Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners
Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners (SOC 39-3012) earn a median $34,980 a year ($16.82 an hour) in the United States, with 8,950 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is New York.
What gambling and sports book writers and runners do
Gambling and sports book writers and runners post information so patrons can bet on races and sporting events, and they assist with games such as keno and bingo. They accept wagers in cash or chips, check the amounts, and write them down. When a ticket wins, they scan it, process it, and pay out, or direct the patron to another worker, such as a gaming cashier, who can pay. Some run number-picking machines and call the numbers aloud for players, and some gather cards or tickets from players. They work out and confirm what was won or lost and field questions about game rules and casino policies. Listed titles include bet taker, betting clerk, bingo caller, bingo clerk, and bingo floater. Dealers, by comparison, run table games and do not take event wagers.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report a high school diploma or equivalent as the usual education level (about 87 percent).
Also called: Bet Taker, Betting Clerk, Bingo Caller, Bingo Clerk, Bingo Floater.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $10.62 | $13.54 | $16.82 | $21.56 | $23.21 | $17.53 | 8,950 |
| Annual | $22,090 | $28,150 | $34,980 | $44,840 | $48,270 | $36,450 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where gambling and sports book writers and runners earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York | Hourly | $17.96 | $18.84 | $26.32 | $30.50 | $46.96 | $27.37 | 100 | 0.01 | 0.19 |
| Annual | $37,350 | $39,180 | $54,740 | $63,430 | $97,670 | $56,940 | ||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | $16.87 | $17.40 | $23.20 | $27.83 | $27.83 | $22.28 | 90 | 0.02 | 0.36 |
| Annual | $35,090 | $36,190 | $48,260 | $57,880 | $57,880 | $46,330 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $18.69 | $18.94 | $22.94 | $23.71 | $23.72 | $21.53 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $38,860 | $39,400 | $47,720 | $49,320 | $49,340 | $44,780 | ||||
| Wisconsin | Hourly | $16.03 | $16.08 | $22.72 | $22.73 | $24.59 | $20.25 | 80 | 0.03 | 0.46 |
| Annual | $33,340 | $33,450 | $47,250 | $47,280 | $51,140 | $42,110 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $17.36 | $18.21 | $21.57 | $21.57 | $24.51 | $21.04 | 1,480 | 0.08 | 1.41 |
| Annual | $36,110 | $37,880 | $44,860 | $44,860 | $50,970 | $43,760 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $17.36 | $18.21 | $21.57 | $21.57 | $24.51 | $21.04 | 1,480 | 0.08 | 1.41 |
| Annual | $36,110 | $37,880 | $44,860 | $44,860 | $50,970 | $43,760 | ||||
| Nevada | Hourly | $13.03 | $13.70 | $18.03 | $22.15 | $22.16 | $18.07 | 1,440 | 0.93 | 16.09 |
| Annual | $27,100 | $28,500 | $37,500 | $46,070 | $46,090 | $37,580 | ||||
| Montana | Hourly | $10.55 | $10.55 | $10.59 | $10.73 | $11.36 | $10.75 | 1,050 | 2.05 | 35.57 |
| Annual | $21,940 | $21,940 | $22,030 | $22,310 | $23,620 | $22,360 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $10.74 | $12.15 | $14.74 | $18.16 | $27.75 | $17.14 | 440 | 0.03 | 0.54 |
| Annual | $22,340 | $25,270 | $30,660 | $37,760 | $57,720 | $35,650 | ||||
| Nebraska | Hourly | $13.50 | $14.00 | $14.27 | $14.72 | $17.45 | $14.88 | 360 | 0.35 | 6.14 |
| Annual | $28,080 | $29,120 | $29,670 | $30,610 | $36,300 | $30,950 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $23.20 | $23.97 | $27.83 | $30.50 | $46.96 | $30.25 | 90 | 0.01 | 0.16 |
| Annual | $48,260 | $49,860 | $57,880 | $63,430 | $97,670 | $62,930 | ||||
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | Hourly | $16.50 | $18.07 | $25.07 | $31.06 | $31.06 | $24.97 | 60 | 0.04 | 0.73 |
| Annual | $34,320 | $37,580 | $52,140 | $64,610 | $64,610 | $51,940 | ||||
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Hourly | $18.69 | $18.69 | $22.94 | $23.71 | $23.72 | $22.09 | 140 | 0.05 | 0.90 |
| Annual | $38,860 | $38,860 | $47,720 | $49,320 | $49,340 | $45,940 | ||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $19.40 | $20.15 | $21.05 | $22.25 | $29.40 | $21.81 | 90 | 0.04 | 0.74 |
| Annual | $40,350 | $41,910 | $43,790 | $46,280 | $61,160 | $45,370 | ||||
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | Hourly | $15.00 | $15.37 | $21.00 | $24.71 | $24.72 | $20.67 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $31,200 | $31,980 | $43,680 | $51,410 | $51,420 | $43,000 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | Hourly | $12.93 | $13.69 | $18.46 | $22.15 | $22.15 | $18.28 | 1,190 | 1.04 | 18.11 |
| Annual | $26,900 | $28,470 | $38,390 | $46,070 | $46,070 | $38,010 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $17.36 | $17.36 | $17.48 | $19.23 | $24.25 | $19.30 | 240 | 0.10 | 1.76 |
