Ever watch a pro golfer drain a putt to win a tournament and see them go straight to their caddie for a hug? It's a powerful moment, but it often leads to a practical question: what does a pro golf caddy make for that win? The answer is a lot more than just a typical weekly salary. This article will break down exactly how professional caddies get paid, from their base retainers to the massive bonuses that can turn a good year into a life-changing one.
Unlike a regular 9-to-5 job, a professional tour caddie's income isn't a fixed annual salary. It's a combination of a guaranteed "base" income and a percentage of their player's winnings. This performance-based model means their potential earnings can swing wildly from week to week and year to year. A caddie's take-home pay is built on two main pillars: a weekly retainer and a bonus structure.
This system aligns the caddie’s financial success directly with their player’s performance. When a player does well, the caddie does well. Let’s look at exactly how these components work together.
Every week a caddie works for their player, they receive a base salary, often called a retainer. This is their guaranteed pay for the week, whether the player makes the cut, misses the cut, or finishes last.
So, how much is the base salary?
On the PGA Tour, a typical weekly retainer for an established caddie ranges from $2,000 to $4,000 per week. This isn't just pocket money, it's designed to cover all of the caddie's expenses for that tournament week. Those expenses add up quickly and include:
Think about it: the PGA Tour travels all over North America and occasionally internationally. A caddie for a full-time player might be on the road for 25-30 weeks a year. If a player misses several cuts in a row, the caddie is still out there, spending money on travel and lodging just to be there. The retainer ensures they don't go into debt just for showing up to work. For newer caddies or those on developmental tours like the Korn Ferry Tour, this retainer might be smaller and the financial pressure much higher.
The weekly retainer keeps the lights on, but the performance bonuses are what separate a decent living from a spectacular one. Caddies earn a percentage of their player’s prize money, and this is where that seven-figure income potential comes from. The bonus structure is fairly standardized across the tour, though it can be negotiated between a player and their caddie.
The generally accepted "rule of thumb" for caddie bonuses is as follows:
There is typically no bonus if the player misses the cut, as the player earns $0 in prize money.
To really understand the impact of these bonuses, let's look at a real tournament. The 2024 Masters had a total prize purse of $20 million.
As you can see, one good week can dramatically change a caddie's annual income. For caddies working with the world's best players, these bonuses add up to mind-boggling amounts.
Caddies for top-5 players in the world are the highest earners in the profession. Let's stick with Ted Scott, caddie for Scottie Scheffler. In the 2022-2023 season, Scheffler earned over $21 million in on-course winnings. Based on the standard bonus structure, Scott's estimated bonus earnings would be in the neighborhood of $1.5 to $2 million.
Add in his base salary for around 25 events (roughly $75,000), and you’re looking at an annual income that rivals that of a CEO. Caddies like Joe LaCava (famously with Tiger Woods, now with Patrick Cantlay) and Ricky Elliott (Brooks Koepka) consistently operate in this upper echelon.
Not every player is Scottie Scheffler. What about a caddie for a very good, but not superstar, player? A player who consistently finishes in the top 50 of the money list, makes most of their cuts, and grabs a handful of top-10s a year might earn around $3-$5 million in a season.
A caddie for this type of player could realistically earn:
This is an excellent living by any standard, rewarding the hard work and consistency required to stick on the PGA Tour.
On the other end of the spectrum are the caddies for players who are struggling to keep their tour card. If a player frequently misses cuts, the caddie's income is almost entirely their weekly retainer. If they work 25 weeks, their income might only be $50,000 - $75,000 - from which they have to pay all their own travel and living expenses. This is the grind. In these situations, the bond and belief between a player and caddie are tested, and financial stress can become a major factor.
Thinking about these numbers, it's easy to wonder why caddies get paid so much. The reason is they do far more than just carry the bag and rake bunkers. An elite caddie is a vital part of a player's performance.
They are:
The income of a professional golf caddie is directly tied to performance, blending a foundational weekly salary with game-changing bonuses. While the loopers for top players can earn life-altering sums exceeding a million dollars a year, the job is a high-stakes, high-pressure grind for everyone involved.
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