$Who Earns What

How much does a betting clerk make?

US Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners

Answer: A typical betting clerk in the United States makes $34,980 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Yearly pay of a typical person doing this job in the US
$34,980

Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 9,000 people work in this job. Below the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).

Lower earner
$22,090
10th from the bottom of 100
Typical person
$34,980
Right in the middle (median)
Higher earner
$48,270
10th from the top of 100

If 100 people had this job

Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-right

Hover over a person to see their yearly pay

50 of 100
more than half

Betting clerk pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)

Betting clerk pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread) — Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lower earner (10th from bottom)Typical person (median)Higher earner (10th from top)People in this job
$22,090$34,980$48,270about 9,000
States where betting clerks earn the most (median, May 2025)
StateTypical person (median)People in this job
California$44,860about 1,000
Nevada$37,500about 1,000
Montana$22,030about 1,000

Why does pay differ?

In the United States, pay can differ with experience, employer, and location; BLS data for this job show differences across industries and places. Where required, a state gaming license affects eligibility, while part-time hours and night or weekend shifts change total earnings.

What if you lived in a different state?

Pay varies a lot by state in the US
Whole US$34,980
New York$54,740
New Jersey$48,260
Massachusetts$47,720
Wisconsin$47,250
California$44,860
Louisiana$26,620
Montana$22,030
West Virginia$19,740

Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.

What does a betting clerk do?

Post information enabling patrons to wager on various races and sporting events. Assist in the operation of games such as keno and bingo. May operate random number-generating equipment and announce the numbers for patrons. Receive, verify, and record patrons’ wagers. Scan and process winning tickets presented by patrons and pay out winnings for those wagers.

What's a typical day like?

At a sportsbook counter, a betting clerk takes, checks, and records customers’ bets. After an event, they scan winning tickets and pay out; some also help run keno or bingo.

How to get this job

In the US, a high school diploma or GED is typical; apply to a sportsbook or casino and train on the job, usually for under a month. Rules vary by state: Maryland requires a gaming license, and workers must be at least 18.

High school plus some training (preparation level 2 of 5)

Good for people who like keeping things organized and leading and selling.

Did you know?

A betting clerk’s job can include helping run bingo and keno, so the role is not limited to sports bets.

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Sources and data

Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine

Pages used for the text

Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY