Which Athletes Earn the Most Per Hour?
Sports fans have had a tough go of it over the last few months. Not only have they been trapped at home, but they have been trapped at home with no sports. Every major league has either canceled or shortened their seasons — aside from the NFL — and for most pro athletes, that means smaller paychecks.
See: 13 Ways To Support Sports Teams Without Attending a Game
The pros don’t get paid by the hour, but if they did, what exactly would that look like? In this study, GOBankingRates took the highest-paid athletes across the NBA, NFL, NHL and MLB and broke their salaries down by the money they earn per hour of game time. Additional calculations were made to determine how much each athlete earns per hour of an entire year and per hour of total broadcast for a game. All figures were prorated to account for the shortened seasons.
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NBA and NFL players dominate the day. Not a single hockey player made the list, and only two MLB players squeaked in. One glaring omission is the NFL’s Patrick Mahomes; the quarterback’s recently signed $503 million mega-contract doesn’t start until next year, which caused him to miss the cut here.
Keep reading to learn about the athletes who earn the most money per hour.
Last updated: April 16, 2021
50. Giancarlo Stanton
Player info:
League: MLB
2019-2020 team: New York Yankees
Position: DH/OF
2019-2020 payroll salary: $26,000,000
Games played in 2019-2020: 18
Amount made:
Per hour of game time: $468,469
Per hour for a year: $2,968
Per hour for total broadcast time of a game: $385,185
Read: The Highest-Paid Player on Every NFL, MLB and NBA Team
49. Andre Drummond
Player info:
League: NBA
2019-2020 team: Cleveland Cavaliers
Position: C
2019-2020 cap hit: $22,156,123
Games played in 2019-2020: 57
Amount made:
Per hour of game time: $485,880
Per hour for a year: $2,529
Per hour for total broadcast time of a game: $175,355
Read: Injuries Cost These 13 Athletes a Fortune
48. Tobias Harris
Player info:
League: NBA
2019-2020 team: Philadelphia 76ers
Position: PF
2019-2020 cap hit: $25,954,583
Games played in 2019-2020: 65
Amount made:
Per hour of game time: $499,127
Per hour for a year: $2,963
Per hour for total broadcast time of a game: $180,136
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47. Andrew Wiggins
Player info:
League: NBA
2019-2020 team: Golden State Warriors
Position: SF
2019-2020 cap hit: $21,802,920
Games played in 2019-2020: 54
Amount made:
Per hour of game time: $504,697
Per hour for a year: $2,489
Per hour for total broadcast time of a game: $182,146
46. Damian Lillard
Player info:
League: NBA
2019-2020 team: Portland Trail Blazers
Position: PG
2019-2020 cap hit: $23,624,300
Games played in 2019-2020: 58
Amount made:
Per hour of game time: $509,144
Per hour for a year: $2,697
Per hour for total broadcast time of a game: $183,751
Look: 51 Biggest Sports Contracts Ever
45. Kevin Love
Player info:
League: NBA
2019-2020 team: Cleveland Cavaliers
Position: PF
2019-2020 cap hit: $22,942,981
Games played in 2019-2020: 56
Amount made:
Per hour of game time: $512,120
Per hour for a year: $2,619
Per hour for total broadcast time of a game: $184,825
44. Nikola Vučević
Player info:
League: NBA
2019-2020 team: Orlando Magic
Position: C
2019-2020 cap hit: $22,195,600
Games played in 2019-2020: 54
Amount made:
Per hour of game time: $513,787
Per hour for a year: $2,534
Per hour for total broadcast time of a game: $185,427
43. Khris Middleton
Player info:
League: NBA
2019-2020 team: Milwaukee Bucks
Position: SF
2019-2020 cap hit: $24,259,353
Games played in 2019-2020: 55
Amount made:
Per hour of game time: $551,349
Per hour for a year: $2,769
Per hour for total broadcast time of a game: $198,983
42. Jimmy Butler
Player info:
League: NBA
2019-2020 team: Miami Heat
Position: SF
2019-2020 cap hit: $25,954,583
Games played in 2019-2020: 54
Amount made:
Per hour of game time: $600,801
Per hour for a year: $2,963
Per hour for total broadcast time of a game: $216,830
41. Felix Hernandez
Player info:
League: MLB
2019-2020 team: Seattle Mariners
Position: SP
2019-2020 payroll salary: $27,857,142
Games played in 2019-2020: 15
