How much do race car people make

Pay in motorsports varies dramatically by role, series, and results: most full-time crew and technical staff earn roughly $40,000–$120,000 a year, while top-tier drivers in series like Formula 1 and NASCAR can earn from low six figures into the tens of millions (for example, F1 stars are widely reported in the $1 million–$60 million+ range, NASCAR Cup drivers about $200,000–$20 million, IndyCar $300,000–$7 million, and senior team engineers often $100,000–$300,000+). Below is a current, detailed look at how compensation breaks down across the sport.

What drives pay in motorsports

Several factors determine earnings for “race car people” (drivers, pit crews, mechanics, engineers, managers). Understanding these helps explain the wide range in salaries and appearance fees across teams and championships.

• Series economics: F1, NASCAR Cup, and top endurance programs have larger budgets than junior formulas or regional series.
• Role and specialization: Drivers, crew chiefs, technical directors, and senior engineers command higher pay than entry-level mechanics or junior engineers.
• Results and marketability: Championships, race wins, and star power drive salaries, bonuses, and endorsements.
• Sponsorship and prize money: Driver deals often mix base salary with sponsor-backed retainers, purse splits, and performance bonuses.
• Team size and funding: Factory-backed or “big three” teams pay more than privateers or smaller operations.
• Geography and tax residency: UK/EU-based F1 roles often pay in GBP/EUR; U.S. series pay in USD. Take-home pay depends on travel, per diems, and tax planning.
• Contract structure: Guaranteed retainers vs. “bring-a-budget” seats, multi-year deals, and image rights can swing total compensation widely.

Taken together, these levers mean two people with similar job titles can earn very different amounts depending on where they work and how competitive their programs are.

Driver earnings by major series (2024–2025 context)

Formula 1

Top F1 drivers are among the highest-paid athletes in motorsport. Reported base salaries range from roughly $1 million for rookies or backmarkers to upward of $50–60 million for multiple champions, with performance bonuses and personal endorsements on top. Midfield veterans commonly fall in the $3–10 million range. Driver prize money is not paid directly by F1; teams pay bonuses linked to points, wins, and titles.

NASCAR

NASCAR Cup Series driver pay is a blend of salary, a share of purse/contingency money, and sponsor-related income. Established winners and fan favorites can total $10–20 million in strong years, while solid full-time Cup drivers often earn $1–5 million. Drivers at smaller teams or on partial schedules may be in the $200,000–$800,000 range. Xfinity and Craftsman Truck Series compensation is generally lower; some drivers are paid modest retainers, and others bring sponsorship to secure seats.

IndyCar

IndyCar salaries typically range from about $300,000 to $2 million, with champions and marquee veterans reported in the $2–7 million band in top seats. The Indianapolis 500 materially shifts totals: in 2024, the winner’s take exceeded $4 million, and strong finishes meaningfully boost annual earnings via purse splits and bonuses.

Endurance racing (WEC/IMSA) and Formula E

Factory-contracted Hypercar/GTP professionals are commonly cited in the $500,000–$2 million range depending on team and stature; seasoned GT pros often fall between $200,000–$800,000. Prize money is modest compared with budgets, so salaries and manufacturer retainers matter most. In Formula E, typical driver retainers are roughly $300,000–$2 million, with a few top names earning more, plus bonuses and sponsor income.

Junior formulas and regional series

Below the top tiers, many seats are funded by drivers (family backing or sponsors), and paid opportunities are rare. Where salaries exist, they’re usually modest (low five to low six figures) and often tied to performance clauses or testing duties.

Team and crew salaries

Technical and operational roles offer stable career paths with travel and performance bonuses. Pay scales vary by series and team status (factory vs. private), but recent, commonly reported ranges are below.

