much does a professional bowler make which they follow.

 Professional bowler earns a huge amount only from top-level tournaments like PBA whereas they also receive different offers from sponsors from big brands to promote their products and there are several other resources where they made thousands of dollars.

Related Questions

It widely depends on your dedication and how much time you give bowling practice. You need to perform better as much as possible from every end by acquiring different techniques to bowl. However, it’s possible to become a pro bowler by following road maps to get professional.

A PBA player including top earners made $80,000 annually whereas the average income generated by PBA bowlers is $43,872.

To manage the bowling daily expenses or tours, pro bowlers also do other jobs in pro shops or call centers, however, they also host cosmic bowling events or invest in bowling centers.

William Martin is a passionate bowler who spends most of his weekends playing the sport. With years of intense experience under his belt, William decided to share his knowledge by creating BOWLING OCEAN. Join me on this journey to explore the world of bowling and discover the tips and tricks to becoming a pro.

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How Much do Professional Bowlers Make?

• By: Bowling Fix
• Posted: July 16, 2022
• No Comments

Top professional bowlers and international celebrities make the most which can be upwards of $1 million while many bowlers make a decent living doing bowling exhibitions.

Professional Bowlers Association

Joining the Professional Bowlers’ Association (PBA) is the best way to turn bowling talent into a money-making proposition . There is big money to be made by those who participate in PBA-sanctioned events as a professional bowler .

If you are trying to increase your average yearly salary trying to get on the pba tour is a necessity. PBA Membership can help a professional bowler get exposure which could help earn them a sponsorship deal.

Even the runner-up in professional bowling tournaments can earn a decent living depending on how much money you need for living expenses.

The vast majority of a pro bowler’s income is derived from tournament participation , paid sponsorships , and appearance fees . In order to maximize earnings potential, it is important to be discovered by tournament directors and sponsors .

That can only happen by regularly participating in championship events . The PBA provides its members with a platform to showcase their talent s and earn a living doing something they love. There is no better way for talented bowlers to make a name for themselves and start earning big money.

How Do PBA Bowlers Make Money?

Pro bowlers on the PBA Tour are professional athletes , and as such, can make very good bowling salaries. They normally get all of their living expense s and travel expenses paid .

Being the Best

The best bowlers in the world could make several million dollars a year in winnings and endorsement deals. The top bowlers (highest earners) also make money by giving bowling clinics and appearing in commercials . Top athletes earning million-dollar contracts earn twice as much money as those competing in the professional sport in local tournaments.

One major factor in pro bowling that is the same as other sports is that top earners are usually male bowlers. Even in other countries, male bowlers tend to make more . Nfl stars, NBA stars, and pretty much all other sports stars all make more when they are male.

Most pro bowlers are very well-paid, but there is a wide range of incomes among different bowlers. A bowler’s income depends on his or her popularity , talent , and results in tournaments.

Walter Ray Williams Jr.

Walter Ray Williams Jr. is one of the highest-paid American professional bowlers. He currently holds the record for all-time standard PBA Tour career titles (47) and total PBA earnings ( over $4.9 million through 2019).

He is a seven-time PBA Player of the Year, and won at least one PBA Tour title in 17 consecutive seasons (1993 through 2009-10); both of these feats are also PBA records.

Williams starred in the documentary about ten-pin bowling called “A League of Ordinary Gentlemen.” As of June 26, 2022, he is also the leader of the all-time title on the PBA50 Tour, with 16. He has won three majors on that Tour and has been named PBA50 Player of the Year three times. Williams has also rolled 110 perfect 300 games  in the PBA competition through 2019.

Talent and Practice

So, if a bowler wants to earn a high income , he or she needs to be very talented and consistent enough to win multiple tour titles . Even if they started bowling very young , got their own bowling balls , and practiced with Walter Ray Williams Jr. they would need to compete very hard to earn their place as a professional sports star of bowling.

While it is difficult to earn a high income as a professional bowler, it is certainly possible for talented bowlers who work hard and are lucky enough to have some success.

How Do Pro Bowlers Make a Living?

For bowlers with a passion for the game, being paid to bowl might seem like a fantasy come true. In this section, we’ll look at what it takes to become a PBA bowler as well as what life is like as a PBA bowler.

There are three main ways for pba bowlers to make money:

• Prize money from tournaments
• Sponsorship deals
• Income from products and endorsements

Tournaments

Pro bowlers routinely participate in tournaments as a way to make money. Often, these events offer handsome cash prizes for top scorers, making them an attractive option for those looking to earn a living through their bowling skills.

Sponsorship deal

In addition to prize money, talented pro bowlers can also make money through paid sponsorships . As a method for advertising their products, bowling companies will often invest money in pro bowlers’ careers by sponsoring them and providing endorsements.

For example, a pro bowler might wear a company’s logo on all their bowling shirts in exchange for payment. Or, the pro bowler might appear in the company’s commercials .

Additional Income From Products and Endorsments

In addition to prize money, pro bowlers can also make money by appearing at events . For a fee, bowlers will agree to appear at an event and interact with guests.

