Gaming55% remote-eligible+18% YoY growth

Esports Manager Salary
by City (2026)

Manage esports teams, tournaments, and competitive gaming operations. National median: $65K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$65K

Top 10% earn

$135K

Entry level

$45K

Salary growth

+18%/yr

Esports Manager salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
San Francisco, CA	$74K	$107K	$152K	224	9.3%
San Jose, CA	$71K	$103K	$145K	210	9.3%
New York City, NY	$67K	$97K	$137K	187	6.85%
Oakland, CA	$67K	$96K	$136K	185	9.3%
Cambridge, MA	$66K	$96K	$136K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$66K	$96K	$136K	185	11%
Seattle, WA	$64K	$92K	$131K	150	None ✓
Bellevue, WA	$64K	$92K	$131K	175	None ✓
Irvine, CA	$63K	$91K	$129K	172	9.3%
Washington, DC	$63K	$91K	$129K	152	8.5%
Boston, MA	$62K	$90K	$127K	162	5%
Jersey City, NJ	$62K	$90K	$127K	162	10.75%
Yonkers, NY	$62K	$89K	$126K	165	6.85%
Bethesda, MD	$62K	$89K	$126K	165	5.75%
Los Angeles, CA	$61K	$88K	$124K	163	9.3%
Kirkland, WA	$61K	$88K	$124K	162	None ✓
Arlington, VA	$61K	$88K	$124K	148	5.75%
Stamford, CT	$60K	$87K	$122K	158	6.99%
Newark, NJ	$59K	$86K	$121K	155	10.75%
San Diego, CA	$59K	$85K	$120K	148	9.3%
Hilo, HI	$59K	$85K	$121K	155	11%
Santa Ana, CA	$58K	$84K	$118K	150	9.3%
Long Beach, CA	$58K	$83K	$118K	155	9.3%
Anaheim, CA	$57K	$83K	$117K	148	9.3%
Rockville, MD	$57K	$83K	$117K	148	5.75%
Alexandria, VA	$57K	$82K	$116K	145	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$57K	$82K	$116K	145	10.75%
Paterson, NJ	$55K	$80K	$113K	140	10.75%
Austin, TX	$55K	$79K	$112K	110	None ✓
Chula Vista, CA	$55K	$79K	$113K	138	9.3%
Portland, OR	$55K	$79K	$112K	130	9.9%
Edison, NJ	$55K	$79K	$113K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$55K	$79K	$113K	138	None ✓
Sacramento, CA	$53K	$77K	$109K	128	9.3%
Tacoma, WA	$53K	$77K	$109K	128	None ✓
Denver, CO	$53K	$77K	$109K	118	4.55%
Plano, TX	$52K	$75K	$106K	105	None ✓
Chicago, IL	$52K	$75K	$106K	107	4.95%
Scottsdale, AZ	$52K	$75K	$106K	118	2.5%
Worcester, MA	$52K	$75K	$106K	120	5%
Salt Lake City, UT	$52K	$75K	$106K	105	4.85%
Baltimore, MD	$52K	$75K	$106K	115	5.75%
Honolulu, HI	$52K	$75K	$106K	192	11%
New Haven, CT	$51K	$74K	$105K	122	6.99%
Dallas, TX	$50K	$73K	$103K	96	None ✓
McKinney, TX	$50K	$73K	$103K	108	None ✓
Miami, FL	$50K	$73K	$103K	123	None ✓
Durham, NC	$50K	$73K	$103K	100	4.75%
Philadelphia, PA	$50K	$73K	$103K	110	3.07%
Minneapolis, MN	$50K	$73K	$103K	106	6.8%
Nashua, NH	$51K	$73K	$104K	120	None ✓
Frisco, TX	$50K	$72K	$102K	118	None ✓
Riverside, CA	$50K	$72K	$102K	118	9.3%
Naperville, IL	$50K	$72K	$102K	118	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$50K	$72K	$102K	118	None ✓
Aurora, CO	$50K	$72K	$101K	112	4.55%
Atlanta, GA	$50K	$72K	$101K	99	5.75%
Lowell, MA	$50K	$72K	$102K	118	5%
Raleigh, NC	$50K	$72K	$101K	102	4.75%
Gresham, OR	$50K	$72K	$102K	118	9.9%
Provo, UT	$50K	$72K	$101K	100	4.85%
Bridgeport, CT	$50K	$72K	$102K	118	6.99%
Hartford, CT	$50K	$72K	$101K	118	6.99%
Manchester, NH	$50K	$72K	$102K	118	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$50K	$72K	$102K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$50K	$72K	$102K	118	5.99%
Anchorage, AK	$50K	$72K	$101K	128	None ✓
Hialeah, FL	$49K	$71K	$101K	115	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$49K	$71K	$101K	115	None ✓
Lakewood, CO	$49K	$71K	$101K	115	4.55%
Ann Arbor, MI	$49K	$71K	$101K	115	4.25%
Frederick, MD	$49K	$71K	$101K	115	5.75%
Portland, ME	$49K	$71K	$101K	115	7.15%
Concord, NH	$49K	$71K	$101K	115	None ✓
Warwick, RI	$49K	$71K	$101K	115	5.99%
Irving, TX	$49K	$70K	$99K	97	None ✓
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$49K	$70K	$99K	118	None ✓
Pembroke Pines, FL	$49K	$70K	$99K	112	None ✓
