The Athletic Salary

As of April 2026, the average annual salary for employees at The Athletic in the United States is $137,926. This translates to an approximate hourly wage of $66. Salaries at The Athletic typically range from $121,206 to $156,204 annually, reflecting the diverse roles and experience levels within the company.
How accurate does the salary look to you?

Current Job Openings at The Athletic

Ready for your next career move? Explore current job openings at The Athletic. Use the search tool below to find available positions by title and location and apply directly to start your career.

Is The Athletic’s Pay Competitive? Salary Benchmarking Analysis

How does The Athletic's compensation stack up against the industry and its key competitors? Our salary benchmarking analysis provides a clear comparison. The chart below visualizes this comparison alongside select peer companies.
Competitor / Benchmark Avg. Salary Variance Primary Market Influence Factor & Explanation
Global Publishing Solutions Ltd $108,043
-21.7%
Global Publishing Solutions Ltd likely leverages performance bonuses over the high base salary shown here.
Atlantic Media Inc $123,095
-10.8%
Normalized for lower cost-of-living zones where Atlantic Media Inc primarily operates.
Macmillan Publishing Solutions $114,319
-17.1%
Typical compensation structure for smaller regional agencies like Macmillan Publishing Solutions.
Bauer Publishing $125,753
-8.8%
Bauer Publishing may offer non-monetary perks in lieu of competitive base salaries.
Media Industry $125,523
-9.0%
Pay variances are driven by organizational scale, specialized skill requirements, or geographic cost-of-living factors.
Need More Granular Data? The analysis above provides a high-level market overview. To benchmark specific job codes, adjust for real-time cost-of-living changes, or access verified HR-reported datasets, upgrade to Salary.com for Business. Precision matters when building your compensation strategy.

Employee Reviews: Working at The Athletic

Considering a career at The Athletic? Explore authentic employee reviews to learn about the work environment, career growth opportunities, pay transparency and benefits. These first-hand insights can help you set realistic compensation expectations and make informed career decisions.
Energizing daily production pace. The benefits package is robust, covering health, dental, and retirement. Every day offers something new and meaningful. I find the workload manageable and clear.
rong workforce, the company maintains a vibrant, creative energy that fuels groundbreaking content. Leadership is transparent and open, actively encouraging employee input and engagement. Fast turnarounds, strong teamwork. Feels like working with friends. This intrapreneurial spirit makes you feel that you can have a direct impact on the company's evolution, which is incredibly motivating and rewa...
Workload can be uneven, leading to occasional burnout. Training resources could be more structured. Leadership values transparency and regularly shares business updates. The company values diversity and truly listens to employee feedback.

The Athletic Overview

Website
www.theathletic.com
Founded In
2015
Employees
500 - 1,000 employees
Industry
Media
Headquarter Address
525 Market St San Francisco California CA 94105
Revenue
$50 Million - $200 Million
Phone Number
+1 8448771163
Social Media
About The Athletic
The Athletic is a global digital subscription-based sports publisher. The Athletic's more than 450 full-time writers, editors and producers break exclusives, cover the biggest moments, and produce analysis of more than 200 clubs and teams around the globe. Subscribers have access to more than 1,000 new stories and 150+ podcast episodes published every week. Founded in 2016 by co-founders Alex Math

What Benefits Does The Athletic Offer Beyond Salary?

A competitive compensation package is more than just a salary. The Athletic offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your health, financial future, and overall well-being. Below are the most common key benefits:
Social Security
401(K)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
Work at The Athletic?
Share your experience
How Much Should You Be Earning?

Get an estimated calculation of how much you should be earning and insight into your career options.

illustration

What Is the Cost of Living Near San Francisco?

Understanding the cost of living near San Francisco is key to truly evaluating a salary offer or your current compensation at The Athletic.
San Francisco's Cost of Living Index is approximately 243.5 (143.5% more expensive than US average; 74.2% more than CA average). One of the most expensive cities globally, extreme housing costs, high transportation, and very high prices for all goods/services. When planning your budget based on a salary from The Athletic, consider these typical monthly expenses:
Expense Category Estimated Monthly Cost Key Considerations / Notes
Housing (1-BR Apt Rent) $3,200 - $5,000+ A significant portion of The Athletic salary. Location choices impact this heavily.
Utilities (Basic) $200 - $320 Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water etc.
Public Transportation $81 (Muni Monthly Pass 'M') Essential for most commuters; car ownership is costly.
Groceries (Single Person) $550 - $850 Can be higher with more dining out or specialty stores.
Personal & Leisure $600 - $1,200+ Dining out, entertainment, shopping. Highly variable.
Healthcare (Individual) $450 - $850+ Varies significantly by plan & employer contribution.
Subtotal (Excluding Taxes) $5,081 - $8,221+ This subtotal does not include income taxes (federal, state, local), which can significantly impact your take-home pay.

FAQs of The Athletic

1. How much does a The Athletic employee make?

The Athletic pays its employees an average of $137,926 per year. The average salary at The Athletic range from $121,206 to $156,204 per year. It's important to remember that these are overall averages, actual salaries vary significantly based on specific job titles, years of experience, skills, and location.

2. Which similar company tend to pay more or less than The Athletic?

The salary at The Athletic is higher than the similar company. The average annual salary at The Athletic is $137,926, or an hourly wage of $66, in comparison to Global Publishing Solutions Ltd which pays $108,043 per year or $52 per hour.

3. How much does a Co-Founders typically earn at The Athletic?

A Co-Founders at The Athletic typically earns an average annual base salary of around $1,067,665, with a general range of $816,323 to $1,347,676.

4. Do employees with advanced degrees (Master's, PhD) earn more at The Athletic?

In many roles at The Athletic, particularly those requiring specialized knowledge or research capabilities (e.g., certain engineering, scientific, or financial roles), an advanced degree like a Master's or PhD can lead to a higher starting salary and faster career progression, thus higher earnings. However, for some roles, direct experience and skills might be valued as much or more than an advanced degree. The impact varies by field and specific job requirements.

5. How does the cost of living near San Francisco affect the perceived value of a The Athletic salary?

San Francisco's Cost of Living Index is approximately 243.5 (143.5% more expensive than US average; 74.2% more than CA average). This significantly impacts the purchasing power of a salary from The Athletic based there. Our "Cost of Living Insights for San Francisco" module details this impact, helping you assess the 'real feel' value of your compensation.

6. What kind of benefits does The Athletic typically offer employees?

The Athletic generally offers a range of employee benefits designed to support their workforce's health, financial well-being, and work-life balance. Comprehensive health insurance (medical, dental, vision), a 401(k) retirement savings plan (often with a company match), paid time off (PTO), and potentially disability and life insurance are included. For a more detailed list of benefits, please see our "Employee Benefits at The Athletic" section on this page.