Amount made:
Per hour of game time: $602,317
Per hour for a year: $3,180
Per hour for total broadcast time of a game: $495,238
40. Chris Paul
Player info:
League: NBA
2019-2020 team: Oklahoma City Thunder
Position: PG
2019-2020 cap hit: $30,524,088
Games played in 2019-2020: 63
Amount made:
Per hour of game time: $605,637
Per hour for a year: $3,484
Per hour for total broadcast time of a game: $218,576
39. LeBron James
Player info:
League: NBA
2019-2020 team: Los Angeles Lakers
Position: PG
2019-2020 cap hit: $29,676,197
Games played in 2019-2020: 60
Amount made:
Per hour of game time: $618,254
Per hour for a year: $3,388
Per hour for total broadcast time of a game: $223,129
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38. Joel Embiid
Player info:
League: NBA
2019-2020 team: Philadelphia 76ers
Position: C
2019-2020 cap hit: $21,802,920
Games played in 2019-2020: 44
Amount made:
Per hour of game time: $619,401
Per hour for a year: $2,489
Per hour for total broadcast time of a game: $223,543
37. James Harden
Player info:
League: NBA
2019-2020 team: Houston Rockets
Position: SG
2019-2020 cap hit: $30,280,347
Games played in 2019-2020: 61
Amount made:
Per hour of game time: $620,499
Per hour for a year: $3,457
Per hour for total broadcast time of a game: $223,939
36. Kawhi Leonard
Player info:
League: NBA
2019-2020 team: Los Angeles Clippers
Position: SF
2019-2020 cap hit: $25,954,583
Games played in 2019-2020: 51
Amount made:
Per hour of game time: $636,142
Per hour for a year: $2,963
Per hour for total broadcast time of a game: $229,585
35. Kemba Walker
Player info:
League: NBA
2019-2020 team: Boston Celtics
Position: PG
2019-2020 cap hit: $25,954,583
Games played in 2019-2020: 50
Amount made:
Per hour of game time: $648,865
Per hour for a year: $2,963
Per hour for total broadcast time of a game: $234,177
34. Kyle Lowry
Player info:
League: NBA
2019-2020 team: Toronto Raptors
Position: PG
2019-2020 cap hit: $27,741,564
Games played in 2019-2020: 52
Amount made:
Per hour of game time: $666,865
Per hour for a year: $3,167
Per hour for total broadcast time of a game: $240,673
33. Paul Millsap
Player info:
League: NBA
2019-2020 team: Denver Nuggets
Position: PF
2019-2020 cap hit: $24,058,445
Games played in 2019-2020: 44
Amount made:
Per hour of game time: $683,479
Per hour for a year: $2,746
Per hour for total broadcast time of a game: $246,669
32. Russell Westbrook
Player info:
League: NBA
2019-2020 team: Houston Rockets
Position: PG
2019-2020 cap hit: $30,524,088
Games played in 2019-2020: 53
Amount made:
Per hour of game time: $719,908
Per hour for a year: $3,484
Per hour for total broadcast time of a game: $259,816
31. Gordon Hayward
Player info:
League: NBA
2019-2020 team: Boston Celtics
Position: SF
2019-2020 cap hit: $25,921,837
Games played in 2019-2020: 45
Amount made:
Per hour of game time: $720,051
Per hour for a year: $2,959
Per hour for total broadcast time of a game: $259,868
30. Paul George
Player info:
League: NBA
2019-2020 team: Los Angeles Clippers
Position: SF
2019-2020 cap hit: $26,163,504
Games played in 2019-2020: 42
Amount made:
Per hour of game time: $778,676
Per hour for a year: $2,987
Per hour for total broadcast time of a game: $281,026
29. Mike Conley
Player info:
League: NBA
2019-2020 team: Utah Jazz
Position: PG
2019-2020 cap hit: $25,771,964
Games played in 2019-2020: 41
Amount made:
Per hour of game time: $785,731
Per hour for a year: $2,942
Per hour for total broadcast time of a game: $283,572
28. Allen Robinson
Player info:
League: NFL
2019-2020 team: Chicago Bears
Position: WR
2019-2020 cap hit: $16,000,000
Games played in 2019-2020: 16
Amount made:
Per hour of game time: $1,000,000
Per hour for a year: $1,826
Per hour for total broadcast time of a game: $295,567
27. Andrew Norwell
Player info:
League: NFL
2019-2020 team: Los Angeles Rams
Position: G
2019-2020 cap hit: $16,000,000
Games played in 2019-2020: 16
Amount made:
Per hour of game time: $1,000,000
Per hour for a year: $1,826
Per hour for total broadcast time of a game: $295,567
26. Andrew Whitworth
Player info:
League: NFL
2019-2020 team: Los Angeles Rams
Position: LT
2019-2020 cap hit: $16,659,168
Games played in 2019-2020: 16
Amount made:
