8 Jobs in Sports (+ Tips for Career Success)

Key takeaways

Sports careers are open to professionals of all types, not only athletes.

• The median total pay for a sports data analyst is $93,000 [1].

• You can pursue many different kinds of careers, such as coaches, physical therapists, agents, psychologists, and marketing managers. 

• You can begin a career in sports by earning a bachelor's degree in a related field, finding an internship, and volunteering for sports-related activities. 

Explore some of the jobs available in sports, their salaries, job outlook, and some tips on finding a career in sports. If you’re ready to start building skills in coaching, try the Goodwill® Career Coach and Navigator Professional Certificate to learn about the strategies, theories, and models in guiding clients in their careers. 

8 jobs in sports to consider if you love sports 

You can get a job in the sports industry and dedicate your professional life to your passion, regardless of your athletic skills. From agents who ensure athletes get the best possible contracts to nutritionists who keep the team healthy and well-fed, you can find many professional options depending on your specific interests and background.

All salary information represents the median total pay from Glassdoor as of April 2026. These figures include both base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other forms of compensation.

1. Sports data analyst

• Median pay: $93,000 [1]

• Growth outlook: 34 percent (much faster than average) [2]

• Core skills needed: Coding (Python, R), data visualization (Tableau, Power BI), data analysis, statistics, sports knowledge

The role: As a sports data analyst, you'll keep track of data for a specific team, league, or athlete. You might use this data for entertainment purposes, such as compiling information for a program for fans or providing information for the team's announcers to use on the TV or radio. You might also use it to inform decisions like whether or not a team should trade for a particular player.

How to get started: Earn a bachelor’s degree; develop knowledge of programming and visualization tools; increase sports knowledge and experience

2. Coach

• Median pay: $74,000 [3]

• Growth outlook: 6 percent (much faster than average) [4]

• Core skills needed: Experience in the sport you’re coaching; leadership and communication skills

The role: As a coach, you'll teach athletes to improve at their sport. You'll plan and conduct practices, strategize for upcoming games and matches, and might recruit players for your team. You'll need good leadership and communication skills, and may need to be okay with being in the public eye, especially if you coach at the collegiate or professional level. 

How to get started: You may need a bachelor's degree based on the job and athletic level, but experience playing or coaching a specific sport can also help you land a job.

3. Physiotherapist/Physical therapist

• Median pay: $117,000 [5]

• Growth outlook: 11 percent (much faster than average [6]

• Core skills needed: Clinical knowledge, interpersonal skills, compassion, communication

The role: In this role, you'll help athletes manage and improve injuries and health conditions that may impact their ability to play their sport. You might have your patients perform specific exercises, massage your patients, encourage lifestyle changes, manipulate the joints, or use stimulation devices.

How to get started: You’ll likely need a bachelor's degree in health sciences or a related field, a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree, state licensure, residency completion, and certification in your state.

4. Sports marketing manager

• Median pay: $107,000 [7]

• Growth outlook: 6 percent (faster than average) [8]

• Core skills needed: Analytical thinking, communication, creativity, and negotiation skills

The role: Sports marketing managers promote brands, teams, athletes, and leagues to raise awareness and increase sales. You might work for a company that sells athletic gear, or you might work for a team and help sell tickets and merchandise, or generate interest in that team and its players. You might also plan promotional events or create print and digital marketing campaigns.

How to get started: To become a sports marketing manager, you’ll need a bachelor's degree in marketing, advertising, business, public relations, or a similar field.

5. Psychologist

• Median pay: $146,000 [9] 

• Growth outlook: 6 percent (faster than average) [10]

• Core skills needed: patience, confidentiality, empathy, listening, and motivational skills

The role: As a sports psychologist, you'll help athletes overcome mental issues that may impact their ability to play their sport. That might range from helping someone overcome performance anxiety to supporting an athlete in overcoming the psychological effects of an injury to handling conflict resolution among teammates. You'll typically do this through counseling, exercises, and general lifestyle advice.

How to get started: To become a psychologist, you’ll need a master's or doctorate in clinical, counseling, or sports psychology. You may also need board certification or state licensure if you want to become a clinical or counseling psychologist.

6. Sports agent

• Median pay: $122,000 [11]

• Growth outlook: 6 percent (faster than average) [4]

• Core skills needed: tenacity, passion, communication, organization, and sales skills

The role: Becoming a sports agent means managing a professional athlete's business and legal affairs. You'll negotiate contracts, help them find sponsorships, and oversee public relations, marketing, and finances. You might also travel to high schools and colleges to meet with and recruit young athletes with bright futures. 

