NFL waterboys earn between $53,000 and $65,000 per year, with top earners pulling in close to $90,000 annually. That figure might surprise you. Most people hear “waterboy” and think of Adam Sandler chucking water bottles on a movie set. The real job is nothing like that.
The role is a full-time position on an NFL team’s training staff, and it comes with health benefits, travel perks, and a genuine career path into professional sports.
Below, you’ll find a full breakdown of the salary range, what the job actually involves, the perks that come with it, and how people land the gig in the first place.
NFL Waterboy Salary Breakdown
The NFL does not publish official salary data for non-player staff. So the numbers below come from a mix of reporting by outlets like USA Today, Sports Illustrated, and Pro Football Network, along with salary aggregator data from ZipRecruiter.
The most widely cited figure is $53,000 per year. That number traces back to a now-defunct website called Stack.com and gained traction after former NFL walk-on Jake Thieneman mentioned it in a 2022 TikTok video. Former NFL receiver Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson also referenced the same figure in a 2019 tweet.
Here’s how the salary range looks in 2026:
| Experience Level | Estimated Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level / Intern | $0 – $28,000 (stipend or unpaid) |
| Average (Full-Time) | $53,000 – $65,000 |
| Experienced / Senior Staff | $65,000 – $90,000 |
A few things affect where someone falls in that range. Team location matters. Large-market franchises like the Dallas Cowboys or New York Giants tend to pay more than smaller-market teams. Experience plays a role, too. Someone with an athletic training degree and a few years of college-level equipment work will earn more than a first-year hire.
I’ve always found this interesting: the gap between the lowest and highest earners is nearly $60,000. That tells you this isn’t a one-size-fits-all role. Some teams treat it as a basic internship. Others treat it as a full-time staff position with real pay and real responsibilities.
What Does an NFL Waterboy Actually Do?
The title “waterboy” is misleading. And honestly, most NFL teams don’t even use that term internally. The official job titles are things like Equipment Assistant, Team Operations Assistant, or Football Operations Assistant.
The job covers a lot more than handing out water bottles on the sideline. Here’s what a typical waterboy handles on a daily basis:
| Responsibility | Details |
|---|---|
| Player Hydration | Fill water bottles, set up sideline hydration stations, monitor player hydration during games and practices |
| Towel and Supply Management | Provide towels to players, store all supplies after games and practices |
| Equipment Support | Assist with equipment maintenance, uniform operations, and laundry |
| Game-Day Setup | Help set up sideline stations, coolers, and ice for every game |
| Travel Logistics | Travel with the team for away games, manage supplies on the road |
| Trainer Assistance | Assist athletic trainers with basic tasks like taping and pre-game treatments |
That last point is key. Many waterboys are training to become full-time athletic trainers. They hold degrees in sports medicine, exercise science, or physical therapy. The waterboy role is their entry point into the NFL, not their final stop.
Jake Thieneman, a former NFL walk-on, put it well in his 2022 TikTok: these are athletic training staff members who are learning the craft of treating player injuries and helping guys stay healthy. He described the role as more of an apprenticeship than a water delivery job.
During the season, the position demands 40 hours per week. That includes practices, games, travel days, and postgame cleanup. It’s physically demanding work with long hours and zero room for mistakes on game day.
Perks and Benefits of Being an NFL Waterboy
The salary is only part of the picture. NFL waterboys also get a solid benefits package that most people don’t know about.
| Perk | Details |
|---|---|
| Health Insurance | Medical, mental health, and dental coverage |
| Paid Leave | 16 weeks of paid parental leave, 2 weeks of paid family leave |
| Paid Holidays | 12 paid holidays per year |
| Free NFL Tickets | Complimentary tickets to games |
| Merchandise Discounts | Discounts on official NFL merchandise |
| Team Travel | Travel with the team for all away games |
| Facility Access | Access to team training facilities |
That benefits package is better than what a lot of entry-level corporate jobs offer. 16 weeks of paid parental leave stands out especially. And the travel perk is huge. You’re flying with the team, staying in team hotels, and watching NFL games from the sideline every week.
One more thing worth knowing: waterboys on a Super Bowl-winning team may receive a championship ring. The NFL provides each winning franchise with roughly 150 rings, and it’s up to the team to decide who gets one. Some franchises hand them out to the entire staff. Others don’t. There’s no league rule that guarantees a ring for waterboys.
