⛸️ How much does a figure skater make?
Many skaters earn little or nothing from skating; no reliable typical full-time pay is published. ISU 2025-26 Grand Prix event winners receive $18,000 and the Grand Prix Final winner $25,000 in prize money. Japan’s Olympic pair champions each received ¥20 million as a one-time reward from sponsor Kinoshita Group.
A few stars get large sponsor deals and bonuses, while many skaters face high training costs and have no guaranteed salary.
US Most people, typical, the top
| Who | Yearly earnings | Based on |
|---|---|---|
| Skaters with no paid skating income (a floor, not a typical-pay estimate) | $0 | Conditional prize money and support; no typical annual pay figure |
| Grand Prix Final winner prize (prize money only, not annual pay) | $25,000 | ISU 2025-26 Grand Prix official announcement; Final winner prize money |
Per month and per day
| Who | Per month | Per day (÷365) |
|---|---|---|
| Skaters with no paid skating income (a floor, not a typical-pay estimate) | $0 | $0 |
| Grand Prix Final winner prize (prize money only, not annual pay) | $2,083 | $68 |
Where does the money come from?
- Sponsorships and ads: Top skaters may earn money from company endorsements and sponsorships. Source
- Competition prize money: At 2026–27 ISU Grand Prix events, the singles winners receive $21,000. Source
- Ice show tours: Some skaters earn money by touring and performing in ice shows. Source
- Athlete support: U.S. Figure Skating funding helps selected athletes with training and competition costs. Source
What famous figure skaters make
| Who | Amount |
|---|---|
| Ilia Malinin | $700,000 (2026) Estimate Estimated earnings in the 12 months before the 2026 Olympics. (Source) |
| Nathan Chen | $1M (2022) Estimate At least this much in sponsorship earnings in the year before the 2022 Olympics. (Source) |
How do you become a figure skater?
In the United States, start with Learn to Skate USA, then find a U.S. Figure Skating club. Build your skills and take the federation tests needed to compete. Start with local events; skaters aiming for nationals can follow the National Qualifying Series.
- Learn basic skating through Learn to Skate USA.
- Find a nearby U.S. Figure Skating club.
- Explore skating disciplines and build your skills.
- Take the federation tests needed for competition.
- Enter local events, then progress to qualifying events.
Qualifications and exams
To compete in U.S. Figure Skating events, skaters must take tests in the federation’s test system. The federation’s rulebook sets the test standards.
A day as a figure skater
A competitive skater spends time repeating a program on the ice, then works on dance and fitness off the ice. Top-level training often fills six days each week.
Common questions
Do figure skaters get a steady paycheck?
There is no single fixed paycheck for all figure skaters. Income can come from sponsors, prize money, and ice shows, but many skaters do not earn enough to cover their skating costs. Source
What can a Grand Prix winner earn?
For the 2026–27 season, the ISU Grand Prix singles winners receive $21,000. The winning pair or ice dance couple receives $27,000 per pair or couple. Source
Does every Grand Prix skater get prize money?
No. Only skaters or couples who qualify and compete in the free skate or free dance can receive Grand Prix prize money; the event pays only the top five places. Source
How do skaters earn money between competitions?
Company endorsements are a main source of income for medal-winning skaters. Some also earn from ice-show tours, and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee provides a basic living stipend to athletes. Source
Will U.S. Figure Skating help pay training costs?
Yes. The U.S. Figure Skating Athlete Support Fund helps athletes selected for team envelopes with skating expenses. Funding is based on results from the prior season, so it is support for selected athletes, not a regular salary for everyone. Source
This section summarizes public sources. We only show numbers that have a source.
Close jobs in official statistics
In Japan
Japan Most people, typical, the top
| Who | Yearly earnings | Based on |
|---|---|---|
| Skaters with no paid skating income (a floor, not a typical-pay estimate) | $0 | Conditional prize money and support; no typical annual pay figure |
| Japanese Olympic pair champions (one-time sponsor bonus, not annual salary) Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara (¥20 million each in 2026) | $133,333 | One-time reward announced by sponsor Kinoshita Group, Feb 26, 2026 (Kyodo) |
Famous people
| Who | Amount |
|---|---|
| ⛸️ Yuzuru Hanyu Professional figure skater | $13M (2025) Yuzuru Hanyu is estimated to earn about $13 million a year from ice shows, ads, and more. |
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Data table and sources
- isu-d8g8b4b7ece7aphs.a03.azurefd.net/isudamcontainer/CMS/Fansite/Figure-Skating/
- usfigureskating.org/sports/2025/8/26/national-team-funding.aspx
- english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/71256
- money.com/olympic-figure-skating-costs
- members.usfsaonline.org/skating-journey
- usfigureskating.org/sports/2025/12/2/test-structure.aspx
- isu-d8g8b4b7ece7aphs.a03.azurefd.net/isudamcontainer/CMS/Corporate-Site/Governan
- www.marketplace.org/story/2022/02/18/how-lucrative-is-ice-skating
- www.forbes.com/sites/brettknight/2026/02/06/the-highest-paid-athletes-at-the-202
This job is not covered directly by government wage statistics, so the figures come from leagues, associations, surveys and the press.