How much do NBA personnel make compared to the league’s biggest stars? We decided to dive deep and compare the salaries of NFL coaches, cheerleaders, waterboys, scouts, and many more to Steph Curry.
We pick the two-time NBA MVP for two reasons: he’s one of the most recognizable players in the world and also the highest-paid basketball player for the 2026-27 season.
With a salary of $62,587,158 for the 2026-27 season, Curry makes over $3 million more than the next-closest players in the league! How does this compare to personnel in the NBA? Let’s examine all the details and take a deep dive into Curry’s player salary below!
- Stephen Curry’s Salary Per Timeline
- How Much do NBA Head Coaches Make?
- How Much do NBA Assistant Coaches Make?
- How Much do NBA GMs Make?
- How Much do NBA Athletic Trainers Make?
- How Much do NBA Waterboys Make?
- How Much do NBA Cheerleaders Make?
- How Much do NBA Scouts Make?
- How Much do NBA Referees Make?
Stephen Curry’s Salary Per Timeline
Curry is currently on a four-year, $215 million contract signed in 2022. The deal took him to the end of the 2025-26 season, after which a one-year deal worth $62.6 million will be active for next season, which is 2026-27.
As a result, Curry became the first player in the NBA to earn an annual salary of over $60 million!
The $62.6 million Curry will make next season is already a substantial amount of money compared to the rest of the league, making his deal one of the biggest NBA contracts. Let’s check out the top 10 salaries for the NBA 2026-27 season, and where Curry stacks up against the competition:
Top 10 2026-27 NBA Player Salaries (by Cap Hit)
- Stephen Curry (GSW): $62,587,158
- Nikola Jokić (DEN): $59,033,114
- Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL): $58,456,566
- Anthony Davis (WAS): $58,456,566
- Jayson Tatum (BOS): $58,456,566
- Joel Embiid (PHI): $57,985,752
- Devin Booker (PHX): $57,078,728
- Jaylen Brown (BOS): $57,078,728
- Karl-Anthony Towns (NYK): $57,078,728
- Jimmy Butler (GSW): $56,832,773
NBA salaries have exploded over the last decade. For instance, Kobe Bryant earned $25 million in his last year in the NBA in 2015. Only 11 years later, Curry is set to make roughly 2.5x Bryant’s annual salary!
When you analyze Curry’s current contract regarding how much he is earning from various timelines, the figures are even more jaw-dropping:
- Salary per Minute: $119.08
- Salary per Hour: $7,144.65
- Salary per Day: $171,471.67
- Salary per Week: $1,203,599.19
- Salary per Month: $5,215,596.50
Curry is earning an unbelievable $171,471.67 per day throughout the year! This includes the offseason, so the Warriors’ guard is earning far more than the average person does in two years in one day.
Based on a median income in 2025 of $1,204 per week, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual income was $62,600 per year. In short, Curry makes just over 2.5 times more in one day than the median salary of $62,600 in the United States.
Curry is earning the big bucks after leading the Warriors to four NBA titles and two MVP seasons, although they did lose in the play-in round this past season. Are you confident in backing the Warriors’ and Curry’s futures at NBA betting sites in 2026-27?
Stephen Curry’s Salary Compared to NBA Personnel
Curry’s salary dwarfs the money that personnel in the NBA make throughout the league. There are some high-paid employees in this business, but Curry’s money makes it look insignificant.
Check out the most common NBA salaries and how they compare to Curry’s incredible 2026-27 payday of $62,587,158:
| NBA PERSONNEL | SALARY |
|---|---|
| Stephen Curry | $62,587,158 |
| NBA Head Coach | $4-6 Million |
| NBA Assistant Coach | $500,000-$1 Million |
| NBA General Manager | $2.5 Million-$5 Million |
| NBA Athletic Trainer | $70,000 |
| NBA Waterboy | $55,000 |
| NBA Cheerleader | $25,000 |
| NBA Scout | $94,000 |
| NBA Referee | $450,000 |
How Much Do NBA Head Coaches Make?
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- NBA Head Coach Salary: $4-6 million
The salary of NBA head coaches varies drastically depending on their contract. At the lowest end of the scale, some head coaches make between $3 million to $4 million per season. On the extreme high end, Golden State Warriors’ head coach Steve Kerr is raking in $17.5 million a year after an extension.
BREAKING: Steve Kerr has agreed on a new two-year contract to return as head coach of the Golden State Warriors, Dan Eveloff and Rick Smith of @PrioritySports tell me, @anthonyVslater and @ramonashelburne. After three weeks of extensive conversations, Kerr and the Warriors agreed… pic.twitter.com/nLwcpOLJZb
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 10, 2026
Kerr became the highest-paid NBA head coach in history when he signed a two-year, $35 million contract. Erik Spoelstra’s (Heat) $15 million salary and Tyronn Lue’s (Clippers) $15 million round out of the top 3 head coach salaries for the 2025-26 campaign. It should also be noted that San Antonio’s Gregg Popovich was second on this list at $16 million before he transitioned to the front office.
There are seven coaches making $10 million or more per year: the aforementioned trio, along with Doc Rivers ($11 million), Tom Thibodeau ($11 million), Ime Udoka ($10 million), and Mike Brown ($10 million). Rivers and Thibodeau were fired by Milwaukee and New York, respectively. Brown was fired by Sacramento, then replaced Thibodeau in the Big Apple. Brown, who won three titles with Curry as an assistant coach in Golden State, won the title as the head coach in New York this season.
With Curry earning $62.6 million this season, roughly ten head coaches making the high end of the average salary of $6 million would equal his deal.
How Much Do NBA Assistant Coaches Make?
