Highest Paid Female Volleyball Player: Who Earns the Most in Women's Volleyball?

Women's volleyball is one of the few sports in which the best female players often earn as much as or more than their male counterparts. Top stars play for clubs in Italy, Turkey, Brazil, China and, increasingly, the United States, and they add endorsement income on top of their salaries. Exact numbers are rarely published, so lists of the highest-paid players rely on reported estimates. Here is who is usually at the top and how pay in the sport works.

The players most often named as top earners

Player	Country	Position	Why she earns so much
Paola Egonu	Italy	Opposite hitter	One of the most powerful scorers in the world, Olympic champion at Paris 2024, major endorsement deals
Zhu Ting	China	Outside hitter	Olympic champion and MVP in 2016, huge popularity in China
Tijana Bošković	Serbia	Opposite hitter	World champion and elite scorer in top European leagues
Gabi Guimarães	Brazil	Outside hitter	Brazil's captain and one of the best all-around players
Kim Yeon-koung	South Korea	Outside hitter	A national icon who earned top salaries in Korea, Japan, Turkey and China

Paola Egonu is most commonly reported as the highest-paid female volleyball player in recent years, with estimates of her total earnings from club salary and sponsorships above $1.5 million per year. Zhu Ting's earnings have been reported in a similar range at her peak. These figures are estimates; clubs and players seldom disclose contracts.

How female volleyball players get paid

Club salaries

Most professional income comes from club contracts. The richest leagues have traditionally been Italy's Serie A1, Turkey's Sultanlar Ligi (with clubs such as VakıfBank, Fenerbahçe and Eczacıbaşı) and, at times, the Chinese and Brazilian leagues. Top stars can earn high six- to seven-figure salaries, while most professional players earn much less.

Endorsements

The biggest stars earn significant money from sponsors such as sportswear brands, consumer products and national companies. Popularity in large markets, especially China, Italy, Brazil and Korea, drives endorsement value.

National team prize money

National teams earn prize money from events such as the Volleyball Nations League and World Championships, and some national federations pay bonuses for Olympic medals.

The US professional boom

For decades, American players had to go overseas to play professionally after college. That changed in the 2020s, when several US professional leagues launched, including Athletes Unlimited Pro Volleyball, the Pro Volleyball Federation (which merged with Major League Volleyball and took the MLV name) and League One Volleyball (LOVB Pro). These leagues have attracted US Olympians and international stars, and some have offered equity or ownership stakes to players.

US pay is still developing and usually lower than the very top European contracts, but the leagues allow players to stay home, build fan bases and earn more through local sponsorships.

College volleyball and NIL

College volleyball is extremely popular in the US. In 2023, a Nebraska volleyball match at Memorial Stadium drew more than 92,000 fans, a world record for a women's sporting event. Since 2021, college players have been able to earn money from name, image and likeness (NIL) deals, and the most popular volleyball players have signed endorsement deals that rival those of professional athletes in some sports.

What affects a volleyball player's earnings

• Position – high-scoring opposite and outside hitters tend to earn the most.
• League – Turkey and Italy have historically paid the highest salaries.
• National team success – Olympic and World Championship medals raise a player's value.
• Popularity – social media following and home-country fame drive endorsements.
• Beach vs indoor – beach volleyball players earn mainly through prize money and sponsors, usually less than top indoor stars.

Women vs men in volleyball pay

Volleyball is unusual because women's club volleyball is as popular as men's in many countries, and in some markets more so. As a result, the top women can earn salaries similar to or higher than top men. This makes volleyball one of the best-paying team sports for women worldwide.

How to become a professional volleyball player

1. Play club volleyball as a teenager to get noticed by college programs.
2. Compete in college, where NCAA volleyball is a major pathway to the pros.
3. Build a highlight video and work with an agent who knows international leagues.
4. Consider US pro leagues or overseas contracts after college.
5. Aim for national team selection, which increases visibility and value.

For more on the sport, read why volleyball is a good sport and, for the families who support young players, volleyball mom shirt ideas.