NFL Towel Boy Salary

Success in the National Football League takes hard work and dedication from many people, including critical support roles, like towel boys and water boys. An NFL water boy salary is more than you might expect, but it will make sense once you know what positions like towel boys, water boys and ball boys entail and how to qualify for one. So, how much do water boys make in the NFL?

There are several names for similar positions, including towel boy, water boy, ball boy and so on. Individuals in these positions play crucial roles in a team's success. It's their job to attentively watch the players on the field and respond to their slightest cues that they need something.

The towel boy then brings them water, a sports drink, a dry towel to wipe their face or hands, fresh gloves or any other items allowed by the game's rules. In some cases, towel boys are assigned to specific players or groups of players. That way, they can get to know their players better and respond to their needs even faster.

Most positions like NFL water boys don't have strict education requirements. However, many people want to work on a professional team's sidelines. Therefore, earning a bachelor's degree in a related field, such as sports management or communications, doesn't hurt. You'll also need a degree if you hope to advance beyond the entry-level roles.

The NFL is a multibillion-dollar industry, employing 3,500 employees on its own; that figure doesn't even include each team's staff. It is one of the most lucrative professional sports in the United States, and the U.S. is one of the world's top sports consumers. Therefore, the NFL and its teams are good employers for which to work.

How much does a water boy make in the NFL? According to NBC Sports, water boys, towel boys and similar employees usually start at ​$53,000​ annually. They must attend their own training in addition to all team training and games, both home and away. Salaries may be higher or lower depending on other factors, such as the cost of living in the team's home city.

How does an NFL water boy salary compare to an NBA water boy salary? They are similar, although water boys in the NFL may make slightly more. In some ways, an NFL towel boy works in harsher conditions due to being outdoors. These salaries are also similar to an NFL ball boy salary, NBA mop boy salary, an NBA court cleaner salary and other similar positions.

A towel boy or water boy is a starting position, and many towel boys and water boys hope to move up within the team's structure. Towel boys are part of team operations and usually answer to an operations manager. These higher-level positions earn a median salary of ​$118,000​ per year; when you get into roles above that, the salaries increase further. For example, head coaches and general managers for NFL teams make significantly more; the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that the highest 10 percent of coaches in general make over ​$80,720​. At the highest level, coaches often make over a million per season.

Since towel boys work closely with players and coaches, some hope to move into coaching or work more directly with athletes. All of these positions bring higher salaries with them. For most people who work with players whether in coaching or as an NFL official, salary numbers can go well over $100,000 per year. Top coaches and trainers make $1 million or more.

If you're hoping to improve your job outlook for an NFL water boy position, networking is an excellent way. Many towel boys or water boys get through jobs through personal connections. They know a player, coach or member of management who can help them get their foot in the door for these positions. Others start as interns. Interning is a terrific way to start a career in the administrative or coaching end of the NFL.

Teams will always need support staff, like towel boys, regardless of winning or losing. Therefore, as long as they're competent, towel boys have good job security.