How Much Does Esports Pay?

The esports industry is booming, and professional gamers can now make a pretty penny playing their favorite games. But just how much does esports pay? We did some research to find out.

How Much Does Esports Pay?

Esports is a huge industry with a lot of money involved. The top players in the world can make millions of dollars a year, but how much does the average player make? Let’s take a look at the numbers.

The Top Earning Games

There is no one answer to how much esports pays as it varies game to game and even between players in the same game. However, some games do tend to pay out more than others. Here is a look at some of the top earning games in esports:

Dota 2 – Dota 2 is a Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) game developed by Valve Corporation. It is one of the most popular games in the world with a large competitive scene. The annual International Dota 2 Championship features a prize pool of over $20 million, making it the largest tournament in esports history.

League of Legends – League of Legends (LoL) is another MOBA game developed by Riot Games. It is also one of the most popular games in the world and boasts one of the largest competitive scenes. The annual League of Legends World Championship has a prize pool of over $5 million.

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive – Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) is a first-person shooter (FPS) game developed by Valve Corporation. It is one of the most popular FPS games and has a large competitive scene with many top teams from around the world. The annual CS:GO Major Championship features a prize pool of over $1 million.

Overwatch – Overwatch is a team-based FPS game developed by Blizzard Entertainment. It was released in 2016 and has quickly become one of the most popular FPS games with a large competitive scene. The annual Overwatch World Cup features a prize pool of $600,000.

The Top Earning Players

The world of competitive gaming, or “esports,” has been growing rapidly in recent years. With the prize pools for some tournaments exceeding $10 million, it’s no wonder that professional gamers are starting to think of themselves as true athletes.

But just how much does esports pay? That depends largely on the game you’re playing and your country of residence. In South Korea, for example, the top League of Legends players can earn more than $200,000 per year. Compare that to the United States, where the average salary is closer to $60,000.

There are a few factors that contribute to these differences. Firstly, South Korea has a much larger and more established esports scene. The country also has a number of government-sponsored teams, which helps to ensure a steady flow of money into the scene. Additionally, many top Korean players live and train in team houses, which gives them more time to practice and improve their skills.

In the United States, meanwhile, the esports scene is still relatively small and there are few government-sponsored teams. American players also tend to have full-time jobs or go to school full-time, which leaves them with less time to practice their craft.

That said, there are still a number of American players who are able to make a living off of esports. Tyler “Ninja” Blevins is perhaps the most famous example. The 27-year-old Twitch streamer reportedly earned more than $10 million in 2018 from playing Fortnite and hosting sponsored streams on his popular channel.

How Do Esports Players Get Paid?

While there is no set amount that all esports players get paid, there are a few factors that can affect how much they make. The most successful players usually earn the most money, as they are able to bring in the most viewers and win the most prize money. Players who are part of a team may also receive a salary from their organization, in addition to any prize money they win.

Salaries

Players in esports leagues typically receive a salary that is paid out over the course of a season. In addition to their salary, players may also receive bonuses based on their performance or from winning tournaments. Some players may also be given sponsorship deals by businesses that are interested in promoting their brand through esports.

Prize Money

Esports players, like traditional athletes, can make a lot of money if they are good enough at their chosen game. The top players in the world can earn millions of dollars from prize money, sponsorships, and endorsements.

Prize money is the most direct way for players to earn money from playing esports. Tournament organizers offer prize pools of cash that are divided up among the top-performing teams. The size of these prize pools has been growing rapidly in recent years as the popularity of esports has increased. For example, the prize pool for The International, a major annual Dota 2 tournament, was $24.8 million in 2019. That amount is more than double the prize pool for the 2018 tournament.

Players can also earn money through sponsorships and endorsements. Like traditional athletes, esport stars are sponsored by companies that want to advertise their brands to the young and passionate esports audience. These deals can be worth millions of dollars over the course of a player’s career. In 2019, Tyler Blevins, a professional Fortnite player who goes by the name “Ninja,” announced a deal with Red Bull that was reported to be worth $1 million per year.

Endorsements are similar to sponsorships, but they generally involve one-time payments for advertising specific products rather than long-term relationships between brands and players. For example, Blevins has also endorsed HyperX gaming headsets and Razer gaming laptops.

How Can I Get Paid to Play Esports?

Esports is a growing industry with a lot of potential for those who are looking to make a career out of it. However, as with any industry, there is no guarantee of success or income. In order to make a living playing esports, you will need to be good at the game you choose to play, be able to market yourself, and be lucky enough to find a team or organization that is willing to pay you.

Find a Tournament or League

To get started in the world of competitive gaming, your best bet is to find a tournament or league that suits your skill level and game of choice. While many tournaments are invitation-only, there are plenty of leagues and competitions open to all comers. Some of the most popular tournaments in the world include the following:

The International: This annual Dota 2 tournament is organized by Valve Corporation, the game’s developer. It is the largest and most prestigious tournament in the world, with a prize pool that has grown to over $30 million.

The League of Legends World Championship: This is an annual international tournament for League of Legends, another hugely popular multiplayer online battle arena game. The prize pool for this event has also grown tremendously, reaching over $5 million in 2017.

The Overwatch World Cup: As its name suggests, this annual esports event is open to teams from all over the world. It is organized by Blizzard Entertainment, the developer of Overwatch, and features a $3 million prize pool.

Join a Team

The process of joining a team is similar to that of traditional sports. You can try out for a team, or a team may recruit you based on your skill level. There are also professional organizations, such as the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE) and the National Esports Association (NESA), which support esports at the collegiate and professional levels, respectively.

In order to try out for a team, you will need to find an organization that is hosting tryouts. You can usually find these by searching online or asking around in forums and communities dedicated to esports. Once you have found an organization hosting tryouts, you will need to complete an application. This will usually include basic information about yourself, as well as your contact information and gaming accomplishments.

After you have submitted your application, the organization will review it and determine if you are qualified to participate in their tryouts. If you are selected to participate in the tryouts, you will be asked to play against other applicants in order to show off your skills. The organization will then select the players they wish to sign to their team.

Win Tournaments and Leagues

If you want to get paid to play esports, your best bet is to win tournaments and leagues. The prize money for these events can range from a few hundred dollars to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Of course, you’ll have to be very good to have a chance at winning the big money tournaments. But if you’re good enough, it can certainly pay off.

In addition to prize money, many tournaments also offer sponsorship opportunities. So if you do well in a tournament, you might be able to get sponsored by an esports team or organization. This can provide another stream of income, and it can also help you further your career in esports.

To find esports tournaments and leagues that you can participate in, check out websites like Toornament and Battlefy.