Chandler, AZ	$49K	$70K	$99K	105	2.5%
Fort Collins, CO	$49K	$70K	$99K	112	4.55%
Cary, NC	$49K	$70K	$99K	112	4.75%
St. Paul, MN	$49K	$70K	$99K	104	6.8%
Eugene, OR	$48K	$70K	$99K	110	9.9%
Round Rock, TX	$48K	$69K	$98K	108	None ✓
Gilbert, AZ	$48K	$69K	$98K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$48K	$69K	$98K	108	2.5%
Thornton, CO	$48K	$69K	$98K	108	4.55%
Boise, ID	$48K	$69K	$98K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$48K	$69K	$98K	108	6.6%
Houston, TX	$47K	$68K	$97K	91	None ✓
Fort Worth, TX	$47K	$68K	$97K	93	None ✓
Stockton, CA	$47K	$68K	$96K	105	9.3%
Tampa, FL	$47K	$68K	$97K	102	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$47K	$68K	$97K	100	2.5%
Springfield, MA	$47K	$68K	$96K	105	5%
Charlotte, NC	$47K	$68K	$97K	100	4.75%
Nashville, TN	$47K	$68K	$97K	102	None ✓
Pittsburgh, PA	$47K	$68K	$97K	90	3.07%
Salem, OR	$47K	$68K	$96K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$47K	$68K	$96K	105	None ✓
Reno, NV	$47K	$68K	$97K	108	None ✓
Meridian, ID	$47K	$68K	$96K	105	5.8%
Carrollton, TX	$46K	$67K	$94K	102	None ✓
Missoula, MT	$46K	$67K	$94K	102	6.75%
Arlington, TX	$46K	$66K	$94K	94	None ✓
Garland, TX	$46K	$66K	$94K	91	None ✓
Denton, TX	$46K	$66K	$93K	100	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$46K	$66K	$93K	100	9.3%
Orlando, FL	$46K	$66K	$94K	100	None ✓
Cape Coral, FL	$46K	$66K	$93K	100	None ✓
Peoria, AZ	$46K	$66K	$93K	100	2.5%
Rochester, MN	$46K	$66K	$93K	100	6.8%
West Jordan, UT	$46K	$66K	$93K	100	4.85%
Huntsville, AL	$46K	$66K	$94K	88	5%
Overland Park, KS	$46K	$66K	$93K	100	5.7%
Dover, DE	$46K	$66K	$93K	100	6.6%
Albany, NY	$45K	$65K	$93K	98	6.85%
St. Petersburg, FL	$45K	$65K	$92K	105	None ✓
Port St. Lucie, FL	$45K	$65K	$93K	98	None ✓
Mesa, AZ	$45K	$65K	$92K	98	2.5%
Chesapeake, VA	$45K	$65K	$93K	98	5.75%
Richmond, VA	$45K	$65K	$92K	98	5.75%
Columbus, OH	$45K	$65K	$92K	90	3.99%
Madison, WI	$45K	$65K	$92K	102	5.3%
North Las Vegas, NV	$45K	$65K	$93K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$45K	$65K	$93K	98	4.85%
Orem, UT	$45K	$65K	$93K	98	4.85%
Charleston, SC	$45K	$65K	$92K	105	6.5%
Nampa, ID	$45K	$65K	$93K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$45K	$65K	$93K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$45K	$65K	$93K	98	7.15%
Bakersfield, CA	$45K	$64K	$91K	95	9.3%
Aurora, IL	$45K	$64K	$91K	95	4.95%
Glendale, AZ	$45K	$64K	$91K	95	2.5%
Colorado Springs, CO	$44K	$64K	$90K	102	4.55%
Virginia Beach, VA	$44K	$64K	$90K	98	5.75%
Norfolk, VA	$45K	$64K	$91K	95	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$45K	$64K	$91K	95	5.75%
Allentown, PA	$45K	$64K	$91K	95	3.07%
Kansas City, MO	$44K	$64K	$90K	90	5.3%
Las Vegas, NV	$44K	$64K	$90K	102	None ✓
North Charleston, SC	$45K	$64K	$91K	95	6.5%
Grand Prairie, TX	$43K	$63K	$89K	90	None ✓
Midland, TX	$44K	$63K	$90K	92	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$43K	$63K	$89K	90	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$43K	$63K	$89K	90	4.95%
Athens, GA	$44K	$63K	$90K	92	5.75%
Sterling Heights, MI	$43K	$63K	$89K	90	4.25%
Kenosha, WI	$43K	$63K	$89K	90	5.3%
Duluth, MN	$44K	$63K	$90K	92	6.8%
Greenville, SC	$44K	$63K	$90K	92	6.5%
Cheyenne, WY	$44K	$63K	$90K	92	None ✓
Fargo, ND	$43K	$63K	$89K	90	2.5%
Pasadena, TX	$43K	$62K	$87K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$43K	$62K	$87K	88	None ✓
Fresno, CA	$43K	$62K	$87K	102	9.3%
Rochester, NY	$43K	$62K	$87K	90	6.85%
Syracuse, NY	$43K	$62K	$87K	88	6.85%
Jacksonville, FL	$43K	$62K	$87K	93	None ✓
Gainesville, FL	$43K	$62K	$87K	88	None ✓
Greensboro, NC	$43K	$62K	$87K	88	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$43K	$62K	$87K	88	None ✓
Cincinnati, OH	$43K	$62K	$88K	88	3.99%
Detroit, MI	$43K	$62K	$87K	82	4.25%
