What is the salary of an NBA waterboy?

Written by Editorial Team | Last Updated: August 2026

Waterboys and equipment assistants working in the National Basketball Association earn modest part-time or seasonal hourly wages rather than high-profile professional salaries. Compensation typically falls between $15 and $25 per hour depending on the franchise's home market and operational budget constraints. Over the course of a full 82-game regular season, practices, and shootarounds, annual earnings for these support roles generally range from $20,000 to $35,000. While the direct financial remuneration is relatively minimal compared to the multi-million-dollar payrolls of the active roster, the job provides unique proximity to elite athletes, travel opportunities, and potential career networking pathways in professional sports operations.

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