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For Educators: Military Resources
For Educators: Military Resources

Athletes and Sports Competitors

Median Salary
70,280
Job Outlook
+11%
In-Demand

Overview

What are the responsibilities of this role?

Compete in athletic events.

What sectors do they work in?

Private for profit

68%

Self-employed

17%

Private not for profit

9%

State and local government

4%

Federal Government

0%

What is the job outlook?

Employment of athletes and sports competitors is projected to grow 11 percent from 2023 to 2033, much faster than the average for all occupations. About 3,400 openings for athletes and sports competitors are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Compensation

What is the typical salary range?

$32,560

10%

$70,280

Median

$204,510

90%

How does location impact how much salary?

Education

What level of education do professionals in this role have?

Education Level

  • Less than high school

    34%

  • Bachelor's degree

    24%

  • High school

    23%

  • Associate's degree

    8%

  • Post-secondary certificate

    5%

  • Some college

    3%

Which college majors best prepare you for this role?

  • Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, General

Skills and Interest

Which skill sets are the most valuable to possess?

Skills

  • Leadership

    High

  • Verbal Skills

    Mid

  • Math and Science Skills

    Mid

  • Technology Design and Control

    Low

  • Equipment Operation and Maintenance

    Mid

  • Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

    Mid

What knowledge should you bring to the table?

  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Personnel and Human Resources
  • Education and Training
  • Sales and Marketing
  • Administration and Management

What challenges will you likely face in the workplace?

Workplace

  • Exposure to Job Hazards

    High

  • Physical Activity

    High

  • Level Of Competition

    High

  • Time Pressure

    Mid

  • Repetitiveness

    Mid

  • Responsibility

    Mid

  • Decision Making

    Mid

What personality traits help people thrive in this role?

Realistic

You love hands-on work and solving practical problems — like fixing things and building stuff.

Enterprising

You love taking risks in business or personal projects — and have the leadership skills to back it up.

Social

You love connecting with people, helping others and making a difference in your community.

RIASEC represents six broad interest areas—Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional—helping individuals identify careers that match their skills and preferences.

Take the RIASEC Test

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Data supplied by Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Center of Education Statistics, Defense Manpower Data Center (View our update schedule). Contact any business, college or military service branch to answer additional questions.