The best professional climbers can earn $300,000 per year. Most climbers earn less than $10,000 per year though. There is wide variation in salaries. From big names like Alex Honnold to almost unknown climbers doing it for love, salaries vary greatly.
Climbing as a Career
Most of the worlds greatest competitive climbers started in their teens. Hobbyists can start climbing at any age though. Climbing is fun for all ages. With climbing’s popularity, lots want a career in it. I’ve made a guide on career viability.
If you’re among the world’s best, sponsorships and income streams mean six figures a year. Up and comers take free shoes and gear as payment.
To make sponsorship money, self promotion and media presence helps. But you can climb anonymously and pay your own bills too.
Climbing Fitness and Risks
Rock climbing builds muscle to climb better later. It transforms forearms, back, arms and core most. The median age of climbers is 26, lower than any activity.
Free soloing has fatal fall risks. Soloists climb unaided at dangerous heights. They typically get down by walking the mountain’s easy side.
Can you make a living rock climbing? There are a few ways. One, become a professional climber and compete or give lessons. Two, work at a rock climbing gym teaching or at the front desk. Three, become a rock climbing guide, leading groups up climbs and giving instruction.
Rock climbing is not hard for beginners; if you can climb a ladder, you can definitely go rock climbing. Start with something easy in your comfort zone, then work to improve.
Sponsorships are the main way professional climbers get paid. Other income can come from public speaking, guiding, or books and movies. There isn’t a climbing ‘league’ to pay athletes.
Ways Climbers Make Money
Train, train, train. Build a social media following. Get creative. We’ve made a list of 5 ways climbers make money:
- Brand sponsorship and social media influencing
- Contests and comps
- Photography and videography
- Instruction and coaching
- Work at a climbing gym
Most beginner climbers start at an indoor climbing gym with areas for stretching, warming up, training, bouldering with crash pads, and plenty of top rope and lead climbing routes. The most common way to make money in rock climbing is to get a job at a rock climbing gym. Experience required will be minimal for entry-level and higher for manager.
The point is, rock climbing challenges and pushes you to achieve more, which is useful not only on the climbing wall but in every aspect of your life. If you enjoy climbing, why not make it how you make a living? Start a website. Websites are a great way to make money these days.