How Much Do NASCAR Pit Crews Get Paid?

Most full-time, over-the-wall NASCAR Cup Series pit-crew members earn about $75,000–$150,000 in base salary, with total annual compensation commonly landing between $100,000 and $200,000+ once race bonuses, win incentives, playoff shares, and travel stipends are included. On top teams fighting for wins and titles, standout performers can top those figures, while development roles in Xfinity and the Craftsman Truck Series often range from roughly $40,000–$90,000 total. Pay varies widely by team budget, results, role, and contract terms.

What Pit-Crew Pay Looks Like in 2025

Pit-crew members are employees of individual race teams, not NASCAR, so compensation is set by each organization. In the Cup Series—the sport’s top tier—over-the-wall athletes (tire changers, carriers, jackmen, and fuelers) generally receive year-round salaries and performance bonuses tied to race finishes and wins. Since the Next Gen era and the single-lug wheel introduced in 2022, teams have continued to prioritize elite athleticism, keeping pay competitive among playoff-caliber teams.

Typical Ranges by Role (Cup Series)

The following ranges reflect common totals seen across competitive Cup teams. Exact numbers vary by contract, experience, and team performance.

• Tire changer (front/rear): base $75,000–$120,000; total comp $100,000–$180,000
• Tire carrier: base $70,000–$110,000; total comp $95,000–$170,000
• Jackman: base $75,000–$120,000; total comp $100,000–$180,000
• Fueler: base $80,000–$130,000; total comp $110,000–$190,000
• Utility/backup/road crew: base $50,000–$85,000; total comp $60,000–$110,000
• Pit-crew coach: total comp $120,000–$250,000 (varies by team size and results)
• Crew chief (not strictly pit crew, but often asked about): roughly $250,000 to $1 million+ depending on team and performance

Top-tier, well-funded teams tend to pay at the upper end—especially for proven, penalty-free performers—while mid-pack or smaller operations often land toward the lower bands. Bonuses and postseason shares can significantly lift totals for crews on winning and playoff teams.

How Compensation Is Structured

Most pit-crew members are on salaried, multi-race or multi-year agreements, with a sizable portion of their yearly take-home tied to team performance and travel. Here are the most common components.

• Base salary: Year-round pay covering training, shop work, and race duties.
• Per-race bonuses: Often scaled to finish position and team-set metrics; roughly a few hundred to a few thousand dollars per race on strong teams.
• Win bonuses: Typically a meaningful bump—often in the low thousands per crew member per win, with crown-jewel events sometimes paying more.
• Playoff/championship shares: Additional payouts for advancing through rounds; a title run can add five figures per crew member.
• Travel per diem/stipends: Daily allowances for away events; teams cover flights and hotels.
• Benefits: Health insurance, retirement plans, training facilities, and rehab support are common at established teams.
• Sponsor/appearance money: Occasional extra income for media days, partner activations, or clinics.

The balance between guaranteed salary and incentives varies by team philosophy and the athlete’s leverage. On winning programs, performance pay can meaningfully elevate total compensation.

Differences by Series and Team Tier

Series level and team funding are the biggest drivers of pay. Cup Series crews at chartered, playoff-caliber teams tend to earn the most, while Xfinity and Truck teams—along with non-charter Cup entries—often operate with tighter budgets.

• Cup Series (front-running/chartered teams): commonly $120,000–$220,000 total for over-the-wall regulars
• Cup Series (mid-pack/non-charter): about $80,000–$140,000 total
• Xfinity Series: roughly $55,000–$110,000 total
• Craftsman Truck Series: roughly $40,000–$90,000 total

Ambitious crew athletes often develop in Trucks or Xfinity and move up as results, stop times, and reliability improve, with Cup roles offering the highest ceilings.

Factors That Move Pay Up or Down

Beyond team and series, individual performance and market dynamics shape what a pit-crew athlete can command.

• Experience and athletic pedigree: Former college/pro athletes with elite measurables tend to earn more.
• Performance metrics: Fast average stop times, low penalty rates, and pit-crew awards strengthen negotiating power.
• Team budget and sponsor health: Well-funded programs pay more and offer richer bonuses.
• Contract structure: Multi-year deals, guarantees, and escalators can stabilize or boost pay.
• Injury history and availability: Durability matters in a 38-event calendar (points races plus exhibitions).
• Role versatility: Athletes who can fill multiple over-the-wall positions or road-crew duties are valuable.

These factors help explain why two crew members in the same series—and even on the same team—may have markedly different compensation packages.

Example Annual Earnings Breakdown

To illustrate, here’s a realistic scenario for a Cup Series tire changer on a playoff-contending, chartered team. Actual figures depend on contracts and results.

