How Much Does a Bull Rider Make Per Year? Average Bull Rider Salary

The average annual income of a bull rider is $44,000. The earnings differ considerably depending on a host of factors that include the skills of the rider, the size of the rodeos in which they perform, and their sponsors. Nevertheless, top-rated professional bull riders earn as much as $250,000. The actual work of spending the 8 seconds on the back of the world’s best bucking bulls is only a minor part of the work day for a bull rider. The amount of hard work he puts in behind the scene to reach the position is enormous and often goes unnoticed. Aspiring candidates must apply for a membership card and take a riding permit. A bull rider also has to initially establish himself in the lower challenger rides. Professional bull riders usually get most of their money from corporate and private sponsors.