• Race engineers/performance engineers: about $80,000–$180,000; senior/lead roles at top F1/NASCAR/IndyCar teams can surpass $200,000–$300,000+.
• Aerodynamicists/computational engineers: roughly $80,000–$170,000; senior aero leads and department heads can exceed $200,000, with top technical directors well into seven figures.
• Data/systems/controls engineers: typically $90,000–$160,000; specialized hybrid/high-voltage roles and DIL/simulator engineers can go higher.
• Mechanics/technicians (shop and traveling): roughly $45,000–$90,000 base; experienced traveling crew often reach $70,000–$110,000 with overtime and per diems.
• Pit-crew athletes (NASCAR and select series): about $80,000–$150,000+ including per-race pay and win bonuses; elite changers/carriers can top that on powerhouse teams.
• Crew chiefs: commonly $250,000–$750,000 in top U.S. series; championship-caliber programs may exceed $1 million with bonuses.
• Fabricators/composites/machinists: about $45,000–$85,000; carbon specialists and rapid-prototyping leads can reach low six figures.
• Logistics/coordinators/truck drivers: around $50,000–$90,000, plus per diems; extensive travel is typical.
• Team management (sporting directors, COOs, team principals): mid-six figures to multi-million packages at the top of F1 and major factory programs.

These figures often exclude travel per diems, overtime, and win/points bonuses, which can materially lift take-home pay during successful seasons.

How drivers actually get paid

Driver “salary” is only one piece of the puzzle. Multiple revenue streams often combine to create total earnings for the year.

• Retainer/base salary from the team or manufacturer.
• Performance bonuses tied to wins, poles, points, and championships.
• Purse splits from marquee events (for example, the Indianapolis 500) as specified in contracts.
• Personal sponsorships, helmet/overall branding, and image-rights deals.
• Endorsements, speaking engagements, and appearance fees.
• Testing/simulator work and development contracts.

The mix varies by series: factory endurance drivers lean on retainers and bonuses; NASCAR drivers rely heavily on sponsor-driven deals; F1 stars are paid primarily by teams, with personal endorsements on top.

Prize money snapshots and context

Prize money can swing a season, but it’s uneven across championships and often shared between teams and drivers per contract.

• Indy 500: regularly the richest single-race payout in open-wheel racing; in 2024 the winner earned more than $4 million before team splits.
• NASCAR blue-ribbon events (e.g., Daytona 500): winner payouts can reach high six to low seven figures including bonuses, though official numbers are not always publicly disclosed.
• Le Mans 24 Hours and other WEC races: prize money is comparatively modest; factory retainers dominate driver income.

Because prize distributions and contract splits differ widely, two drivers with identical results can take home very different amounts.

Entry-level expectations and career progression

Breaking in usually means modest pay at first, long hours, and travel-heavy schedules. Here’s a typical progression that influences earning power.

1. Intern/graduate/junior tech: $18–$25/hour or $40,000–$55,000 annually in major markets; exposure to shop and track operations.
2. Mechanic/assistant engineer: $50,000–$80,000; travel increases, overtime and per diems add up.
3. Race engineer or specialist technician: $80,000–$140,000; performance bonuses become material.
4. Senior/lead roles: $140,000–$300,000+ depending on series and team competitiveness.
5. Management or technical leadership: high six figures to seven figures at the top programs.

For drivers, early years often require funding and results in junior categories; paid seats and strong retainers arrive with winning, sponsors, and placement in top teams.

Other considerations that affect take-home pay

Beyond headline numbers, practical details can change what ends up in your bank account.

• Travel and per diems: frequent flyers can net significant non-salary income through per diems and overtime.
• Tax planning: cross-border travel and residency can complicate taxes; pros often use specialized advisors.
• Schedule demands: 150–200+ travel days per year are common in top series, impacting work–life balance.
• Contract clauses: image rights, testing days, simulator hours, and bonus triggers matter as much as base pay.

Negotiating these details—and understanding how they differ by series—often separates average compensation from excellent overall packages.

Bottom line

Most race team professionals earn solid middle-class to upper-middle-class incomes, boosted by travel pay and performance bonuses. The exceptional money sits at the very top: title-contending drivers, team bosses, and key technical leaders at powerhouse operations. For everyone else, pay tracks with specialization, series economics, and results.