1. Base salary: $105,000
2. Per-race bonuses: 38 events averaging $1,200 per race = $45,600
3. Win bonuses: 3 wins at $5,000 each = $15,000
4. Playoff/championship share: $20,000
5. Travel per diem/stipends: $75 x 60 travel days = $4,500
6. Sponsor/appearance income: $5,000

In this example, total pre-tax compensation would be about $195,100. A winless season or a smaller team budget would pull that total down; a title run or more wins would push it higher.

Frequently Asked Questions

These quick answers address common points of confusion about pit-crew pay and employment.

• Do pit crews get paid per pit stop? No—most are salaried, with race and win bonuses layered on top.
• Are pit-crew members unionized? Generally no; they’re employees of individual teams.
• Is pay year-round? Yes—full-time crew are typically salaried through the offseason and train weekly.
• Do crew members pay their own travel? Teams cover travel; a per diem is common.
• How do you become a pit-crew athlete? Many enter through team development programs and combine gym work with specialized on-car practice.

While specifics vary by organization, these norms apply across most established NASCAR teams in 2025.

Bottom Line

In 2025, a full-time NASCAR Cup Series over-the-wall pit-crew member typically earns a base salary in the mid–five figures to low six figures, with total compensation often reaching $100,000–$200,000+ after bonuses and stipends—highest on front-running teams. Pay is lower but growing in Xfinity and Trucks, and performance, experience, and team resources remain the biggest differentiators.

How much do NASCAR haulers get paid?

A NASCAR hauler driver’s salary varies, but the average annual salary is around $77,000 to $80,000, or roughly $37 to $38 per hour as of September 2025, with a typical range from $49,000 (25th percentile) to over $109,000 (top earners). These figures can fluctuate based on location, with examples showing slightly different averages in California ($77,591) and Ontario, CA ($79,992), and in Texas ($22.40 – $38.51 for the main range). 
Factors influencing NASCAR hauler driver salaries:

• Location: Salaries can differ significantly by state and city, as seen in the data from California, Texas, and other regions. 
• Experience: Top earners with more experience or specialized skills can earn considerably more than the average. 
• Team: While specific team pay structures aren’t detailed in the results, it’s likely that the team’s budget and driver pay scale will influence compensation. 
• Role: Some hauler drivers also perform other duties, such as pit crew work or general team support, which can affect their overall compensation package. 
• Market Demand: A shortage of experienced drivers could potentially lead to higher salaries, as some teams may struggle to find qualified personnel, according to a Reddit post from 2019. 

Is being on a NASCAR pit crew a full-time job?

The Pit Crew Itself
Originally, it was just mechanics hopping over the wall to change tires and add fuel as quickly as they could, but, no one on the pit crew specialized in pitting the car. Nowadays, pit crews are entirely composed of specialists whose full-time job is to pit the race car on pit stops.

Is pit crew a full-time job?

In other words, being a part of a pit crew isn’t a full-time job, but is just one role in the job description; they’re not getting paid just to be, say, a tire gunner for a few seconds a week. Crew chiefs often earn the most because they’re typically the chief mechanic.

How much do NASCAR spotters get paid?

NASCAR spotter pay varies, but Cup Series spotters can earn around $2,500 to $5,000 per race, with annual incomes reaching six figures for experienced professionals. Pay depends on the series (Cup, Trucks, ARCA), the spotter’s experience, and whether they are an independent contractor or team employee. Top spotters can earn well into the six figures, while newer or less known spotters may earn significantly less. 
Factors influencing spotter pay:

• NASCAR Series: Opens in new tabSpotters for the Cup Series generally earn more than those for the Truck Series or ARCA. 
• Experience: Opens in new tabMore experienced and well-known spotters command higher salaries. 
• Team/Sponsorship: Opens in new tabSpotters working for top-tier teams or those with significant sponsorship may see higher pay. 
• Employment Status: Opens in new tabSpotters can be independent contractors or employees of a team, which affects their pay structure. 

Typical Pay Structures:

• Per Race: A common model involves a fixed payment for each race. 
• Annual Salary: Some spotters receive an annual salary, especially full-time Cup Series spotters. 
• Bonuses: Spotters often receive bonuses for wins, reflecting the importance of their role in the race. 

General Salary Ranges:

• Cup Series: A full-time Cup spotter might earn $2,500 to $5,000 per race. 
• Annual Income: This can translate to a six-figure annual income, especially for top performers. 
• Other Series: Truck Series spotters might earn around $500 per week, while ARCA spotters might receive about $300 per race.