The Ultimate List of Sports Management Jobs and Careers

Love sports but aren’t skilled enough for a career as a player? You may wish to remain in the game you love by pursuing a career in sports management. There are numerous jobs in sports management available that allow you to stay connected to the sport you cherish. But what exactly does this entail?

As a professional in sports management, you’ll learn about the business aspects, finance, marketing, and legal issues in the sports world. You may have the opportunity to work in nearly any sport, from the amateur ranks through scholastic levels and the top professional leagues. A career in sports management can be very long and rewarding as the business brings in billions of dollars annually.

Before delving into the numerous career options for those with a sports management degree, one must consider several things. Think about what you want out of a potential employer in terms of management. Consider the size of the company, how well it treats its employees, the potential for career growth, the success rate in the industry, and the pay rate. Be aware that many jobs in sports management are based on commission.

Although the industry is quite competitive, the misconception is that in sports management, there are only positions involving direct contact with athletes or ticket sales. However, this is not the case, and the following list of sports management careers touches on numerous possibilities.

Top Sports Management Jobs from A-Z

What jobs in sports management can you pursue with a degree? In alphabetical order, here are several positions for sports management majors:

• Accounts Manager/Corporate Partnerships
• Athletic Administrator
• Athletic Director
• Business Development
• Financial Management
• Gameday/Event Coordinator
• Legal Services
• Parks and Recreation
• Personnel Management
• Professor of Sports Management
• Public Relations
• Resort Management
• Sports & Health Club Staff
• Sports Agent
• Sports Camp Director
• Sports Content Producer
• Sports Information Director
• Sports Mediator/Arbitrator
• Sports Writer/Blogger
• Ticket Sales
• Tournament Planner
• Youth Sports Coordinator

Jobs You Can Get with A Sports Management Degree

Accounts Manager/Corporate Partnerships

Larger universities and professional sports teams will partner with larger, nationwide, and international corporations to generate revenue streams through sponsorships, advertising, ticket purchases, suite rentals, corporate events, and more. With a sports management degree, you could be uniquely positioned to speak to both worlds.

Average salary: $68,509 per year

Athletic Administrator

An Athletic Administrator oversees some of the most critical parts of a sports club, organization, or team. The position may involve hiring new staff, coaches, and player personnel. You may also oversee sponsorship deals, order new uniforms and equipment, and even acquire practice, game, and event venues.

Average salary: $100,000 per year

Athletic Director

If you are interested in working in the amateur ranks of a scholastic environment, this job may be a good fit. An Athletic Director oversees the athletic department to make sure it’s running without a hitch. Some of the duties include budgeting, travel arrangements, and other daily operations, particularly at the high school level. At the collegiate level, however, more of the Athletic Director’s time is geared toward specific supervisory tasks. If you can work at your alma mater, helping the team succeed is an even more rewarding part of the job.

Average salary: $113,122 per year

Business Development

The development of the sports business is the same as that of any other business, involving sales and earning money to keep it thriving. In a professional business development job, you might oversee creating methods to increase or stabilize a fan base or perform market research. At an amateur level, however, the job may involve building relationships with those who could help support the league.

Average salary: $121,629 per year

Financial Management

For those interested in mathematics and sports, managing finances on the staff may be the right fit. Financial Management involves tracking, reporting, and evaluating the team’s financial activities. Some duties may include adjusting budgets for ticket prices, salaries, and merchandise sales. Perhaps you could oversee revenue and expenses, financial forecasts, or annual budgets, all of which affect the team and organization.

Average salary: $120,469 per year

Gameday/Event Coordinator

A Sports Management degree is beneficial in helping one learn skills needed to plan sporting events, whether at the youth level or the collegiate level.

Average salary: $50,910 per year

Legal Services

Although a law degree will also be needed, working in legal services enables you to represent athletes or organizations.

Average salary: $82,168 per year

Parks and Recreation

Needed throughout the country, parks and recreation departments hire those to teach others the value of sports. If you wish to deal with amateurs who love recreational sports, this opportunity may be a perfect fit.

Average salary: Director: $60,268 per year
Average salary: Supervisor: $42,934 per year
Average salary: Coordinator: $37,025 per year

Personnel Management

Those interested in recruiting to develop a competitive team may be interested in a job in personnel management. Requiring a vast knowledge of a specific sport, the Personnel Director must have strong negotiation skills for recruiting the best talent. Also, a Personnel Manager may oversee the hiring, coaching, support, and training staff.

Average salary: $51,107 per year

Professor of Sports Management

Perhaps you are interested in passing along your knowledge to others. If that is the case, after earning a Sports Management degree, you can go back to the classroom and teach others about Sports Management. An advanced degree is more than likely needed to be a professor, but it’s a viable option for a stable and long Sports Management career.

Average salary: $67,468 per year

Public Relations

To keep customers and the community interested in the team, many public relations techniques are used. Those involved in Public Relations need various skills such as creating website content, public speaking at events, writing press releases, and using social media and digital content as a means of promoting the team.