St. Louis, MO	$43K	$62K	$88K	86	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$43K	$62K	$88K	88	3.23%
Milwaukee, WI	$43K	$62K	$88K	90	5.3%
Green Bay, WI	$43K	$62K	$87K	88	5.3%
Lexington, KY	$43K	$62K	$87K	88	5%
Great Falls, MT	$43K	$62K	$87K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$43K	$62K	$87K	88	None ✓
Bismarck, ND	$43K	$62K	$87K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$43K	$62K	$87K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$43K	$62K	$87K	88	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$42K	$61K	$86K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$42K	$61K	$86K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$42K	$61K	$86K	85	None ✓
Winston-Salem, NC	$42K	$61K	$86K	85	4.75%
Warren, MI	$42K	$61K	$86K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$42K	$61K	$86K	85	4.25%
Independence, MO	$42K	$61K	$86K	85	5.3%
Lafayette, LA	$42K	$61K	$86K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$42K	$61K	$86K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$42K	$61K	$86K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$42K	$61K	$86K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$42K	$61K	$86K	85	5.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$42K	$61K	$86K	85	4.9%
San Antonio, TX	$41K	$60K	$85K	87	None ✓
Amarillo, TX	$41K	$60K	$85K	82	None ✓
Waco, TX	$41K	$60K	$85K	82	None ✓
Buffalo, NY	$41K	$60K	$85K	88	6.85%
Spokane, WA	$41K	$60K	$85K	95	None ✓
Pueblo, CO	$41K	$60K	$85K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$41K	$60K	$85K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$41K	$60K	$85K	82	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$41K	$60K	$85K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$41K	$60K	$85K	82	None ✓
South Bend, IN	$41K	$60K	$85K	82	3.23%
Louisville, KY	$41K	$60K	$85K	85	5%
Mobile, AL	$41K	$60K	$85K	82	5%
Broken Arrow, OK	$41K	$60K	$85K	82	4.75%
Des Moines, IA	$41K	$60K	$85K	88	4.82%
Davenport, IA	$41K	$60K	$85K	82	4.82%
Killeen, TX	$41K	$59K	$84K	80	None ✓
Rockford, IL	$41K	$59K	$84K	80	4.95%
Macon, GA	$41K	$59K	$84K	80	5.75%
Cleveland, OH	$41K	$59K	$83K	82	3.99%
Akron, OH	$41K	$59K	$84K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$41K	$59K	$84K	80	3.99%
Grand Rapids, MI	$41K	$59K	$83K	90	4.25%
Erie, PA	$41K	$59K	$84K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$41K	$59K	$84K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$41K	$59K	$84K	80	3.23%
Bowling Green, KY	$41K	$59K	$84K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$41K	$59K	$84K	80	5%
Norman, OK	$41K	$59K	$84K	80	4.75%
New Orleans, LA	$41K	$59K	$83K	92	6%
Omaha, NE	$41K	$59K	$83K	88	5.84%
Las Cruces, NM	$41K	$59K	$84K	80	5.9%
Gulfport, MS	$41K	$59K	$84K	80	5%
Abilene, TX	$40K	$58K	$83K	78	None ✓
Toledo, OH	$40K	$58K	$83K	78	3.99%
Evansville, IN	$40K	$58K	$83K	78	3.23%
Shreveport, LA	$40K	$58K	$83K	78	6%
Jackson, MS	$40K	$58K	$83K	78	5%
Charleston, WV	$40K	$58K	$83K	78	6.5%
Brownsville, TX	$40K	$57K	$81K	75	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$40K	$57K	$81K	90	2.5%
Savannah, GA	$40K	$57K	$81K	92	5.75%
Memphis, TN	$40K	$57K	$81K	82	None ✓
Knoxville, TN	$40K	$57K	$81K	85	None ✓
Birmingham, AL	$40K	$57K	$81K	82	5%
Columbia, SC	$40K	$57K	$81K	88	6.5%
Oklahoma City, OK	$40K	$57K	$81K	82	4.75%
Baton Rouge, LA	$40K	$57K	$81K	88	6%
Albuquerque, NM	$40K	$57K	$81K	88	5.9%
Fort Smith, AR	$40K	$57K	$81K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$40K	$57K	$81K	75	6.5%
Corpus Christi, TX	$38K	$55K	$78K	84	None ✓
Tulsa, OK	$38K	$55K	$78K	80	4.75%
Wichita, KS	$38K	$55K	$78K	82	5.7%
El Paso, TX	$37K	$53K	$75K	82	None ✓
Little Rock, AR	$37K	$53K	$75K	82	4.9%
Lubbock, TX	$36K	$52K	$74K	78	None ✓
Laredo, TX	$34K	$49K	$69K	76	None ✓

