15 Jobs for People Who Love Sports
If you have a passion for sports, pursuing a job in the sports industry can lead to a rewarding and lucrative career. It’s not necessary to have athletic abilities in order to pursue a career in sports. Depending on your skills and ambitions, you can consider a wide range of sports jobs. Learning about potential salaries in this field can help you set your career goals and give you something to work towards.
In this article, we’ll discuss the highest-paying sports careers to help you find the right job for you.
15 of the well-paying sports jobs
When you work in athletics, you can become anything from a professional athlete or coach to a reporter or physician. Here are 15 sports careers that pay above $30,000 annually:
1. Sports editor
National average salary: $30,800 per year
Primary duties: Sports editors are journalists who focus on sports news. They work for newspapers, magazines or websites, where they write about teams, athletes and leagues. These journalists perform extensive research, interview players and coaches and write both news and opinion articles. Some sports editors write about a wide range of athletic events, while others focus on a single sport.
Educational requirements: While not always required, a degree in journalism from a four-year college can help you be more competitive in the field.
Related: How To Become a Sportswriter
2. Baseball coach
National average salary: $20.45 per hour
Primary duties: Baseball coaches are responsible for motivating their teams to perform their best. They oversee practice sessions, ensure that players develop key skills and monitor players’ progress for any areas of potential improvement. They also strategize and determine who will play in upcoming games. Baseball coaches may work for teams that range from high school to Major League Baseball.
Educational requirements: Coaches come from varied educational backgrounds, but typically require a degree from a four-year college or higher in sports science, physical education or athletic coaching.
Related: How to Become a Coach
3. Basketball coach
National average salary: $21.38 per hour
Primary duties: Basketball coaches oversee team practice sessions and games. They monitor players’ workout routines, track their progress and advise them about skills that need improvement. These professionals are also responsible for helping players set goals, keeping them motivated and ensuring that teams give the best possible performance in every game. Basketball coaches can work for high school, college or professional teams.
Educational requirements: Coaches come from varied educational backgrounds, but typically require a degree from a four-year college or higher in sports science, physical education or athletic coaching.
Read more: How To Become a Sports Coach
4. Personal trainer
National average salary: $21.43 per hour
Primary duties: Personal trainers guide athletes through workouts and training regimens. These professionals talk with athletes and coaches to determine their fitness goals then develop exercise routines to help athletes build muscle, increase strength or improve stamina. They may also discuss health and nutrition with athletes. Personal trainers may work for teams or individual athletes.
Educational requirements: Personal trainers often need a high school diploma to work in the field. Having an associate or bachelor’s degree in exercise science, kinesiology or physical education can help you advance in the field.
Related: Learn About Being a Personal Trainer
5. Sports reporter
National average salary: $45,200 per year
Primary duties: Sports reporters, or sports broadcasters, discuss athletes, teams, leagues and events on news outlets like television and radio networks. They use their high-level sports knowledge to provide commentary, analyze performance and predict the outcomes of upcoming games or seasons. Many sports reporters strive to create personas for themselves and develop followings so their expertise stays in demand.
Educational requirements: Sports reporters typically need a minimum of a bachelor’s degree. However, larger newspapers and broadcasters may require a master’s degree in a field such as journalism. Students may want to also pursue classes related to sports to gain additional knowledge and be a more effective reporter.