| Annual | $36,110 | $36,110 | $36,360 | $39,990 | $50,440 | $40,140 | ||||
| Omaha, NE-IA | Hourly | $13.50 | $14.50 | $14.72 | $16.10 | $18.74 | $15.51 | 190 | 0.38 | 6.65 |
| Annual | $28,080 | $30,160 | $30,610 | $33,480 | $38,980 | $32,250 | ||||
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | Hourly | $16.27 | $17.14 | $17.79 | $17.79 | $18.64 | $17.73 | 190 | 0.08 | 1.42 |
| Annual | $33,850 | $35,640 | $37,000 | $37,000 | $38,760 | $36,870 | ||||
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Hourly | $18.69 | $18.69 | $22.94 | $23.71 | $23.72 | $22.09 | 140 | 0.05 | 0.90 |
| Annual | $38,860 | $38,860 | $47,720 | $49,320 | $49,340 | $45,940 | ||||
Top industries employing gambling and sports book writers and runners
Gambling Industries employ 65.6% of gambling and sports book writers and runners nationally (5,870 jobs) at a median $34,450 a year ($16.56 an hour), followed by Traveler Accommodation (16.9%) and Civic and Social Organizations (5.8%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gambling Industries NAICS 713200 | 5,870 | 65.6% | $34,450 | $16.56 |
| Traveler Accommodation NAICS 721100 | 1,510 | 16.9% | $33,560 | $16.13 |
| Civic and Social Organizations NAICS 813400 | 520 | 5.8% | $36,110 | $17.36 |
| Spectator Sports NAICS 711200 | 470 | 5.3% | $37,190 | $17.88 |
| Amusement Parks and Arcades NAICS 713100 | 210 | 2.3% | $36,100 | $17.36 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (8,950). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $27,530 for gambling and sports book writers and runners in May 2021 and $34,980 in May 2025, with employment of 7,340 and 8,950.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $27,530 | $13.24 | 7,340 |
| May 2022 | $28,940 | $13.91 | 7,910 |
| May 2023 | $29,170 | $14.02 | 8,700 |
| May 2024 | $30,460 | $14.65 | 7,600 |
| May 2025 | $34,980 | $16.82 | 8,950 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
30 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York profile | $26.32 | $54,740 | $37,350 | $97,670 | 100 | 0.01 | 0.19 |
| 2 | New Jersey profile | $23.20 | $48,260 | $35,090 | $57,880 | 90 | 0.02 | 0.36 |
| 3 | Massachusetts profile | $22.94 | $47,720 | $38,860 | $49,340 | ** | ** | ** |
| 4 | Wisconsin profile | $22.72 | $47,250 | $33,340 | $51,140 | 80 | 0.03 | 0.46 |
| 5 | California profile | $21.57 | $44,860 | $36,110 | $50,970 | 1,480 | 0.08 | 1.41 |
| 6 | Washington profile | $20.28 | $42,180 | $37,210 | $56,760 | 220 | 0.06 | 1.06 |
| 7 | Ohio profile | $18.49 | $38,460 | $29,750 | $73,180 | 360 | 0.07 | 1.13 |
| 8 | Kentucky profile | $18.22 | $37,910 | $24,370 | $52,240 | 60 | 0.03 | 0.50 |
| 9 | Michigan profile | $18.13 | $37,720 | $30,800 | $41,240 | ** | ** | ** |
| 10 | Nevada profile | $18.03 | $37,500 | $27,100 | $46,090 | 1,440 | 0.93 | 16.09 |
| 11 | Iowa profile | $18.00 | $37,440 | $24,090 | $46,820 | 100 | 0.07 | 1.16 |
| 12 | Arizona profile | $17.14 | $35,640 | $31,280 | $37,000 | 260 | 0.08 | 1.41 |
| 13 | Minnesota profile | $17.00 | $35,370 | $28,920 | $51,410 | 350 | 0.12 | 2.09 |
| 14 | Maryland profile | $16.94 | $35,230 | $31,200 | $36,720 | ** | ** | ** |
| 15 | Illinois profile | $16.64 | $34,610 | $31,460 | $51,080 | 130 | 0.02 | 0.37 |
| 16 | Colorado profile | $16.56 | $34,450 | $31,010 | $38,110 | ** | ** | ** |
| 17 | Connecticut profile | $16.55 | $34,420 | $34,010 | $40,210 | 70 | 0.04 | 0.70 |
| 18 | Florida profile | $16.42 | $34,160 | $27,040 | $58,520 | ** | ** | ** |
| 19 | South Carolina profile | $16.18 | $33,650 | $28,890 | $39,100 | 130 | 0.06 | 1.01 |
| 20 | Indiana profile | $15.73 | $32,730 | $26,740 | $43,540 | 90 | 0.03 | 0.47 |
| 21 | Kansas profile | $15.17 | $31,550 | $22,840 | $48,820 | 40 | 0.02 | 0.43 |
| 22 | Pennsylvania profile | $14.75 | $30,690 | $25,630 | $43,830 | 90 | 0.02 | 0.27 |
| 23 | Texas profile | $14.74 | $30,660 | $22,340 | $57,720 | 440 | 0.03 | 0.54 |
| 24 | North Dakota profile | $14.73 | $30,640 | $23,280 | $41,590 | 110 | 0.25 | 4.36 |
| 25 | South Dakota profile | $14.72 | $30,620 | $29,010 | $36,710 | 80 | 0.18 | 3.14 |
| 26 | Nebraska profile | $14.27 | $29,670 | $28,080 | $36,300 | 360 | 0.35 | 6.14 |
| 27 | Mississippi profile | $13.63 | $28,340 | $18,050 | $36,300 | 110 | 0.10 | 1.68 |
| 28 | Louisiana profile | $12.80 | $26,620 | $15,380 | $30,950 | 180 | 0.09 | 1.59 |
| 29 | Montana profile | $10.59 | $22,030 | $21,940 | $23,620 | 1,050 | 2.05 | 35.57 |
| 30 | West Virginia profile | $9.49 | $19,740 | $19,290 | $31,690 | 180 | 0.26 | 4.50 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (39-3010), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Personal Care and Service Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 39-3012 Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 39-3012, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 39-3012.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.