How to get started: To become a sports agent, a bachelor's degree in sports management or another field can be helpful. A master’s degree, law degree, or experience working in law can be beneficial. Some states require a license.

7. Event manager

• Median pay:  $88,000 [12]

• Growth outlook: 5 percent (faster than average) [13]

• Core skills needed: strong knowledge of the sport you want to work in and other human skills, like communication, networking, negotiation, and logistics

The role: As a sports event manager, you'll plan and organize sports-related events and handle any challenges or problems that arise before or during the event. You could plan sporting events like games, matches, marathons, and meets, or you might plan related activities like awards ceremonies, fan activities, all-star games, and more. Some sports events manager duties might include reviewing proposals and negotiating contracts with vendors and venues, hiring and training staff, and working with the marketing team to promote various events.

How to get started: To become an event manager, you will likely need a bachelor’s degree in marketing, hospitality, sports administration, event planning, public relations, or a similar subject, entry-level experience, and should be prepared to work irregular hours and spend plenty of time traveling for work.

8. Nutritionist

• Median pay: $88,000 [14]

• Growth outlook: 6 percent (faster than average) [15]

• Core skills needed: knowledge of the latest scientific findings around nutrition, biology and food science; organization, teamwork, communication, and attention to detail

The role: Sports nutritionists help keep teams and athletes healthy through diet and lifestyle choices. You might offer general nutrition tips, help an athlete reach a body weight goal, or aid someone recovering from an injury. You'll work with an athlete and the rest of their health care team to devise a plan for optimal health. Once you create a plan for a specific athlete or team, you'll monitor their progress to ensure they reach their ultimate goal.

How to get started: You’ll need a bachelor's degree in nutrition, kinesiology, or exercise science. A related advanced degree or certification like the Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics (CSSD) or becoming a registered dietitian with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics may help you stand out among other candidates.

What's the highest-paying job in sports?

After gaining experience, one of the highest-paid roles in sports is that of a sports executive who makes a median annual total pay of $187,000 [16]. This figure includes base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation. Sports executives work in varying capacities depending on the league they work in. Generally, they oversee league or team operations, manage player rosters, oversee finances, and garner sponsorship deals. 

How to get a job in sports

Jobs in sports can be exciting and rewarding, but they can also be challenging to find. You can earn a degree, but in many cases, you'll need to find a way to set yourself apart from other job candidates. The following offers a look at some ways you can do that:

Network

Networking can be a helpful way to learn about opportunities and build relationships within the industry. Reach out to people who work in the sports industry on social media or professional networks. Attend events that allow you to get to know the people hiring for specific leagues, teams, and athletes.

Read more: 9 Networking Tips to Expand and Strengthen Your Network

Get an internship

Internships aren't just a great way to gain experience; they also help you meet people and sometimes lead to paying entry-level jobs.To become a sports journalist, you might look for an internship with a local TV or radio station. Even if you don't land a job with the organization you interned with, it'll add valuable experience to your resume.

Gain some entry-level work experience

Your ultimate goal may be becoming an events manager, but it’s rare to get this job right out of school. If you want to work for a Major League Baseball team, many people work up to this by starting with small college or minor league teams. You'll need to gain some entry-level work experience and build the industry-specific knowledge required to succeed in more senior roles.

Participate in sports-related activities and add them to your resume

No matter your job in the sports industry, you'll need to know about sports.  A physical therapist must understand how an athlete moves during a game. A marketing manager needs to know who their team's fans are and why they cheer for them. A sports agent must understand why a particular athlete is a good fit for various teams and sponsorships.

While working toward your sports career, do as much as you can to learn about that sport. Read, listen to podcasts, start a blog, coach a youth league or become a referee. Play the sport in high school or college if you can. Add any experience you have with the specific sport to your resume.

Develop the human skills needed for sports jobs.

Technical skills, knowledge of the sport, and a degree are all great resources for getting a job in the sports industry, but no matter which you choose, you'll also need a specific set of human skills. Find out which ones you'll need for your field and focus on perfecting them. For example, a sports marketing manager must be creative. As a sports event manager, you must be organized and flexible.

Consider earning a certification or a master's degree. 

Earning a master's degree or additional certification may not always be necessary to get jobs in sports. However, it can help you stand out from other candidates and provide credentials on your resume.

Explore our free resources for sports management professionals

Subscribe to our Career Chat newsletter to explore industry insights, career path tips, and networking opportunities. Then, explore our free resources for sports management professionals:

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