Well amateurs never get paid, which is what makes them amateurs.
There are a lot of amateur level competitions all over the USA. You can find them on a wide variety of websites. There are big ones in Idaho and in Las Vegas. Some are smokers or tournaments, others, like Tuff n Uff, have near pro level production values.
If you want to compete, your best best is to join an active camp that attends a few of these events. And good luck, they can be very tough.