Ever scrolled through Twitter or TikTok and seen a Barstool personality living in a high-rise, only to hear Dave Portnoy scream five minutes later that they don't do anything? It’s a weird dynamic. People always want to know the "magic number." Is everyone there a secret millionaire, or are they grinding for peanuts in the most expensive city on earth? Honestly, it’s a bit of both. The answer to how much do barstool employees make depends entirely on whether you’re a "personality" or a person who actually knows how to use Excel.
The Personality Pay Gap: Stars vs. The Rest
If you're Big Cat or PFT Commenter, you aren't just an employee. You're the engine. Rumors and various leaks suggest the top-tier talent at the company is clearing millions. In fact, back in 2025, discussions around Pardon My Take revenue estimates put the duo's earnings in the multi-million dollar range, potentially between $3 million and $5 million annually.
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But that’s the 1%.
For the average person walking into the office in Chicago or New York, the numbers are way more grounded. A typical starting base salary for "new talent"—people Barstool takes a flyer on who don't have a massive pre-existing audience—historically hovered around $75,000. That number has definitely climbed. Recent reports and contract leaks, specifically around figures like Grace O'Malley and Alex Bennett, suggest that "mid-level" personalities are now seeing base salaries between $120,000 and $175,000.
The Portnoy Factor and "Performance" Pay
Dave Portnoy is surprisingly transparent when he’s annoyed. When Grace O'Malley hinted at being underpaid before her exit, Dave went on TikTok to set the record straight: her base was $175,000. On top of that, she got a 70% cut of any deals Barstool brokered for her personal social media, which added another $75,000.
That’s a quarter of a million dollars.
Not bad for a "sidekick" role, right? But here is the catch: Barstool’s compensation model is heavily reliant on revenue sharing. If you sell merch, you get a cut. If you sell out a live tour, you might get a piece of the gate (though as O'Malley found out, that isn't always guaranteed if it's someone else's tour). If you're a "freak show" personality—the kind of person hired just to be weird on camera—you might be stuck closer to the $100,000 mark.
What about the "Normal" Jobs?
While the bloggers and podcasters get the spotlight, there are hundreds of people doing the actual work. Social media managers, video editors, and salespeople. These are the folks who keep the lights on while the talent is out playing golf for a video.
According to data from 2026, the average salary at Barstool Sports for non-talent roles is roughly $181,000, though that's skewed by high-level executives. If you look at the granular level, the "working class" of Barstool looks like this:
- Creative Content Producers: These are the people behind the camera. They can make anywhere from $118,000 to $131,000 depending on the city.
- Video Editors: A reality TV editor for their various series might see around $63,000 to $65,000.
- Associate Producers: Often the entry-level "grind" roles, these pay between $65,000 and $75,000.
- Writers and Editors: Believe it or not, actual writing still pays okay if you're senior, with some roles hitting $112,000.
It’s expensive to live in NYC. If you're an intern making $33,000, you're basically eating ramen and living with four roommates in Queens. Barstool has always had a reputation for being a "cool" place to work, and they’ve definitely used that "cool factor" to keep entry-level wages lower than what you’d find at a boring corporate gig.
Geographic Shifts: The Chicago Move
The move to Chicago changed the math for a lot of employees. Before, if you made $80,000 in Manhattan, you were struggling. That same $80,000 in Chicago? You're living like a king. Portnoy has mentioned that the "Chicago crew" has a different vibe, and the lower cost of living there acts as a functional raise for the staff.
How much do barstool employees make in different regions?
In California, the average is around $44,000 for general roles, while New York averages closer to $49,000. It’s important to remember these are averages across the whole company, including those interns and part-time social reps.
Why the Salaries Are So Volatile
Barstool isn't the New York Times. It's a pirate ship. Contracts are often negotiated on "vibes" and "value added."
- Equity: After the Penn Entertainment deals and the subsequent buyback by Dave for $1, some long-term employees like Big Cat have equity that makes their "salary" irrelevant.
- The "Mintzy" Tier: Some people are kept on because they are content gold mines, even if they don't "work" in a traditional sense. Their pay is basically a retainer for their dignity.
- Ad Sales: The sales team is rumored to be the highest-paid group outside of the top stars because their commissions on those massive DraftKings or Pink Whitney deals are huge.
Misconceptions About the "Barstool Life"
The biggest myth is that every blogger is rich. Most bloggers are just guys who like sports and are trying to pay rent. If you aren't on a major podcast, you're likely making under six figures. The company has a massive "middle class" of employees who are essentially media professionals doing standard jobs for standard-ish pay.
Another shocker? The perks aren't always what they seem. Sure, you get to go to the Super Bowl, but you're working 20 hours a day while you're there. You get "free merch," but you're living in a tiny apartment. It's a trade-off.
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Actionable Takeaways for Potential Hires
If you're looking to get on the payroll, keep these realities in mind:
- Negotiate your social cut: If you're talent, your base salary is only half the battle. The real money is in the percentage of ads sold on your personal channels.
- Location matters: A job in the Chicago office is worth significantly more than the same salary in the New York office due to tax and rent.
- Technical roles pay better than "content": If you can code or manage a complex network, your floor is much higher than a "funny guy" who just wants to tweet.
- Value is visible: Unlike a corporate job where you can hide in a cubicle, at Barstool, your "stats" (views, engagement, merch sales) are public. If you aren't moving the needle, you have zero leverage in contract talks.
The days of everyone making $50k in a dusty office in Milton are long gone. Barstool is a massive media machine now, and the paychecks—for the right people—have finally caught up.