Sports

If you’re passionate about sports and you want to turn this passion into a lucrative career, there are several career paths you can choose.

On this page, we will compile information about salary, job prospects, and educational requirements for some of the most in-demand sports careers.

How to Become an Athletic Trainer

Athletic Trainers are experienced professionals who work in preventing, treating and diagnosing a variety of bone or muscle injuries or…

How to Become a Baseball Agent

A baseball agent is a sports agent who specializes in promoting the interests and careers of professional baseball players. If…

How to Become a Basketball Agent

If you’re passionate about basketball and have great communication and sales skills then you might like to become a basketball…

How to Become a Football Agent

If you are passionate about sports and NFL, are a good communicator, and have great sales skills, then you might…

How to Become a Pit Crew Member

A Pit Crew Member is part of a group of specialists that makes sure a race car is working in…

How to Become a Racecar Driver

Racecar Drivers are professionals who use their skills, talents and love of excitement in order to enter racing competitions. Racecar…

How to Become a Ski Instructor

Are you interested in becoming a ski instructor? If you want to teach skiing, you have to be steady on…

How to Become a Snowboard Instructor

Snowboard Instructors are fitness instructors who are specialized in teaching individuals how to snowboard. These individuals are specially trained in…

How to Become a Soccer Agent

A passion for soccer and sports is one of the first steps to becoming a Sports Agent. These professionals use…

How to Become a Sports Agent

A sports agent represents the interests of an athlete, helping them to attain sponsorship, compete in events, and make the…

How to Become a Sports Coach

Sports Coaches train and advise athletes who play in many different levels of their respective sports. A Sports Coach is…

How to Become a Sports Commentator

If you love sports and have excellent verbal communication skills then you might like to become a sports commentator. Sports…

How to Become a Sports Medicine Technician

A career in Sports Medicine may be perfect for individuals who have a passion for sports, medicine and health. Sports…

How to Become a Sports Recruiter

When you become a sports recruiter, your role is to find the best up and coming sports talent. Sports recruiters…

Job Environment

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 249,900 coaches and scouts in the United States in 2020, most of them working for colleges, universities, schools, or in the field of arts, entertainment, and recreation.

Scouts who work in colleges are usually employed by scouting organizations or are self-employed

Scouts at the professional level are typically employed by the team directly.

Athletic trainers held approximately 30,000 jobs, most working in the field of educational services or hospitals.

In 2020 there were approximately 16,700 athletes and sports competitors in the United States, according to the BLS.

A significant part of them (more than 40%) were self-employed.

Approximately 36 percent of all athletes were employed in the spectator sports field.

A career in sports may involve spending a lot of time outdoors on sports fields, sometimes in cold weather.

Most athletes, coaches, and scouts have to travel often, especially if they work in professional sports.

Athletes and sports competitors have a high injury rate, and they are required to wear protective equipment to avoid injuries.

Job descriptions for sports-related professions vary widely depending on the positions and the employer.

Coaches are usually responsible for:

• Planning, organizing, and conducting practice sessions
• Analyzing team members and the opposing teams to spot weaknesses and strengths
• Planning the strategy and choosing the team members for each game
• Deciding on a strategy and player substitution during the game
• Communicating and motivating the team members
• Identifying and recruiting new team members
• Keeping records about the team’s performance

Scouts are the ones who:

• Find athletes that are worth considering for a specific team
• Attend games, watch videotapes, and study statistics that are relevant for each prospective player
• Talk to athletes and their coaches
• Report to the team for which they are scouting
• Offer incentives to prospective players

Athletes, sports competitors, and their coaches typically work irregular hours, and during the sports season, they may work more than 40 hours per week for practice, training, and competition.

Education Requirement

Some sports professions have no education requirements, but others require a bachelor’s or master’s degree.

There are no formal education requirements for those who want to become athletes or sports competitors.

Athletes need talent and extensive knowledge in their sport, skills developed through years of training and experience.

Athletes may need a license to be allowed to practice specific sports or in specific localities.

For example, race car drivers need to be licensed before competing in races.

Athletes may have their license suspended if they misbehave.

The biggest dream for most athletes is turning professional.

In baseball, for example, athletes begin their professional careers in a minor league before advancing to major leagues.

Athletic trainers typically need at least a bachelor’s degree, and nearly all states require that they hold a license or certification.

Master’s degree programs are also common among athletic trainers.

