Base Salary and Weekly Pay Structure
Most PGA Tour caddies receive a base salary that typically ranges from $1,000 to $2,000 per tournament week, with higher figures for top players. This weekly base is separate from tournament winnings and is often negotiated before the season starts source. In 2025, the standard base for a caddy on a marquee player usually sits between $1,500 and $2,500 per event, covering travel and tournament-week expenses.
Lower-ranked players or those competing in early rounds of qualifying events may pay their caddies a flat weekly rate closer to $500 to $1,000. Caddies on the Korn Ferry Tour or smaller events often earn even less, relying heavily on bonuses if the player makes cuts and advances. The base structure remains the foundation of caddy compensation across the PGA Tour, with win bonuses layered on top.
Bonuses and Winnings Percentage
Caddies typically earn between 5% and 10% of a player's tournament winnings, with the exact percentage depending on the player's stature and the caddy's experience. A standard split for a top player and a long-time caddy is often 7% of the purse, while newer caddy-player pairs may start at 5% source. A major championship win can therefore generate a six-figure bonus for the caddy alone.
In 2025, a caddy whose player wins a regular PGA Tour event worth a $2 million purse at the standard 7% split earns $140,000 from that single victory. A major win with a $20 million purse at the same split yields $1.4 million for the caddy. These bonuses are the primary driver of high earnings for caddies paired with consistent winners.
Top Earners and Notable Contracts
The highest-paid caddies on the PGA Tour in 2025 include those paired with top-10 world ranked players such as Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, and Jon Rahm. Joe LaCava, long-time caddy of Scottie Scheffler, is widely reported to be among the highest earners, with total annual compensation likely exceeding $1 million in strong seasons source. Other top caddies such as Andrew "Chubbs" Davis and Ted Scott earn similar multi-six-figure totals when their players contend regularly.
Total annual earnings for a PGA Tour caddy in 2025 can range from roughly $100,000 for those on modest salaries with occasional bonuses to well over $1 million for caddies of regular winners. Caddies who switch to rising stars or negotiate profit-sharing deals early can see their income spike after a major breakthrough. The PGA Tour's official caddy compensation data is not publicly disclosed, but player and caddy interviews, combined with agent reports, provide the clearest picture of current pay levels source.