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $65K Esports Manager salary in Houston (COL 91, no tax) has significantly more purchasing power than the same salary in San Francisco (COL 224, 9.3% state tax). Use our calculator to see the real numbers.

Try COL Calculator →

Esports Manager Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a Esports Manager is $65,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $45,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $92,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of Esports Managers nationally earn $135,000+.

Education and requirements

Bachelor's in Sports Management or Business; esports industry knowledge. This role is 55% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

Esports Manager compensation is growing at 18% annually, well above the national average wage growth rate. Demand for qualified Esports Managers significantly outpaces supply in most major metros.

Esports Manager salary FAQ

How much does a Esports Manager make?

The median Esports Manager salary in the US is $65,000 per year — about $31/hour. Most earn between $45,000 (25th percentile) and $92,000 (75th percentile).

What is the starting salary for a Esports Manager?

Entry-level Esports Manager positions typically start around $45,000 per year. Pay rises with experience, specialization, and location.

How much do the highest-paid Esports Managers earn?

The top 10% of Esports Managers earn $135,000 or more per year — usually senior, lead, or specialized professionals in high-cost or high-demand markets.

Which city pays Esports Managers the most?

San Francisco has the highest median Esports Manager salary at $107K among the cities we track. But high-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often have lower real purchasing power once cost of living and taxes are factored in.

Are Esports Manager salaries going up?

Yes — Esports Manager pay is growing about 18% year over year, above the US average wage-growth rate.

Esports Manager Salaryby City (2026)