Not everyone in Formula 1 takes home Hamilton or Verstappen money — but without the pit crew, those stars aren’t winning anything. The men and women in black overalls who change four wheels in under two seconds earn solid salaries, though the range depends heavily on role and experience.
Typical salaries (per year)
- Crew Chief — $120k–150k
- Tire Changers / Wheel Gun Operators — $60k–80k
- Jack Operators — $70k–90k
- Fuelers, Support Staff, Garage Techs — $40k–70k
- Data & Race Engineers (not pit crew, but trackside team) — often $150k–300k+
Bonuses & perks
- Race win and championship bonuses can add tens of thousands per season.
- Travel is fully covered — flights, hotels, meals.
- Access to the world of F1 means many go on to higher-paying engineering or technical roles.
The drivertalk take
Pit crew members aren’t millionaires, but they are well-compensated professionals in motorsport’s top league. The best of them perform under pressure in front of millions of viewers, knowing a single fumbled nut can kill a driver’s race. In other words: they don’t make Verstappen money, but they sure as hell earn every cent.
