The Average Football Career

The odds of becoming a professional football player are low. According to the NFL Players Association, approximately 100,000 high school students play football. Of those, 215 will go on to play for an NFL team. About 9,000 play at the college level, and if they make it that far, 310 of them will actually make it to the NFL draft.

Duration

The NFL Players Association indicates that the average football player's career is only three seasons long. Most players do not have guaranteed contracts, and may find themselves suddenly out of work because they were cut or because of injury. In most cases, the money stops when they stop playing. The NFL's Player Development Department offers an internship program to players where they can work in "regular" jobs and learn a skill so they can continue to earn a living when football ends.

Job Security

Non-starters have limited job security, and even starters can't take their jobs for granted. The league is presented with fresh, new talent every year at the NFL scouting combine prior to the draft. When teams draft and sign players out of college, they may cut second- and third-string athletes to make room for the promising new guys. The NFL caps rosters at 53 players and there are 32 teams, so 1,696 men play for the NFL each season. More than 400 end their NFL careers each year.

Earnings

While the NFL's big-name stars may earn millions each year, average NFL players do not. The pay is still very good compared to other professions; In 2010, the minimum wage was $320,000 a season for rookies, going up to $395,000 in a player's second year and $470,000 in their third year. Some first and second round draft picks may make more than this, but most players entering the NFL out of college do not. The average player salary, with both stars and rookies taken into consideration, was $1.1 million in 2010.

Career-Related Injuries

During the 2006 season, 406 players experienced season-ending injuries and another 93 missed games due to injuries. Nearly two-thirds of NFL players experience at least one concussion during their playing years.

Benefits

In addition to salaries well above what the average worker receives, NFL players get the usual perks of other fields, as well. According to the NFL Players Association, players receive health, dental and life insurance, some severance pay and pension coverage. They also receive extra pay, though minimal, for training camp and pre-season. Players must make the roster for at least three years to be eligible for an additional five years of health coverage after they leave the league. The NFL reimburses players up to $15,000 for tuition costs if they return to school to obtain a degree.