Clowns

Because the job market for clowns is unpredictable, and because of the freelance nature of clowning, there are no set salaries. The U.S. Department of Labor reports that the median hourly wage for entertainers and performers was $20.91 in May 2023.

Clows who work in nightclubs, casinos, or on Broadway can make as much as $10,000 a week, according to the American Guild of Variety Artists. A clown's weekly income can vary widely. A clown may earn $300 one week, $1,000 the next, and nothing the week after that. Part-time salaries can range from $40 to $150 an hour.

PayScale.com reports that the average annual salary for circus clowns was $47,500 in 2024. Earnings ranged from $29,000 to $204,000.

For a child's birthday party, a clown may earn $50 to $500, depending on the length of the party and the performer's popularity. Street performers earn money from passersby, making nothing at all or up to $100 per day.

Rodeo clowns can earn $100 to $500 an event, according to JobMonkey.com. Salaries for rodeo clowns ranged from $59,032 to $68,720 in 2024, according to Salary.com.

Unless employed by a circus, clowns usually pay their own expenses, insurance, and taxes, and have no paid vacations or retirement benefits. Most self-employed clowns hold other full-time or part-time jobs. Many are amateurs who perform part-time and only for the enjoyment of it.