How Much Do Poker Pros Make?

Poker is a game of skill, strategy and, sometimes, luck. Professional poker players have honed their skills and know when to take risks. They can make a comfortable living playing poker, but how much do they really make?

The top tournament players in the world can earn millions of dollars per year. The winner of the World Series of Poker Main Event takes home a minimum of $1 million, and the prize money only goes up from there.

The top online cash game players can earn even more than that.

PRO TIP:Poker pros make a wide range of salaries, and there is no single answer to the question of how much they make. Factors such as tournament winnings, cash game winnings, and sponsorship deals all contribute to how much money a pro makes. Additionally, experience, skill level, and even luck all play a role in determining a poker pro’s salary.

But not every professional poker player is a tournament superstar or high-stakes cash game pro. There are many lower-stakes games where players can still make a good living.

A player who consistently wins in lower-stakes tournaments or cash games can easily clear $100,000 per year.

So how much do professional poker players really make? It depends on their skill level and the stakes they play for, but even the lower-stakes grinders can make a very comfortable living playing the game they love.