Also called: MiLB Player, Prospect
Plays in baseball's minor leagues while trying to reach Major League Baseball.
Players ride buses between small cities, play nearly every day all summer, and work with coaches on swing and pitching mechanics. Only about 10% ever reach the majors. Most also work offseason jobs.
Estimate. After a 2023 labor agreement, minor league salaries range from about $20k to $36k for the season, plus housing in many cases. A signing bonus can add more for top draft picks.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
High school diploma, about 3 years after high school. Most athletes start as kids and compete through high school and college; no degree is required, though many earn one.
Ways in: On-the-job training. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Majors to look at: Kinesiology.
Growing faster than average (about 5% over 10 years). BLS projects 5% growth for all athletes and sports competitors (2024-34), but roster spots in each league are nearly fixed, so competition is extreme.
Low risk for 10 years. Pitch-tracking and AI training tools speed development; playing stays human, with long bus rides and low pay.
Classes: Weight training PE, NCAA-approved core courses, Statistics.
Official data: O*NET occupation 27-2021.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.