Are you an excellent swimmer and are looking at ways in which you could take your skill and passion for swimming and turn it into an income? If yes, then this article is for you.
Believe it or not, there are many different ways that swimmers can bring in an income. And some of them are quite surprising!
So how do swimmers make money?
In this article, we will discuss 7 different income sources for swimmers. We will cover how to make money through sponsorships, endorsements, teaching lessons, and more! We will also provide tips on how to maximize your earnings in each category.
So, keep reading!
How Do Swimmers Make Money?
The objective of this article is to discuss how general professional swimmers or simply excellent amateur swimmers can make money. We do not talk about how Olympic swimmers can make money as they fall into a special category of Olympic athletes and need to be treated separately.
So here are the 7 top ways with which swimmers can make money:
- Prize Money
- Sponsorships
- Endorsements
- Swimming Lessons
- Coaching Clinics and Camps
- Salaries
- Blogging and Affiliate Marketing
#1. Prize Money
One of the most common and also the most obvious ways that all athletes can make money is through prize money.
Prize money is usually given out by sponsors or organizers of competitions to the winners or top placers of the event. The amount of prize money varies depending on the competition, but it is not uncommon for swimmers to earn a few hundred to a few thousand dollars in prize money per event.
Unfortunately, age is a factor that determines for how long a swimmer can continue to compete for prize money. As most competitions are geared towards younger athletes, the window of opportunity for earning prize money gradually closes as a swimmer ages. But other opportunities open up with age and experience.
#2. Sponsorships
Another way that swimmers make money is through sponsorships. A sponsorship is when a company pays an athlete to promote their brand or product.
This can be in the form of direct advertisement, where the swimmer wears the company’s logo on their swimsuit or cap, or it can be indirect, where the swimmer promotes the company through social media posts or interviews.
#3. Endorsements
Endorsements are similar to sponsorships, but instead of promoting a company, swimmers promote a product. This can be anything from swimwear to energy drinks. And like sponsorships, endorsements can be very lucrative for top athletes.
Endorsements can also include appearances and speaking engagements. For example, a swimmer might be asked to give a speech about how their energy drink helped them train for a big competition.
But endorsements are not just for famous athletes. If you are a good swimmer with a large social media following, then companies will also be interested in working with you. The key to getting endorsements is to have a large and engaged social media following.
#4. Swimming Lessons
Many swimmers also make money by giving swimming lessons. This is a great way to earn some extra cash and also share your love for the sport with others. Swimmers can charge anywhere from $20 to $100 per hour for private lessons, and usually, a group lesson costs around $50 per hour.
Swimmers can also get certified to be swim instructors by taking a short course. This will allow them to teach group lessons at public pools or even at their own private facility.
Certification also allows swimming instructors to work at summer camps, which is another great way to earn some extra money during the summer months.
#5. Coaching Clinics and Camps
Another way to make money through swimming is by running clinics and camps. This is a great option for swimmers who are looking to earn some extra income during the off-season or even during their competitive season.
Coaching clinics and camps usually involve teaching a group of swimmers different techniques or drills. These can be one-time events or recurring events that take place throughout the year.
Swimmers can charge anywhere from $50 to $200 per hour for these services, and they can also choose to package them together as a camp, which usually lasts a few days to a week.
#6. Salaries
Sometimes, swimmers are able to secure salaries from their employers. This is most common for swimmers who work as lifeguards, but it can also be possible for swimmers who work as swimming coaches or instructors.
While salaries are not as common as some of the other income sources on this list, they can still provide a steady stream of income for swimmers. The amount that a swimmer can earn from a salary will depend on their position and the location of their job.
For example, lifeguards in New York City will earn a higher salary than lifeguards in a small town. Similarly, swimming coaches at Division I universities will earn a higher salary than swimming coaches at small community colleges.
#7. Blogging and Affiliate Marketing
We did say in the introduction that there are some non-traditional ways that swimmers can make money. And one of those ways is through blogging and affiliate marketing.
Blogging is when a swimmer writes articles about swimming on their own website or blog. They can then choose to monetize their site by selling advertising space, products, or courses.
Affiliate marketing is when a swimmer promotes another company’s products on their site and earns a commission for every sale that they generate.
Both of these methods can be very effective in generating income, but it will take some time and effort to build up a following. However, once they do, the sky’s the limit in terms of how much money they can make.
Conclusion
If you’re considering a career as a swimming professional or are wondering if there are opportunities to earn income using your swimming skills, then sure you’ve asked yourself the question – how do swimmers make money?
In this article, we reviewed some of the most popular income-earning options available to professional or excellent amateur swimmers. These are prize money, sponsorships, endorsement, giving swimming lessons, holding coaching clinics and camps, getting a job and earning a fixed salary, and blogging with selling products as an affiliate.
We hope you found this article useful and can use some of these ideas to start a side income or a full-time income using your skills and passion for swimming.