Per hour of game time: $1,041,198
Per hour for a year: $1,902
Per hour for total broadcast time of a game: $307,743
25. Odell Beckham Jr.
Player info:
League: NFL
2019-2020 team: Cleveland Browns
Position: WR
2019-2020 cap hit: $17,000,000
Games played in 2019-2020: 16
Amount made:
Per hour of game time: $1,062,500
Per hour for a year: $1,941
Per hour for total broadcast time of a game: $314,039
24. Aaron Donald
Player info:
League: NFL
2019-2020 team: Los Angeles Rams
Position: DT
2019-2020 cap hit: $17,108,000
Games played in 2019-2020: 16
Amount made:
Per hour of game time: $1,069,250
Per hour for a year: $1,953
Per hour for total broadcast time of a game: $316,034
23. Kyle Fuller
Player info:
League: NFL
2019-2020 team: Chicago Bears
Position: CB
2019-2020 cap hit: $18,000,000
Games played in 2019-2020: 16
Amount made:
Per hour of game time: $1,125,000
Per hour for a year: $2,055
Per hour for total broadcast time of a game: $332,512
22. Andy Dalton
Player info:
League: NFL
2019-2020 team: Cincinnati Bengals
Position: QB
2019-2020 cap hit: $16,200,000
Games played in 2019-2020: 13
Amount made:
Per hour of game time: $1,246,154
Per hour for a year: $1,849
Per hour for total broadcast time of a game: $368,321
21. Jimmy Garoppolo
Player info:
League: NFL
2019-2020 team: San Francisco 49ers
Position: QB
2019-2020 cap hit: $20,000,000
Games played in 2019-2020: 16
Amount made:
Per hour of game time: $1,250,000
Per hour for a year: $2,283
Per hour for total broadcast time of a game: $369,458
20. Jameis Winston
Player info:
League: NFL
2019-2020 team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Position: QB
2019-2020 cap hit: $20,922,000
Games played in 2019-2020: 16
Amount made:
Per hour of game time: $1,307,625
Per hour for a year: $2,388
Per hour for total broadcast time of a game: $386,490
19. Tom Brady
Player info:
League: NFL
2019-2020 team: New England Patriots
Position: QB
2019-2020 cap hit: $21,500,000
Games played in 2019-2020: 16
Amount made:
Per hour of game time: $1,343,750
Per hour for a year: $2,454
Per hour for total broadcast time of a game: $397,167
18. Sammy Watkins
Player info:
League: NFL
2019-2020 team: Kansas City Chiefs
Position: WR
2019-2020 cap hit: $19,200,000
Games played in 2019-2020: 14
Amount made:
Per hour of game time: $1,371,429
Per hour for a year: $2,192
Per hour for total broadcast time of a game: $405,348
17. Derek Carr
Player info:
League: NFL
2019-2020 team: Oakland Raiders
Position: QB
2019-2020 cap hit: $22,500,000
Games played in 2019-2020: 16
Amount made:
Per hour of game time: $1,406,250
Per hour for a year: $2,568
Per hour for total broadcast time of a game: $415,640
16. Philip Rivers
Player info:
League: NFL
2019-2020 team: Los Angeles Chargers
Position: QB
2019-2020 cap hit: $23,000,000
Games played in 2019-2020: 16
Amount made:
Per hour of game time: $1,437,500
Per hour for a year: $2,626
Per hour for total broadcast time of a game: $424,877
15. Melvin Ingram
Player info:
League: NFL
2019-2020 team: Los Angeles Chargers
Position: DE
2019-2020 cap hit: $19,625,000
Games played in 2019-2020: 13
Amount made:
Per hour of game time: $1,509,615
Per hour for a year: $2,240
Per hour for total broadcast time of a game: $446,192
14. Kyrie Irving
Player info:
League: NBA
2019-2020 team: Brooklyn Nets
Position: PG
2019-2020 cap hit: $25,161,883
Games played in 2019-2020: 20
Amount made:
Per hour of game time: $1,572,618
Per hour for a year: $2,872
Per hour for total broadcast time of a game: $567,561
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13. Russell Wilson
Player info:
League: NFL
2019-2020 team: Seattle Seahawks
Position: QB
2019-2020 cap hit: $26,286,668
Games played in 2019-2020: 16
Amount made:
Per hour of game time: $1,642,917
Per hour for a year: $3,001
Per hour for total broadcast time of a game: $485,591
12. Von Miller
Player info:
League: NFL
2019-2020 team: Denver Broncos
Position: OLB
2019-2020 cap hit: $25,125,000
Games played in 2019-2020: 15
Amount made:
Per hour of game time: $1,675,000
Per hour for a year: $2,868
Per hour for total broadcast time of a game: $495,074
11. Aaron Rodgers
Player info:
League: NFL
2019-2020 team: Green Bay Packers
Position: QB
2019-2020 cap hit: $29,672,000
