If you’re reading this, then there’s a good chance you might have seen the discussion online about how much NBA floor sweepers make. Many people, myself included, could not believe how much they reportedly earned, and even some people claimed they were switching careers because of this.
We’re going to examine what is publicly known about NBA Floor Sweepers’ salary, as well as all the duties they perform if you’re one of those looking to make a switch.
But first, let us explain what an NBA Floor sweeper is.
Who is an NBA Floor Sweeper?
NBA Floor Sweepers are part of the maintenance crew that wipes sweat, liquid, or any other items from the court that could make players slip. Anytime there’s a lull in an NBA game, you might have noticed them wiping the surface of the court.
How Much Do NBA Floor Sweepers Make?
Many people had no idea that viral claims about NBA Floor sweepers’ pay were circulating before the topic started trending on Twitter/X. It is important to separate those claims from what is publicly verifiable. NBA teams and arenas do not publish one league-wide salary scale for floor sweepers, and current job listings usually place this kind of work under game operations, building operations, event services, housekeeping, or court-maintenance roles.
Requirements also vary by team and venue. Applicants generally need to be alert, quick, reliable, able to work nights, weekends, and events, and comfortable working around the court. Some jobs may require previous event, operations, housekeeping, or facilities experience.
Publicly available information does not support a standard $80,000 average salary for NBA floor sweepers. Pay can be hourly, per game/event, or part of a broader facilities or operations payroll. A part-time game-night floor sweeper will not usually earn the same as a full-time arena operations or maintenance employee, so the title of the job matters.
So how much do NBA floor sweepers make? The most accurate answer is that it varies by team, city, employer, schedule, and whether the role is part-time game-night work or a full-time arena operations job. Treat viral salary figures like $80,000 to $100,000 as unverified unless they come from an official job posting or employment contract.
Compared with other jobs, the pay can differ widely. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics groups janitorial and building-cleaning jobs separately from sports event jobs, and those national wage figures should not be treated as a direct NBA floor-sweeper salary. They are only a general labor-market comparison.
NBA Floor sweepers can also get paid differently depending on the team. Some teams pay their floor sweepers an hourly rate while others pay per game or event. Another method that some teams use is including them in the regular payroll, so they’re paid every 15 days.
What Does an NBA Floor Sweeper Do?
NBA Floor Sweepers typically have three tools with them during NBA games – Large brooms, Small circular mops, and ample towels. They use the large brooms to sweep the court before any game starts, during game timeouts, and after every quarter. Floor sweepers use the small circular mops to clean the free-throw areas after every free throw, and they use the large towels to wipe the sweat from the floor of any player that falls.
Apart from that, their job description also includes setting up benches to help in loading and unloading gear used for the games. Also, officials, coaches, or other officials may assign other duties to floor sweepers as they see fit. Overall, their job is mainly removing sweat and any foreign materials from the court. This may vary depending on the team and the players involved. Players sweat profusely on the court during games, and if the courts are left wet, it could cause accidents and injuries.
For example, some NBA players like Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies usually drive to the hoop to draw the opponent’s attention, pass to teammates or make excellent shots. While he’s trying to do this, he may get entangled with one of the players from the other team defending the basket and end up kissing the floor. In such a scenario, when Morant is on the floor, the floor sweepers should come out with mops and large towels to wipe off the wet spot where he fell.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, there were additional safety protocols involving the floor sweepers to help reduce the spread of the virus. The NBA used extra cleaning and game-operation procedures compared with a normal season, and floor sweepers remained important because there could not be sweat left on the court.
During the NBA bubble, some of the familiar elements of the games were not there, including cheerleaders, crowd, halftime performers, and mascots. However, the floor sweepers stayed an integral part of the game. TV viewers who would typically focus on only the players and other aspects of the game started paying attention to the floor sweepers, hence discussing their salary on social media.
NBA Floor sweepers should move fast so they do not get run over. They must stay alert throughout the game and wait for the referee’s signal before going into the court and cleaning.
How to Become an NBA Floor Sweeper?
You need to have all the required skills to do the duties of an NBA Floor sweeper as described above. Other necessary areas to land a job as a floor sweeper in the NBA may include relevant experience in event operations, housekeeping, facilities, or a related field. It is also essential to know that every NBA team has its own floor sweeper qualifications.
Even though it is a simple job, there is a lot of competition, making it challenging to get a job. There are usually many applicants vying for the same vacancy. So it is crucial that you impress your employer with your credentials or any other skills that you think can put yours ahead of other people. All of these can also factor into the amount they will pay you if the role allows pay negotiation.
Here are the steps you should take if you want to become an NBA Floor Sweeper:
- Research the NBA team you wish to apply to.
- Check all their requirements and tailor your application to fit it
- Send your NBA Floor sweeper application to the NBA team or arena employer
- Check NBA Careers, individual team career pages, and arena career pages for job openings
- You can also check other job listing websites like Indeed, LinkedIn, and TeamWork Online.
- Look for the team’s human resources or guest services contact and make inquiries.
If you have NBA connections, you can leverage them for information about the requirements, salary and some can even help with the application process. A somewhat effective way is reaching out directly to the human resources manager of the team or arena you want to work for, but this may be challenging to do.
Other Benefits NBA Floor Sweepers Have
Apart from the salary above, NBA floor sweepers could also get additional shifts, overtime opportunities, or other incentives when their teams qualify for the playoffs. Any extra pay or incentives depend entirely on the team, arena, employer, union or contractor arrangement, and local policy.
Some other perks that some floor sweepers enjoy may include meal allowances, depending on the team. Also, during the NBA bubble, essential event staff had to follow league and venue protocols to make their games on time. They are also working on the court; they have access to watch parts of the game while working, but access during off days depends on team and arena policy.
Another benefit some floor sweepers may get is tuition assistance or education-related benefits if their employer offers them and they qualify. Although this is particularly rare in the NBA, it still happens in some sports and arena jobs and is worth mentioning. If one leaves a good impression, the team will notice it.
Also, if any of them are basketball fans, they get to see their basketball heroes in action, and they get to be in the same courts with some of the greats like Steph Curry and James Harden. It is also possible for some to watch the players’ training sessions if their job duties and team policy allow it. All of these benefits and allowances largely depend on the teams.
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Conclusion
As you can see, NBA Floor sweeper pay is not as simple as the viral figures make it seem. If you’re gunning for a job as an NBA floor sweeper, remember it is highly competitive and put your best foot forward.