How Much Do NFL Waterboys Make Per Game?
If you break the annual salary down by game, the numbers are solid. The NFL regular season has 17 games. A waterboy earning $53,000 per year makes roughly $3,100 per game. At the higher end of the range, someone earning $65,000 takes home about $3,800 per game.
| Annual Salary | Per-Game Estimate (17 Games) |
|---|---|
| $53,000 | ~$3,117 |
| $60,000 | ~$3,529 |
| $65,000 | ~$3,823 |
Note: These figures are rough estimates. Waterboys work year-round, not just on game days. Their salary covers practices, offseason work, and travel.
The per-game figure that went viral on social media in late 2025 was $3,000+ per game, shared by NFL insider Dov Kleiman on X (formerly Twitter). That tweet racked up millions of views and made a lot of people reconsider the role.
NFL Waterboy Salary vs. Other Sideline Roles
To put the waterboy salary in context, here’s how it stacks up against other non-player positions on an NFL sideline:
| Role | Estimated Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| NFL Waterboy / Equipment Assistant | $53,000 – $65,000 |
| NFL Cheerleader | $75 – $150 per game |
| NFL Ball Boy | $25,000 – $55,000 |
| NFL Athletic Trainer | $75,000 – $120,000 |
| NFL Equipment Manager | $60,000 – $150,000 |
The comparison with NFL cheerleaders is striking. Cheerleaders earn a fraction of what waterboys make, and they typically don’t receive health benefits. Waterboys, on the other hand, get full-time salaries with benefits from day one.
If a waterboy sticks around and moves up the ladder, the equipment manager role is a realistic next step. That position pays anywhere from $60,000 to $150,000 depending on the team and level of responsibility.
How to Become An NFL Waterboy
Landing this job is harder than most people think. Open positions are rare, and most roles get filled before they’re ever posted publicly.
Here’s the realistic path to getting hired:
1. Start at the college level. Work in your college team’s equipment room or as a student athletic trainer. This is where almost every NFL equipment staffer begins their career.
2. Get certified. The Athletic Equipment Managers Association (AEMA) offers certification that NFL teams value. Attending AEMA conferences also puts you in the same room as working NFL equipment staff.
3. Build your network. Connections matter more than resumes for these roles. Volunteer at NFL camps and events. Get to know people who already work in team operations.
4. Apply through official channels. NFL teams post openings on the league’s career page at NFL.com and on individual team websites. The website TeamWorkOnline also lists NFL staff positions regularly.
5. Be ready for an entry-level role. Some teams start new hires as unpaid interns or offer stipends instead of salaries. College students and recent graduates often take these positions to get their foot in the door.
I’ve followed enough behind-the-scenes NFL stories to know that this is a relationship-driven industry. The people handing out water on Sundays didn’t just submit an online application. They spent years working their way up through high school programs, college athletics, and industry events.
Do NFL Waterboys Get Super Bowl Rings?
This question comes up constantly, and the answer is: it depends on the team.
The NFL provides each Super Bowl-winning franchise with about 150 rings and covers roughly $5,000 to $7,000 per ring. After that, the team pays out of pocket. Individual rings can cost between $30,000 and $50,000 each.
Some franchises hand out rings to every staff member, from coaches to equipment assistants to cheerleaders. Others limit the distribution to players and senior staff. There’s no league-wide rule that says waterboys must receive a ring.
So if you land a waterboy job with a contending team, you might walk away with a Super Bowl ring. But it’s not guaranteed.
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Conclusion – NFL Waterboys Earn $53,000 to $65,000 Per Year, and the Job Is Far More Than Carrying Water
The average NFL waterboy earns a solid full-time salary with benefits that rival many corporate entry-level jobs. The role demands long hours, physical fitness, and a real understanding of how an NFL training staff operates.
What surprised me most while researching this piece is the career path. This isn’t a dead-end job. Many current NFL athletic trainers and equipment managers started as waterboys. The role is a launchpad, not a finish line.
Looking ahead to the 2026 NFL season, expect these salaries to hold steady or climb slightly as teams continue investing in their support staff. If you’ve ever dreamed of working on an NFL sideline, this is one of the most realistic ways to get there.