Summary

Race car industry earnings span from roughly $40,000–$120,000 for many full-time crew and technical roles to multi-million-dollar packages for top drivers and senior leaders. In 2024–2025, F1 stars commonly range from about $1 million to $60 million+, NASCAR Cup drivers $200,000–$20 million, IndyCar $300,000–$7 million, with team engineers and crew chiefs often six figures and above. Your series, role, results, and sponsorship footprint are the biggest determinants of where you’ll land on that spectrum.

How much money do race car builders make?

What are Top 10 Highest Paying Cities for Race Engine Builder Jobs

City	Annual Salary	Hourly Wage
San Francisco, CA	$67,744	$32.57
Santa Clara, CA	$67,530	$32.47
Sunnyvale, CA	$67,484	$32.44
Livermore, CA	$67,446	$32.43

How much do NASCAR employees make?

Nascar Official Salary

	Annual Salary	Hourly Wage
Top Earners	$61,000	$29
75th Percentile	$52,500	$25
Average	$45,573	$22
25th Percentile	$39,000	$19

How much do car racers get paid?

Race car driver earnings vary drastically, with top Formula 1 drivers making tens of millions per year while others, especially in lower series or amateur racing, earn little or even pay to compete. The highest-paid drivers, like Max Verstappen, can earn over $60 million annually for their driving skills and endorsements. Meanwhile, drivers in feeder series such as NASCAR Xfinity may earn between $250,000 and $400,000, covering their own business expenses from those earnings. 
Varying Income by Series and Skill Level

• Formula 1 (F1): This is the pinnacle of motorsport, with the best drivers earning tens of millions of dollars annually in salaries and endorsements, such as Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen. 
• Major American Series (NASCAR): Drivers in the top NASCAR series earn substantial salaries, but these can vary widely. Some drivers in the Xfinity Series may earn between $250,000 and $400,000, while also being responsible for their own business expenses. 
• Lower-Tier Series: In many other racing categories, especially lower levels, drivers may not receive a base salary. Instead, they might earn prize money based on race finishes, and over 90% of the earnings can go to the drivers’ teams, not the individual driver. 

Factors Influencing Earnings

• Sponsorships and Endorsements: A significant portion of a top driver’s income comes from endorsements and securing sponsorship deals. 
• Prize Money: Drivers and teams often receive prize money for good finishes. 
• Personal Expenses: Drivers in many series are independent contractors and are responsible for their own health insurance, taxes, and other business expenses. 
• Rider-Funded Rides: In some cases, especially in endurance racing or amateur series, drivers may actually pay the team to drive their car. 

Example Earnings

• Top F1 Stars: Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton were projected to make over $60 million each in 2025. 
• NASCAR Xfinity: Earnings can range from $250,000 to $400,000 annually. 
• Lower/Amateur Racing: Many drivers earn nothing or even lose money as they pay to participate. 

Who is the highest paid race car driver?

The highest-paid race car driver is generally considered to be Max Verstappen, who reportedly earns a salary of around $65 million for the 2025 Formula 1 season. This makes him the top earner in motorsport, ahead of other high-profile drivers in F1, NASCAR, and other racing series. 
Top-Paid Drivers by Series (as of early 2025):

• Formula 1 (F1): Max Verstappen is at the top with a salary of approximately $65 million. 
• NASCAR: Kyle Busch is reported to be the highest-paid NASCAR driver, with a yearly salary of $16.9 million for 2025. 
• IndyCar: Colton Herta is considered one of the highest-paid IndyCar drivers, with a salary of $7 million. 

Factors contributing to high salaries: 

• Performance and Success: Drivers who win races and championships, like Verstappen, command higher salaries due to their proven ability and the value they bring to their teams.
• Sponsorships: A driver’s status as a prominent figure can also lead to lucrative personal sponsorship deals, which add to their overall earnings, as seen with Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton.
• Demand and Market Value: Elite drivers are in high demand, and teams are willing to pay top dollar to secure their talent.