This sport might not be as globally renowned as football or basketball, but with its fast-paced intensity, it has made its place in millions of hearts of sports fanatics. Originating in Europe and gaining popularity worldwide, handball combines the best elements of basketball, soccer, and water polo, demanding exceptional speed, strategy, and teamwork. Athletes sprint, leap, and shoot with extraordinary precision and power making each handball game a thrilling showdown of agility and power. However, despite the dedication required to excel in the game, handball still remains one of the lesser-known sports when it comes to athlete earnings.

Unlike the astronomical salaries seen in other professional sports, handball players often earn significantly less. Statistical reports from 2023 reveal facts about the earnings of handball athletes when compared to athletes from other sports. And the difference in figures will indeed leave you stunned. The highest-paid handball player globally raked in an estimated 1.8 million euros annually in 2023. Such a figure pales in comparison to the earnings of athletes in more mainstream sports. And now as the top athletes from the game gear up to represent their nation in the Paris Olympics, let’s take a look at their earnings from the sport.

How much can a professional handball athlete earn?

The financial realities of handball were highlighted at the 2nd Handball Talks conference, where experts shed light on the economic landscape for players in the sport. In the conference, which was organized in Nasice, Croatia, two of the most successful player agents revealed that only a handful of handball athletes earn substantial salaries. Andrej Golic and Milan Jokic shared that only 10 to 20 players in top handball leagues earn over 30,000 euros per year (approximately $32.5k). Isn’t this figure a shocker when it’s compared to the average earning of a basketball player? According to Statista, NBA players take home an average annual salary of $12 million (as for 2023/24).

Moreover, the minimum earning for an NBA athlete stands at $1.16 million per annum which is way below the highest earning of a handball player. Prestigious teams like PSG house exceptional players like Mikkel Hansen and Nikola Karabatic. However, despite their unmatched prowess, they are earning just over a million euros annually. The French phenom, Nikola Karabatić earns approximately €1.8 million per annum ($1.95 million approx.), which is also the highest across the globe. While his brother Luka Karabatić reportedly earned a figure of around €1.5 million ($1.6 million approx.)

Taking a look at the earnings of the female athletes of the sport, the same difference can be traced when compared to other sports. Romanian handballer Cristina Neagu, who stands on the pedestal of being the highest-paid athlete in the sport earns an estimated amount of €265,000 ($287 approximately). Although Mikkel Hansen, Cristina Neagu, and Nora Mork will be participating in Paris, the financial status of the game doesn’t seem to improve holding their hands. Unraveling the extraordinary but under-appreciated world of handball indeed brings to the forefront how the athletes’ love for the game has been driving them towards glory. 

Handball athletes making modest earnings despite their skill and prowess 

Despite all the hard work and exceptional skills of the players, the financial rewards for handball players are surprisingly modest. Andrej Golic, the French handball legend, who represented his country in the 2000 Sydney Olympics also shared his personal opinion on the stark reality of the financial status of the sport. “There is no 20, let’s say 10. I am very carefull when speaking about this topic. This is number of players who receving that money regulary. There are some players who had written it on the paper but waiting for it for 3,4 or 6 months. There are no TOP stars like Mikkel Hansen or Nikola Karabatic, in the recent period Sander Sagosen, who are on some level of earnings. Kristjansson is coming to that category, but I think that tendency on the market will be that club redistributes salary budget on more players than on specific TOP stars like in PSG Handball after Hansen and Karabatic departure”, reflecting Golic in the 2nd Handball Talks Conference in November, 2023.

Unfortunately, members of elite teams too are forces to settle with modest incomes. Such a financial disparity truly highlights a critical aspect of the sport. The unrealistic dedication and passion of its athletes often outweigh the financial rewards. Delving deep into the earnings of male and female Olympic handball players offers a glimpse into a world where commitment often takes precedence over financial gain. Despite the modest earnings, these athletes continue to perform at the highest levels, driven by an unyielding passion for their sport.