Apex Legends Pro Warns Against Esports Career & Reveals “Poverty Line” Income

Apex Legends veteran esports player Will ‘TeQ’ Starck recently shared a detailed post discussing the realities of pursuing a career in competitive gaming and revealed his total earnings.

Playing esports can seem like a dream job to many, as professional players can earn thousands of dollars by competing in games like Apex Legends and participating in tournaments with large prize pools all over the world. However, similar to traditional sports, the majority of aspiring professional esports players earn much less than top-tier players, even if they stream their gameplay and occasionally win tournaments.

Experienced Apex Legends player Will ‘TeQ’ Starck issued a cautionary message to those considering a career in professional gaming, advising them to have a backup plan and citing his own financial situation as an example.

TeQ disclosed that his four-year career earnings, which encompass his salary during his time with FURIA and Sentinels, tournament prizes, and streaming revenue, totaled approximately $70,000.

The pro clarified that the average amount comes out to be approximately $1500 per month, which would classify me as living below the poverty line in America if it were my sole source of income.

TeQ is a professional engineer during the day and continues to compete in the ALGS North American Pro League. Although he was previously signed with Sentinels, he is currently a member of the unsigned team Meat Lovers. While he has contemplated leaving his day job, he is grateful that he chose to keep it as he has seen other former professional players struggle to find stable careers after dedicating their lives solely to esports from a young age.

“TeQ emphasized the importance of not getting trapped in a cycle of constantly working low-paying jobs like door-dashing, fast food, or retail. He advised those striving for success in this field to be honest with themselves and not abandon all their responsibilities.”

Despite its peak, the esports industry still remains a risky space as investments have significantly decreased and many organizations have reduced the number of teams they sign and the salaries they offer to players. Additionally, the highest-paid professionals face challenges such as uneven contracts, labor disputes, and the need to secure post-retirement careers as most players retire from competitive video games in their late 20s and still have financial responsibilities.

Despite Apex Legends esports reaching its peak, it was still considered a smaller esport in comparison to popular titles like Call of Duty, League of Legends, and Counter-Strike. According to a confirmation from an esports journalist on Reddit, paid opportunities from organizations were not highly lucrative in the scene.