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- NBA Assistant Head Coach Salary: $500,000-$1 million
In 2023, the Suns signed assistant coach Kevin Young to a record-breaking $2 million contract. It was the largest deal ever awarded to an assistant coach in NBA history. However, the vast majority of assistants make far less than this working in the league.
The Washington Post reported that most assistant coaches were making from $100,000 to $1 million in 2019. Currently, no figures are available to corroborate how much assistants are earning for the 2026-27 season.
If Young’s money is an indication, then the salaries of NBA assistant head coaches have improved considerably. I suspect that the $100,000 to $1 million range has witnessed a bump, and the average is closer to $500,000 to $1 million in 2026-27.
Regardless, with an average salary of $1 million, it would still take over 60 NBA assistant coaches to match Curry’s pay!
How Much Do NBA GMs Make?
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- NBA GM Salary: $2.5 million-$5 million
The NBA GM salaries vary widely from team to team. The most accomplished GMs can demand around $10 million a year! However, this is the exception, with the majority of GMs making around $2.5 million. Like assistant coaches, the salaries of NBA general managers aren’t typically disclosed.
GMs have multiple duties, including roster construction, drafting, signing free agents, player and coaching management, trades, and more in the front office.
They are also assigned to handle the financial details and salary cap of the roster.
It’s an important position, with these decisions being the difference between an NBA title and missing out on the playoffs. That being said, Curry runs laps around the salary of NBA GMs. Note that about 25 average NBA GM salaries equate to Curry’s $62.6 million contract.
How Much Do NBA Athletic Trainers Make?
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- NBA Athletic Trainer Salary: $70,000
NBA athletic trainer salaries depend on a variety of factors, including seniority, the team, and experience. According to Front Row Sports, the median annual pay for an NBA athletic job is $62,600.
The pay scale ranges from $47,000 to $86,000, though there are select trainers who can make well over $100,000. Trainers are responsible for attending to injuries, pre-game and practice preparations, and assisting with injury prevention and recovery.
They have several responsibilities that go beyond what fans see at games and on TV. With a median salary of $70,000, it would take roughly 890 trainers to match Curry’s NBA salary in 2026-27!
How Much Do NBA Waterboys Make?
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- NBA Waterboy Salary: $55,000
Waterboys are an integral part of the day-to-day operations of an NBA team. While they mostly operate in the background, waterboys are primarily responsible for hydrating players at practices and on game day.
These hard-working employees are also assigned to distribute towels on the bench and during timeouts. It’s a fast-paced job with responsibilities that go beyond only handling the water bottles.
Additionally, NBA waterboys can assist trainers in treating injuries, and as a general helper for game day operations in the locker room and court. Waterboys can make decent money, with their annual salary ranging from $53,000 to $58,000.
For an NBA waterboy earning $55,000, around 1,137 waterboys are needed to equal Curry’s incredible $62.6 million salary.
How Much Do NBA Cheerleaders Make?
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- NBA Cheerleader Salary: $25,000
In 2023, NBA cheerleaders earned between $200 to $650 per game from base pay. Salaries will depend on which team the dancer is employed by.
For instance, big market franchises such as the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers pay their cheerleaders the most money per game. However, the Lakers were leaprogged by Atlanta recently.
Including bonuses, Knicks and Hawks’ cheerleaders earned $35,000 per season, according to data from 2022. In addition to entertaining fans and dancing during games, they have an obligation to attend team-sponsored functions and marketing initiatives.
The Lakers, Celtics, Warriors, Heat, Raptors, Wizards, Cavaliers, and Pacers’ cheerleaders round out the top 10 with an average salary of $28,000 per year. Factoring in the lower-paid cheerleaders, for instance, the Minnesota Timberwolves and Chicago Bulls at $360 per game (cheerleaders don’t typically travel for road games), the average NBA cheerleader salary is roughly $25,000.
This means that 2,503 cheerleaders equal Curry’s salary in 2026-27!
How Much Do NBA Scouts Make?
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- NBA Scouts Salary: $94,000
Salaries for NBA scouts can vary greatly depending on experience and the position. Senior scouts with decades of experience can rake in well over $100,000.
According to Comparably, the highest recorded NBA scout salary is $433,738. Only the top scouts will demand this pay.
It’s also interesting to note that the highest-paid NBA scouts are located in San Jose, CA, which is a short distance from the Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors. Conversely, the lowest-earning scouts made just $41,602, as of November 2023.
The average salary for an NBA scout is reported to be nearly $94,000. It’s a far cry from Curry’s $62.6 million annual salary this year. At $94,000 per year, it would take roughly 665 scouts to match that hefty contract.
How Much Do NBA Referees Make?
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- NBA Referees Salary: $450,000
New NBA referees without high seniority can expect to earn around $250,000 per season. However, senior officials with more experience earn upward of $550,000! The majority of referees have been employed by the NBA for multiple years, so this is the most common pay grade.
Unlike the NFL, NBA referees are full-time employees of the league. As a result, NBA referees can make more than double their NFL counterparts. They face an incredible amount of scrutiny from fans, bettors, players, and coaches on a nightly basis.
See below for Part 2 of the 2024-25 Points of Emphasis video (narrated by SVP, Head of Referee Development and Training Monty McCutchen), which provides examples and guidance regarding Closeouts on Jump Shots and Flopping: pic.twitter.com/CZgw2QNLu7
— NBA Official (@NBAOfficial) September 25, 2024
If you are into NBA gambling, you’ve likely experienced a bad call to doom one of your wagers. Every great sports bettor will be on the receiving end of an unfortunate call occasionally. Nevertheless, remember they are being paid a handsome sum of $450,000!
It still doesn’t compare to Curry, who is collecting $62.6 million for this season. In short, we’d need nearly 139 referees on the floor to match No. 30’s salary!
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