By Hana LaRock Updated August 27, 2018
When people think of playing pool or billiards, they often think of doing a relaxing, yet fun activity with their friends and family. Some people even have a pool table in their home or will go to a pool bar to play. Though pool or billiards is certainly a sport that anyone can enjoy, there are some people that do it as their job. If you've ever wondered what a professional pool or professional billiards player makes for their average salary, you might be surprised that they can make a very decent living if they are successful.
Job Description
Professional pool players make their money by signing up for tournaments and competing with other professional players. Different tournaments will have different cash prizes for those who score in the highest ranks. Sometimes, only the top player will get the winnings. Other times, the top 10 players may get paid. Some of the most well-known tournaments are the World Cup of Pool, the World 9 Ball Championship and the Eurotour. Of course, the more tournaments a professional player wins, the more money they will have. They may also receive endorsem*nts, which can increase their income.
Education Requirements
To become a professional pool or billiards player, you will need to have a lot of experience in the sport. You will need to train and practice extensively, perfecting certain plays and your overall touch. Like with any sport, practice makes perfect. If you start from an early age, enroll in training classes or a mentorship and spend as much time as you can trying to improve without giving up – that's really the only requirement. Some players may join the UPA to get this training. Most professional pool players would say that they have quite a few years of experience playing in smaller tournaments before making it to the "big leagues."
Industry
Most professional pool players or professional billiards players play in tournaments. If they win, that's how they earn their money. There are many different tournaments and player organizations out there to ensure players have ample opportunity to earn money. This means that players may have to travel a lot in order to get to tournaments. They usually have to pay for their own travel and pay to enter a tournament, especially if they are a beginner or a mid-level player. Those who are consistently successful will likely not have to pay these fees. One organization you can attempt to join if you want to grow as a professional pool player is UPA, United States Professional Pool Players Organization.
Years of Experience and Salary
On average, a mid-level pool player can make around $50,000 a year, with the top-earning pool players making hundreds of thousands of dollars or in the millions. The highest paid pool player, Efren Reyes, has a net worth of $2 million. The number varies so much because of the nature of the job. In order to earn money, professional players will need to win tournaments and work their way up the world pool rankings. Otherwise, pool players can earn an income by teaching pool to students on the side, having endorsem*nts or winning bets at a billiards bar.
Job Growth Trend
Unfortunately, not all professional pool players or professional billiards players are able to make a living off of the sport. If they are having a bad streak and they are unable to win tournaments, they may have a hard time financially. Although billiards is definitely a popular sport and the winners get paid well, those who don't win tournaments will need to supplement their earnings with something else.
FAQs
In the professional game, an average pool player can expect to earn around $50,000 annually. However, top-level players often earn in excess of $100,000 but a lot of this is dependant on endorsem*nts and sponsorship deals.
How much do billiards .players earn? ›
In the professional game, an average pool player can expect to earn around $50,000 annually. However, top-level players often earn in excess of $100,000 but a lot of this is dependant on endorsem*nts and sponsorship deals.
Who is the highest paid pool player? ›
Who is the richest pool player in the world? Efren Reyes will go down as the greatest of all time and "The Magician" has career earnings to back that up. Over the course of his career, he has racked up earnings of around $2m. This comes from different deals, exhibitions and tournament wins.
How much money do ultimate pool players make? ›
Prize Money
The 2024 Ultimate Pool Professional Series has a total prize fund of £260,000. The prize money breakdown for each event is as follows: Winner: £10,000. Runner-Up: £4,000.
Can I become a professional pool player? ›
The Professional Tour
You can't just apply to be a Professional, you must qualify by virtue of performance in the Open & Amateur events and earn your spot by finishing in the top 16 at the end of the year in the Amateur ranking list. At this point you can apply for professional status – the true elite of the sport.
Can you make money as a professional pool player? ›
How much does a Professional Pool Player make? As of May 30, 2024, the average hourly pay for a Professional Pool Player in the United States is $18.77 an hour.
What is the salary of a pool player? ›
$33,000 is the 25th percentile. Salaries below this are outliers. $43,000 is the 75th percentile.
Who is the number 1 billiard player? ›
Over the years, Efren “Bata” Reyes has earned the title “the greatest pool player of all time” and has become an inspiration to numerous players.
Who is the goat in billiards? ›
MANILA, Philippines – The greatest billiards player of all time is a Filipino. His name is Efren “Bata” Reyes. “The Magician” for most. Or nicknamed Legend.
Who is the best Ultimate Pool player? ›
Following the conclusion of Professional Series Events 7 and 8 last weekend, the end-of-season Ultimate Pool Professional Ranking List for 2021 is finalised. Having won an incredible three events throughout the campaign, Shane Thompson is the 2021 Ultimate Pool Professional Number One Ranked Player.
Becoming a professional pool player requires a lot of hard work and dedication. You need to stay focused on your goals and be willing to put in the time and effort required to succeed. This means staying disciplined with your practice routine and continuously working to improve your game.
How do you become a master pool player? ›
How to Play Pool Better
- #1: Develop a Loose Grip. Most beginners will grip the pool cue too tightly. ...
- #2: Practice Your Stance. ...
- #3: Practice Your Aim. ...
- #4: Practice Your Swing. ...
- #5: Practice Your Bridges. ...
- #6: Practice Breaking. ...
- #7: Remember to Use Pool Chalk. ...
- #8: Practice Post-Shot Follow-Through.
The main things top players have in common:
have good eye-hand coordination and they can consistently and accurately align and deliver the cue along the desired line with the tip contact point and speed needed for the shot (even if their mechanics aren't always “textbook”).
How long does it take to be a professional pool player? ›
There's a certain skill level that you can attain within 5 years through playing 8 hours a day 5-6 days per week, combined with some good coaching, that will be good enough. At that point you start showing up to any pro event that's open (there's lots of them).
What is a pool player called? ›
Most billiard players are called exactly that - “billiard players”, or sometimes “pool players” or even “players” when the context is understood. A really good pool player, however, is often referred to as a “pool shark”. Please note, comments need to be approved before they are published.
How long does it take to practice billiards? ›
Basically, you should keep practicing only for as long as you can maintain focus and stay on task without frustration or poor performance. Some people can do this for only 30 minutes, but others can maintain quality practice for much longer (e.g., 4-6 hours).
Can you make money playing billiards? ›
Professional pool players make their money by signing up for tournaments and competing with other professional players. Different tournaments will have different cash prizes for those who score in the highest ranks. Sometimes, only the top player will get the winnings. Other times, the top 10 players may get paid.
Is billiards a professional sport? ›
Any dictionary definition of the term “sport” will accurately and fully describe billiards. It's not just any sport, either. Billiards is played worldwide by amateurs and professionals alike, and the level of play that the best of the best are able to achieve is astounding.
How much money can a pool table make? ›
Pool tables can be highly profitable, provided you do your research. By placing your table strategically and ensuring it will be used frequently, you can earn a significant monthly revenue. Yearly earnings can be more than $10,000 in passive income, depending on how much you charge and how many plays you get.
Who is considered the greatest billiard player of all time? ›
Efren Manalang Reyes OLD PLH (born August 26, 1954), popularly known by the nicknames "Bata" (Tagalog for 'Kid') and "the Magician", is a Filipino professional pool player, who is widely regarded as the greatest pool player of all time, and especially famed for his skill at the challenging one-pocket discipline.