Games played in 2019-2020: 16
Amount made:
Per hour of game time: $1,854,500
Per hour for a year: $3,387
Per hour for total broadcast time of a game: $548,128
10. Blake Griffin
Player info:
League: NBA
2019-2020 team: Detroit Pistons
Position: PF
2019-2020 cap hit: $27,308,486
Games played in 2019-2020: 18
Amount made:
Per hour of game time: $1,896,423
Per hour for a year: $3,117
Per hour for total broadcast time of a game: $684,423
9. Kirk Cousins
Player info:
League: NFL
2019-2020 team: Minnesota Vikings
Position: QB
2019-2020 cap hit: $29,000,000
Games played in 2019-2020: 15
Amount made:
Per hour of game time: $1,933,333
Per hour for a year: $3,311
Per hour for total broadcast time of a game: $571,429
8. Drew Brees
Player info:
League: NFL
2019-2020 team: New Orleans Saints
Position: QB
2019-2020 cap hit: $22,700,000
Games played in 2019-2020: 11
Amount made:
Per hour of game time: $2,063,636
Per hour for a year: $2,591
Per hour for total broadcast time of a game: $609,942
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7. Marcus Mariota
Player info:
League: NFL
2019-2020 team: Tennessee Titans
Position: QB
2019-2020 cap hit: $20,922,000
Games played in 2019-2020: 7
Amount made:
Per hour of game time: $2,988,857
Per hour for a year: $2,388
Per hour for total broadcast time of a game: $883,406
6. Matthew Stafford
Player info:
League: NFL
2019-2020 team: Detroit Lions
Position: QB
2019-2020 cap hit: $30,700,000
Games played in 2019-2020: 8
Amount made:
Per hour of game time: $3,837,500
Per hour for a year: $3,505
Per hour for total broadcast time of a game: $1,134,236
5. Reshad Jones
Player info:
League: NFL
2019-2020 team: Miami Dolphins
Position: SS
2019-2020 cap hit: $17,191,250
Games played in 2019-2020: 4
Amount made:
Per hour of game time: $4,297,813
Per hour for a year: $1,962
Per hour for total broadcast time of a game: $1,270,289
4. Eli Manning
Player info:
League: NFL
2019-2020 team: New York Giants
Position: QB
2019-2020 cap hit: $23,200,000
Games played in 2019-2020: 4
Amount made:
Per hour of game time: $5,800,000
Per hour for a year: $2,648
Per hour for total broadcast time of a game: $1,714,286
3. Stephen Curry
Player info:
League: NBA
2019-2020 team: Golden State Warriors
Position: PG
2019-2020 cap hit: $31,891,715
Games played in 2019-2020: 5
Amount made:
Per hour of game time: $7,972,929
Per hour for a year: $3,641
Per hour for total broadcast time of a game: $2,877,448
2. Cam Newton
Player info:
League: NFL
2019-2020 team: Carolina Panthers
Position: QB
2019-2020 cap hit: $23,200,000
Games played in 2019-2020: 2
Amount made:
Per hour of game time: $11,600,000
Per hour for a year: $2,648
Per hour for total broadcast time of a game: $3,428,571
1. Ben Roethlisberger
Player info:
League: NFL
2019-2020 team: Pittsburgh Steelers
Position: QB
2019-2020 cap hit: $26,200,000
Games played in 2019-2020: 2
Amount made:
Per hour of game time: $13,100,000
Per hour for a year: $2,991
Per hour for total broadcast time of a game: $3,871,921
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Methodology: In order to find which athletes make the most per hour, GOBankingRates first found the top 25 highest-paid players in terms of cap hit/payroll salary for the NFL, MLB, NHL and NBA as sourced from Spotrac 2019-20 data. The cap hit/payroll salary data was prorated for the shortened NHL and NBA seasons. GOBankingRates then found how many games each player played in during the 2019-2020 season as well as the following data: (1) money earned per hour of game time (NFL: 60 minutes, NHL: 60 minutes, MLB: 225 minutes and NBA: 48 minutes); (2) money earned per hour for an entire year (8,760 hours in a year); and (3) money earned per hour of total broadcast time for a game (NFL: 203 minutes, MLB: 225 minutes, NHL: 140 minutes and NBA: 133 minutes). Time per game broadcast data was sourced from Baseball-Reference, Forbes and FiveThirtyEight. All games played data was sourced from Baseball-Reference, Pro-Football-Reference, Basketball-Reference and Hockey-Reference. Only factor No. 1 was used to determine final rankings. All data was collected and is up to date as of July 14, 2020.
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Which Athletes Earn the Most Per Hour?
