Salaries for well-known professional athletes are among the highest received in the United States. For example, in 2024, LeBron James earned a $48.2 million salary and $80 million in endorsements as a professional basketball player. NFL player Lamar Jackson was awarded a $98.5 million salary and had $2 million in endorsements. In contrast, the average U.S. firefighter’s salary is $60,000. Even the President of the United States makes only $400,000 per year. These professions carry more responsibility or greater risk, but they pay salaries that do not parallel those of athletes.

Also, some people think that athletes throw away their money on expensive houses, cars, and other possessions. Meanwhile, organizations that need money to help people are not getting enough. The Head Start program in New Hampshire, for example, received about $16 million from the federal government in 2022. This program gives preschoolers free schooling, food, and medical care. With this amount of money, the program served less than 10% of low-income children in the state. Even a fraction of a single athlete’s salary could guarantee that thousands more children would be able to receive these services.

On the other hand, athletes possess very special skills. Athletes must work very hard to get into professional leagues. Many people play sports in school, but only a few are good enough to play professionally. They train all year, and they put a great deal of strain on their bodies. They risk serious injury every time they play. They also create entertainment value for people. Famous athletes help sports teams, television networks, and other professional sports organizations make a lot of money. Fans are willing to pay a lot to see their favorite athletes play. Many people believe that it is logical to give athletes a share of the money they help to bring into the sports industry.

Do athletes really deserve multi-million dollar salaries? What do you think?