game on
athletic jobs
Top 10 Sports Careers
Many people—kids and adults alike—dream of being a professional athlete and earning
those impressive wages for doing something they love. However, the physical demands
of professional athleticism are intense, and the athletes that make it pro are few and far
between. If you’ve got the passion AND the skill to make it pro, great! If not, don’t lose
hope—there are plenty of careers that allow you to put your athletic passion to use and
make money! Here are just a few of them:
SPORTS AGENT
Sports agents represent the interests of
talent in the sports industry. They analyze data
to prepare presentations, negotiate contracts, advise
clients about opportunities for endorsements, and
pitch the services of their clients to prospective
employers. Many sports agents also help clients to
manage their finances.
Average Salary: $59,829
Have you ever watched a sporting event
on TV and thought “I can do better than those
announcers”? If you think you can, it may be possible
to break into the field of sports broadcasting, but it’s an
admittedly tough process.
Average Salary: $41,800-$75,754
Education Requirements: A bachelor’s degree in
Education Requirements: A law degree often is the either broadcasting or communications. You’ll have
to work your way up the ladder, working your way up
from local media to the regional or national scene.
SPORTS MARKETER UMPIRE/REFEREE
best path to a career as a sports agent because contract
negotiations are such an important aspect of the job.
A marketer promotes teams, leagues,
players, stadiums, media outlets, and other
products and services related to sports. They analyze
markets and develop strategies, as well as negotiate
agreements to set prices and terms for products,
services, endorsements, and advertisements.
Average Salary: $57,420-$127,390
Education Requirements: A traditional Master of
Business Administration is the favored degree by ex-
ecutives in pro and college sports when hiring a senior
executive.
18
SPORTS BROADCASTER
| Summer 2020
Umpires and referees must study the rules
of their sports and apply them instantly to
game situations. Officials in basketball and hockey
must maintain excellent physical fitness to keep up.
Average Salary: $40,320
Education Requirements: A high school diploma
and a significant amount of time playing in the sport
you plan to referee in. However, attention to detail and
the rulebook – mixed with a healthy sense of fairness—
is really the best resume.
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