When people think of playing pool or billiards, they often think of doing a relaxing, yet fun activity with their friends and family. Some people even have a pool table in their home or will go to a pool bar to play. Though pool or billiards is certainly a sport that anyone can enjoy, there are some people that do it as their job. If you've ever wondered what a professional pool or professional billiards player makes for their average salary, you might be surprised that they can make a very decent living if they are successful.
Job Description
Professional pool players make their money by signing up for tournaments and competing with other professional players. Different tournaments will have different cash prizes for those who score in the highest ranks. Sometimes, only the top player will get the winnings. Other times, the top 10 players may get paid. Some of the most well-known tournaments are the World Cup of Pool, the World 9 Ball Championship and the Eurotour. Of course, the more tournaments a professional player wins, the more money they will have. They may also receive endorsem*nts, which can increase their income.
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Education Requirements
To become a professional pool or billiards player, you will need to have a lot of experience in the sport. You will need to train and practice extensively, perfecting certain plays and your overall touch. Like with any sport, practice makes perfect. If you start from an early age, enroll in training classes or a mentorship and spend as much time as you can trying to improve without giving up – that's really the only requirement. Some players may join the UPA to get this training. Most professional pool players would say that they have quite a few years of experience playing in smaller tournaments before making it to the "big leagues."
Industry
Most professional pool players or professional billiards players play in tournaments. If they win, that's how they earn their money. There are many different tournaments and player organizations out there to ensure players have ample opportunity to earn money. This means that players may have to travel a lot in order to get to tournaments. They usually have to pay for their own travel and pay to enter a tournament, especially if they are a beginner or a mid-level player. Those who are consistently successful will likely not have to pay these fees. One organization you can attempt to join if you want to grow as a professional pool player is UPA, United States Professional Pool Players Organization.
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Years of Experience and Salary
On average, a mid-level pool player can make around $50,000 a year, with the top-earning pool players making hundreds of thousands of dollars or in the millions. The highest paid pool player, Efren Reyes, has a net worth of $2 million. The number varies so much because of the nature of the job. In order to earn money, professional players will need to win tournaments and work their way up the world pool rankings. Otherwise, pool players can earn an income by teaching pool to students on the side, having endorsem*nts or winning bets at a billiards bar.
Job Growth Trend
Unfortunately, not all professional pool players or professional billiards players are able to make a living off of the sport. If they are having a bad streak and they are unable to win tournaments, they may have a hard time financially. Although billiards is definitely a popular sport and the winners get paid well, those who don't win tournaments will need to supplement their earnings with something else.
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