Average salary: $64,360 per year

Resort Management

Perhaps you want to run a golf club or ski resort. If that’s the case, your degree in Sports Management may get you in the door. This is one avenue that most people don’t consider when working on getting their Sports Management degree.

Average salary: $46,574 per year

Sports & Health Club Staff

If you’re someone who’s a fitness and/or outdoor enthusiast, you could use a Sports Management degree to get a job with your local sports or health club (i.e., your local gym).

Average salary: Personal Trainer: $34,356 per year

Average salary: Club General Manager: $43,402 per year

Average salary: General Manager, Fitness Club: $40,575 per year

Average salary: Fitness Manager: $39,509 per year

Sports Agent

For those wanting direct contact with athletes at the professional level, you may want to be a Sports Agent. In this sports management job, you determine the terms of salaries, performance bonuses, and athlete endorsements. You may also deal with the client’s finances, promotions, public relations appearances, and investments.

Average salary: $59,611 per year

Sports Camp Director

For those who wish to help youth learn the benefits of sports, the Sports Camp Director position could be for you. Sports teach valuable lessons like teamwork and commitment, as well as help participants improve their skills and love of their chosen game. Also, you can help run the operations of sports camps over geographic regions.

Average salary: $39,085 per year

Sports Content Producer

If you happen to be tech-savvy, this could be a unique and highly beneficial way to elevate your career in Sports Management. Teams from high school through the professional level are often looking for people who can create content that the team can use to market their organization, their players, and their upcoming games and events.

Average salary: $54,086 per year

Sports Information Director

Virtually every university and professional sports organization employs a Sports Organization Department, which is effectively a cross between a public relations department and a team library of sorts. Before, during, and after games, members of the Sports Information Department provide the media and public with information like player news, team updates, and a variety of statistics.

Average salary: $36,092 per year

Sports Mediator/Arbitrator

For some students, a sports management degree is the stepping stone to additional education and qualifications. Law school could be the next step, giving you the opportunity to become a Sports Mediator.

Average salary: $50,354 per year

Sports Writer/Blogger

Although being a Sports Writer may not be the first or obvious choice for a Sports Management career, having a degree and a love for writing about sports could make this a lucrative option. If you have a good background in the business of sports and knowledge from a degree in sports management, you could be quite successful. The key is bringing in traffic and generating income from ads and affiliate programs.

Average salary: $35,843 per year

Ticket Sales

While selling tickets might not seem to be the most attractive option, ticket sales are essential in professional sports. Sales help bring in revenue for debts and salaries. How can a sports management degree help? You could sell season ticket packages, fill expensive luxury boxes, and make deals with lucrative sponsors. Ticket sales are a great entry-level job that can lead to increased responsibilities and higher-salaried positions in the future.

Average salary: $30,000 per year

Tournament Planner

Like the events planner on this list, a tournament planner deals with booking facilities for tournaments and oversees marketing. Furthermore, they could supervise athletes interacting with the public and must be adept at public relations as well.

Average salary: $40,224 per year

Youth Sports Coordinator

Maybe you’d like to work with young athletes to learn from your sports management experience. Why not get involved with sports in a way that makes a difference in people’s lives? After studying for your Sports Management degree, you can work for a local community sports club.

Average salary: $40,898 per year

Merchandising Manager

Manages the sale and promotion of sports-related merchandise. This job in sports management includes coordinating with vendors, developing marketing strategies for products, and ensuring that merchandise reflects the brand and appeal of the team or league. Whether it’s jerseys, caps, or other fan gear, the Merchandising Manager plays a vital role in enhancing the fan experience and generating revenue.

Average salary: $86,346

Broadcast Coordinator

In the world of sports, the thrill of the game reaches fans through various media channels. As a Broadcast Coordinator, you’ll work closely with television, radio, and online platforms to ensure the seamless broadcast of games and sports events. From scheduling to technical coordination, this role requires a blend of communication and technical skills to bring the excitement of sports to the audience’s screens.

Average salary: $59,368

Recreation Coordinator

Sports are not just about competition; they’re also about community engagement and enjoyment. As a Recreation Coordinator, you’ll plan and oversee recreational sports programs within communities or organizations. From organizing local leagues to promoting sportsmanship and healthy living, this role enables you to make a positive impact by bringing sports to people of all ages and abilities.

Average salary: $40,719

Licensing Coordinator

The power of sports extends to branding and merchandise. A Licensing Coordinator manages the licensing agreements related to sports branding, logos, and merchandise. This role involves negotiating contracts, ensuring compliance with brand guidelines, and working with various stakeholders to capitalize on the popularity of sports teams and athletes. If you have an eye for detail and a passion for branding, this could be the avenue for you.

Average salary: $41,724

Facility Manager

The stage for every thrilling sports event is the facility or stadium where it takes place. A Facility Manager oversees the maintenance, safety, and operations of sports venues. From ensuring the quality of playing surfaces to coordinating with security and vendors, this job in sports management is pivotal in creating an environment where athletes can perform at their best and fans can enjoy the game in comfort.

Average salary: $102,361

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