The math simply ain’t mathing for a many fans of the star and critics of the pay gap between WNBA and NBA players, as the first NBA draft pick — who will likely be less accomplished than Clark — is expected to make roughly $10.5 million in base salary their first year, Vox reports.
It isn’t just the rookie salary that has WNBA supporters rolling their eyes, as MorningStar reports Arike Ogunbowale, Kahleah Cooper and Jewell Loyd are the highest earners in the WNBA making just $241,984 annually. The average baller in the league is bringing in $147,745.
The go-to explanation is that the WNBA simply isn’t as profitable as the NBA, with the former projected to bring in roughly $200 million while the NBA garners an estimated $10 billion yearly. The NBA season is also longer than that of the WNBAs at 82 games compared to 40. Still, the monumental pay disparity between the leagues has resulted in industry-wide talk of the WNBA needing to up its figures before Ice Cube scoops up the best in the biz with his own BIG3 offers.
While the league figures it all out, here are eight career options that will likely net you more than you could earn in the WNBA (as per US News and other sources). We’re particularly looking at rookie salaries, as the pay is comparable to several regular degular jobs any non-athlete would consider. Check them out below.
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Sales Manager
Image Credit: YouTube screenshot. Michael Scott and his fellow sales managers earn an average of $130,600 annually, almost double what WNBA rookies take home.
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IT Manager
Image Credit: Sarah L. Voisin/The Washington Post via Getty Images IT pros who climb their way up to manager positions often take home six-figures, as the U.S. median salary for an IT manager lands at $164,070 annually.
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Retail Store Manager
Image Credit: Bob Riha, Jr./Getty Images. Another management position with unexpected earning power makes the list, as the average retail store manager salary in the United States is$77,334annually, as per Salary.com
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Research Analyst
Image Credit: STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN/AFP via Getty Images Tasked with mining and analyzing data, research analysts in the U.S. earn a median income of $85,720.
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Truck Driver
Image Credit: Mehmet Futsi/Anadolu via Getty Images Responsible for transporting goods all over the country, the average truck driver salary in the United Statesis$83,158 per year, as per CloudTrucks.
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Physical Therapist
Image Credit: Ray Kennedy, Fairfax Media via Getty Images WNBA stars could possibly be out-earned by their own recovery team, as the median salary for a physical therapist in the U.S. is $97,720.
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Dentist
Image Credit: Leon Neal/Getty Images US News reports the median salary for a dental hygienist as $81,400.
