Athletes and sports competitors salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $26,500 | Data unavailable |
| Median (50th percentile) | $66,710 | Data unavailable |
| Mean (average) | $206,180 | Data unavailable |
| 90th percentile | $742,310 | Data unavailable |
BLS publishes only annual wages for this occupation because workers are typically paid on an annual basis rather than hourly.
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Athletes and sports competitors pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 29 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Data unavailable | 330 | 1.61 | ||
| Arizona | $50,090 | $31,290 | $286,690 | 940 | 2.98 |
| California | $79,040 | $40,120 | 830 | 0.47 | |
| Colorado | Data unavailable | 340 | 1.21 | ||
| Connecticut | Data unavailable | 50 | 0.29 | ||
| Florida | $78,610 | $59,910 | $109,910 | 1,360 | 1.41 |
| Georgia | $77,530 | $21,920 | $766,920 | 840 | 1.77 |
| Illinois | Data unavailable | 310 | 0.53 | ||
| Indiana | Data unavailable | 390 | 1.27 | ||
| Kansas | $63,630 | $30,180 | $94,160 | 170 | 1.23 |
| Kentucky | $63,020 | $39,290 | $137,370 | ||
| Louisiana | $55,890 | $23,920 | $128,320 | 440 | 2.34 |
| Maine | Data unavailable | 110 | 1.78 | ||
| Maryland | $48,200 | $40,460 | $130,910 | ||
| Missouri | $172,700 | $44,340 | 670 | 2.37 | |
| Nevada | $119,780 | $40,940 | $149,590 | 160 | 1.09 |
| New Jersey | $253,870 | $46,300 | $324,310 | 390 | 0.93 |
| New York | Data unavailable | 350 | 0.37 | ||
| North Carolina | Data unavailable | 760 | 1.58 | ||
| North Dakota | Data unavailable | 70 | 1.68 | ||
| Ohio | $39,040 | $24,160 | $132,660 | 590 | 1.09 |
| Oklahoma | $44,110 | $28,920 | $44,420 | ||
| Pennsylvania | $57,100 | $23,220 | $165,890 | 250 | 0.43 |
| Rhode Island | Data unavailable | 50 | 0.94 | ||
| South Carolina | $45,720 | $18,950 | $70,910 | 280 | 1.28 |
| Tennessee | Data unavailable | 640 | 2 | ||
| Texas | $80,510 | $25,340 | $878,190 | 1,840 | 1.35 |
| Utah | $122,800 | $30,450 | $708,320 | 340 | 2 |
| Virginia | $61,500 | $56,130 | $67,140 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for athletes and sports competitors
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 2,200. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 29%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for athletes and sports competitors
- Typical entry education
- No formal educational credential
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Long-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Assess performance following athletic competition, identifying strengths and weaknesses and making adjustments to improve future performance.
- Maintain equipment used in a particular sport.
- Attend scheduled practice or training sessions.
- Maintain optimum physical fitness levels by training regularly, following nutrition plans, or consulting with health professionals.
- Participate in athletic events or competitive sports, according to established rules and regulations.
- Exercise or practice under the direction of athletic trainers or professional coaches to develop skills, improve physical condition, or prepare for competitions.
- Receive instructions from coaches or other sports staff prior to events and discuss performance afterwards.
- Represent teams or professional sports clubs, performing such activities as meeting with members of the media, making speeches, or participating in charity events.
Technology skills
- Adobe Photoshop (hot technology)
- Facebook (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Oracle PeopleSoft (hot technology)
- Email software
- Motion analysis software
- Web browser software
- YouTube
Transferable skills for career changers: Coordination, Judgment and Decision Making, Social Perceptiveness, Persuasion, Instructing, Complex Problem Solving.
Common job titles: Baseball Pitcher, Baseball Player, Basketball Player, Golf Professional, Hockey Player, Major League Baseball Player, Minor League Baseball Player, Professional Athlete, Professional Golf Tournament Player, Race Car Driver.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do athletes and sports competitors make?
The national median annual wage for athletes and sports competitors was $66,710 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $26,500 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $742,310. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do athletes and sports competitors need?
BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and long-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is athletes and sports competitors a growing career?
BLS projects employment of athletes and sports competitors to change +5.5% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 2,200 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay athletes and sports competitors the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were New Jersey ($253,870), Missouri ($172,700), Utah ($122,800). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.