Degree programs for athletic trainers usually combine classroom and clinical training and cover science and health-related topics as well as biology, anatomy, and nutrition.

A standard certification examination is offered by the Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer (BOC) and this is what most states use as a standard test.

Certification requirements for athletic trainers include:

• Graduating from a CAATE-accredited program
• Passing the BOC exam

To maintain their license, athletic trainers need to adhere to professional standards and take continuing education classes.

Those who want to become athletic trainers can start preparing in high school by taking classes in anatomy, physiology, and physics.

Coaches and scouts usually need a bachelor’s degree and extensive experience and knowledge in the sport in which they specialize.

Some coaches study kinesiology, sports medicine, or physical education, while scouts sometimes major in marketing or sports management.

Coaches who want to work for a state high school need to be certified, or they are required to complete mandatory education courses.

Scouts need to have a passion for sports and the ability to spot young talents, but not all employers require scouts to have experience playing sports.

Certification requirements for high school coaches usually include:

• Being at least 18 years of age
• Having CPR and first aid training
• Some states also require that coaches complete classes in sports safety and coaching fundamentals.

Certification may not be required for coaching positions in private schools.

Besides formal education, several personal skills will make you a better sports professional.

Athleticism is required, especially for those who begin their careers as athletes or sports competitors.

Concentration is needed for coaches, scouts, athletes, and all other sports careers that involve analyzing or participating in a game.

Decision-making skills are important for athletes and coaches because they need to make quick decisions before and during the game.

Athletes and sports competitors also need stamina because they have to participate in competitions that sometimes last several hours.

All athletes need teamwork skills, especially those who practice team sports.

Communication skills are required for all coaches as they have to keep the team motivated and make sure that each member of the team is in the right mindset.

They also have to communicate the strategy to team members so that every athlete understands their role.

Business skills are also required for sports professionals who are self-employed.

Salary Information

Salaries in the sports field are usually higher than the median national wage across all industries, but earnings vary widely depending on the place of employment, reputation, region, and many other factors.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for athletes and sports competitors was $50,850.

Athletes who turn professional can advance in their careers by becoming better players, and their earnings can increase gradually.

Some may receive endorsements from companies and brands, which can raise their earnings significantly.

The lowest 10 percent of all athletes and sports reportedly made less than $20,270, while the top 10 percent made more than $208,000.

Athletic trainers were remunerated with $49,860 per year, on average, but wages ranged from less than $32,980 to more than $75,810.

The median annual wage for scouts and coaches was lower than the median reported for athletes or trainers.

It was calculated at $36,330, with salaries ranging between less than $19,340 and more than $81,940 per year.

Salaries for scouts and coaches are influenced by the industry of employment and, usually, those who work for colleges or universities earn more than those who work in other fields.

The median annual wage reported by scouts and coaches who worked for colleges, universities, and professional schools was $47,020, while those who worked for elementary and secondary schools made $31,450.

This category also includes sports agents, a profession grouped by BLS with agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes.

The median annual wage for workers in these professions was $75,420- higher than the median reported for other sports professions.

Sports agents can make less than $40,000 at the beginning of their career, but those who have experience can make more than $190,000.

For each of the above careers, salaries also vary depending on the industry of employment and the region.

For example, the median annual wage for athletic trainers who worked in educational services was $54,140, while those who worked in physical therapist offices made $46,410, on average.

One of the highest-paying states for agents and business managers in 2020 was North Carolina, with a median annual wage of $117,880.

On the other hand, agents who worked in Louisiana earned less than $50,000 per year, on average.

Job Outlook

Most sports jobs will grow in the next decade, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic and the recession come to an end.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for athletes and sports competitors in the United States will reportedly grow 38 percent from 2020 to 2030; much of this growth stems from population growth, increased interest in sports, and the recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic.

New job openings will also occur for scouts and coaches- a profession that will grow 26 percent over the decade.

Participation in college sports will increase over the decade, and colleges need to attract the best athletes to remain competitive.

Having a successful sports team helps colleges enhance their reputation, which, in turn, helps them recruit new students and raise funds.

Employment for athletic trainers will grow 23 percent, with approximately 3,100 new job openings estimated for each year over the decade.

Insurance companies in some states may consider athletic trainers healthcare providers and reimburse the cost of their services.

In these states, there may be additional employment opportunities for licensed athletic trainers.

Some states require public secondary schools to employ athletic trainers as part of their sports program because they can respond first when injuries occur; this requirement will lead to additional job opportunities.