🤼 How much does a sumo wrestler make in Japan?
In the U.S., sumo is amateur, so regular pay is usually $0. The BLS median for all athletes is $66,710 (not sumo-only); no reliable U.S. sumo top-pay figure is published.
Japanese pay depends on rank, and prizes and sponsorships vary; U.S. sumo is mostly amateur rather than a salaried league.
Japan Most people, typical, the top
| Who | Yearly earnings | Based on |
|---|---|---|
| Lower-rank wrestlers (tournament allowance, not salary) | $3,080–$6,600 | 2020 reported allowance (¥77,000-165,000 per tournament) ×6; raised 6-9% from Jan 2027 |
| Salaried ranks, Juryo to Ozeki (annual base pay) | $88,000–$200,000 | Monthly ¥1.1-2.5M (2026) ×12; ¥1.2-2.75M from Jan 2027 |
| Yokozuna (annual base pay) | $240,000 | Monthly ¥3M ×12 (2026); ¥3.3M from Jan 2027. Bonuses and prizes are extra |
Per month and per day
| Who | Per month | Per day (÷365) |
|---|---|---|
| Lower-rank wrestlers (tournament allowance, not salary) | $257–$550 | $8–$18 |
| Salaried ranks, Juryo to Ozeki (annual base pay) | $7,333–$16,667 | $241–$548 |
| Yokozuna (annual base pay) | $20,000 | $658 |
Where does the money come from?
- Sekitori base salary: A salaried wrestler's annual base pay depends on rank; the range is about ¥13.2 million to ¥36 million. Source
- Tournament allowance: Below Juryo there is no salary, only a per-tournament allowance: about ¥462,000–¥990,000 a year at 2020 rates, rising 6–9% from January 2027. Source
- Performance pay and prizes: Sekitori receive a performance payment of 4,000 times their "mochi-kyukin" points, which grow with winning records. Source
- Sponsor envelopes: A sponsor envelope is ¥70,000; the winner's share is ¥60,000, part of which the association holds back for tax. Source
What famous sumo wrestlers make
| Who | Amount |
|---|---|
| 🤼 Onosato Sumo grand champion (Yokozuna) | $240,000 (2026) As Yokozuna, Onosato earns about ¥3.0 million a month, or about ¥36 million a year; from January 2027 it rises to ¥3.3 million a month (about ¥39.6 million a year). |
How do you become a sumo wrestler?
In Japan, finish compulsory education and ask a sumo stablemaster about joining. Most applicants must be under 23, though some with qualifying records may apply under 25. Pass the health check and new-recruit test, then register with the Japan Sumo Association to become a wrestler.
- Finish compulsory education and check the age rules.
- Talk to the stablemaster of a sumo stable you wish to join.
- Submit the papers and take the health check and entry test.
- Pass, register with the association, and begin as a wrestler.
Qualifications and exams
Healthy men must finish compulsory school and are usually under 23; some approved applicants may enter under 25. New recruits take a health check and entry test.
A day as a sumo wrestler
In Japan, a wrestler starts early at the stable with repeated leg lifts, sliding steps, and practice bouts. After training, wrestlers bathe, eat chanko, rest, and take turns cleaning or preparing meals.
Common questions
How does monthly pay change by rank?
Through December 2026, a Juryo wrestler gets ¥1.1 million per month and a Yokozuna ¥3 million. From January 2027, these are set to rise to ¥1.2 million and ¥3.3 million. Source
Do wrestlers below Juryo get a monthly salary?
No. Below Juryo, wrestlers get an allowance each tournament: about ¥462,000–¥990,000 a year at 2020 rates. It rises 6–9% from January 2027. Source
Can winning records increase a wrestler's bonus?
Yes. Each winning record raises a wrestler's "mochi-kyukin" points, and sekitori are paid 4,000 times that number each tournament. The points never go down. Source
How much does a wrestler get from a sponsor envelope?
One sponsor envelope is ¥70,000, and the winner's share is ¥60,000. Part of that share is held by the association to pay the wrestler's tax. Source
How much is the top-division championship prize?
The Makuuchi winner gets ¥10 million through the November 2026 tournament. The prize is set to rise to ¥20 million from the January 2027 tournament. Source
This section summarizes public sources. We only show numbers that have a source.
In the US
US Most people, typical, the top
| Who | Yearly earnings | Based on |
|---|---|---|
| Most U.S. amateur sumo competitors (regular pay) | $0 | U.S. federation describes the sport as amateur; event prizes are separate |
| All U.S. athletes and sports competitors (BLS median; not sumo-only) | $66,710 | BLS median wage, May 2025 |
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Data table and sources
- www.ussumo.org/
- www.bls.gov/ooh/entertainment-and-sports/athletes-and-sports-competitors.htm
- ozumo.jp/en/what-is-rikishi
- www.sumo.hu/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/ATHLETE-INFO-2024-US-SUMO-OPEN.pdf
- www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202607300000730.html?mode=all
- hochi.news/articles/20200513-OHT1T50254.html
- www.sumo.or.jp/IrohaOther/kensho/
- www.sumo.or.jp/IrohaKnowledge/nyumon
- www.chunichi.co.jp/article/1289318
- www.nippon.com/en/views/b02346
- Pay for a wrestler at the top rank, Yokozuna: a monthly salary of 3.3 million yen times 12, set by official rules. (Japan Sumo Association pay rules)
- Pay for an Ozeki-rank wrestler: a monthly salary of 2.75 million yen times 12. (Japan Sumo Association pay rules)
- Pay for a Sekiwake or Komusubi-rank wrestler: a monthly salary of 2 million yen times 12. (Japan Sumo Association pay rules)
- Pay for a Maegashira-rank wrestler: 1.55 million yen a month times 12, the lowest rank in the top division. (Japan Sumo Association pay rules)
- Pay for a Juryo-rank wrestler: 1.2 million yen a month times 12. Ranks below this get no monthly salary. (Japan Sumo Association pay rules)
- Makushita-rank wrestlers get no monthly salary, only a 180,000 yen allowance per tournament, six times a year. (Japan Sumo Association pay rules)
- The lowest rank, Jonokuchi, gets only an 82,000 yen allowance per tournament, six times a year. (Japan Sumo Association pay rules)