This could include giving a speech , introducing special guests, or simply mingling with attendees. While the appearance fee may seem like a lot of money, it is important to remember that pro bowlers are often in high demand.

Professional Bowler Salary

The vast majority of pro bowlers are independent contractors who are paid by the tournament or venue where they are competing. As a result, their average salary is largely dependent on their performance.

This makes it really hard to define the average salary of a professional bowler. Especially since high earners can win million dollar contracts and low earners have bowling salaries that barely pay the bills .

Some say professional bowling’s decline has to do with lowering payouts but in 2022 the cash prize for all the major bowling tournaments on the pba tour is 100k for first place . So i would say that the sport is still going strong.

How Much Do Pro Bowlers Make When They Win?

When it comes to prize money in pro bowling, professional bowlers are in a league of their own. For example, the PBA planned to award $100,000 prizes to first-place winners in the 2022 PBA Tournament of Champions and the PBA World Championship.

As a result, they can make a very comfortable living off of their Fo bowling skills. For aspiring professional bowlers, these big payouts may provide motivation to hit the lanes and perfect their game.

But not all PBA events are so high-stakes – smaller tournaments offer decent cash prizes as well. For example, in 2020 the PBA offered top prizes of $30,000 for all standard singles events . This excludes a few special tournaments that had slightly larger top prizes.

Even so, $30,000 is nothing to sneeze at – it’s a significant amount of money , and it goes to show that there are multiple ways to win big in the world of professional bowling.

The Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) website lists the prize winnings for championships, competitions, and tournaments.

Do Pro Bowlers Have Sponsors?

While there are many companies that will sponsor a pro bowler , many of these athletes get sponsored by bowling equipment companies . When a pro bowler enters a sponsorship agreement with a company, they not only receive free products but also represent the company in a positive light.

In exchange for a good advertisement , these companies offer top-quality support to the athlete. This can be a great deal for both parties involved. Pro bowlers are sponsored by a variety of brands and companies. In exchange for cash and goods , these bowlers agree to represent the brands and companies in a variety of ways.

The top bowlers in the world can command high fees for their appearances, while lower-ranked bowlers may have to settle for less money. In addition, many pro bowlers also earn income from endorsements and sponsorships.

This arrangement can be beneficial for both the athlete and the company . The athlete gets access to high-quality equipment and clothing, while the company gains valuable exposure for its products.

In the world of professional bowling, sponsorships are essential. They provide bowlers with much-needed financial support , and they give brands a chance to connect with a passionate and engaged audience. Sponsorships can take many different forms.

In addition to the financial benefits, sponsorships also give bowlers a chance to connect with new brands and reach a wider audience. For both bowlers and sponsors, sponsorships are a win-win situation.

How Much Do Pro Bowlers Make from Sponsors?

The amount of money that a pro bowler can earn through sponsorships varies greatly depending on the company involved and the bowler’s level of success.

Top-performing bowlers are able to command much higher payments from companies looking to gain exposure through sponsorship agreements. For example, some of the most popular bowlers in the world are able to earn hundreds of thousands of dollars per year through their sponsorships.

However, even lesser-known bowlers can still find sponsors willing to pay them a few hundred dollars per month for their representation. Ultimately, the amount of money that a pro bowler can earn through sponsorships is largely dependent on their level of success and popularity.

Professional bowlers often sign contracts with companies in order to receive compensation. These contracts typically last for one year and may require the pro bowler to use only the company’s bowling products, make special appearances, and/or appear in company commercials.

Do Pro Bowlers Have Other Jobs?

Many professional bowlers have to supplement their income with other jobs in the bowling industry. For example, even some of the top-earning pro bowlers still work in pro shops or at bowling centers . Imagine walking into your local bowling center and seeing your favorite bowler.

Other pro bowlers may choose to work in bowling equipment manufacturing as a way to stay involved in the sport even when they’re not actively competing. Of course, lower-earning pro bowlers who aren’t regularly winning tournaments and competitions often have to pursue other careers entirely outside of bowling.

No Longer the Golden Age

Since it’s a professional sport, for some athletes, professional bowling is an exciting hobby or side hustle, but they still need to work a regular job to make ends meet. Ultimately, many professional bowlers have to balance their passion for the sport with the practical realities of earning a living.

Thanks for reading. If you know ways other bowlers make money let us know in the comments.

This post may contain  affiliate links , which means I get a little off the top to help me keep this website running. 

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Bowling Fix

PBA Earnings: Belmo Tops With $275,290 So Far In 2019

With a vast majority of the season concluded, Jason Belmonte leads the PBA Tour in earnings for the 2019 season with $275,290.

The eight players who earned spots in the FloBowling ATX Invite will have a chance to add to their season earnings when they compete in the event on Sept. 21. And for one player, that will be an important storyline to watch.

The PBA announced last month the PBA Clash will return in 2019 with the top eight on the earnings list getting invitations to the event. The only player who can move into the top eight is Kyle Sherman as the rest of the top seven are locked in.

Sherman would need to win the FloBowling ATX Invite, which has a first-place prize of $25,000, to pass Norm Duke.

Here are the top 25 in earnings so far this season on the PBA Tour:

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