Compensation
Median Pay
$66,710
National median annual wage for this occupation.
National Career Overview
Athletes and sports competitors
Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
National Median Pay
$66,710
Projected Growth
5.5%
Annual Openings
2,100
Career outlook
National Snapshot
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National
Employment
19,100
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Outlook
Projected Growth
5.5%
Projected employment change through 2034.
Opportunity
Annual Openings
2,100
Estimated openings created each year.
Pathway
Preparation
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
STEP 1
Education
No formal educational credential
STEP 2
Experience
None
STEP 3
Training
Long-term on-the-job training
Top Skills for Success
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Physical strength & stamina
98 / 100
98%
Leadership
74 / 100
74%
Speaking & listening
72 / 100
72%
Adaptability
66 / 100
66%
Customer service
62 / 100
62%
Interpersonal
59 / 100
59%
Project management
59 / 100
59%
Science
56 / 100
56%
Mechanical
54 / 100
54%
Creativity & innovation
52 / 100
52%
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Location Intelligence
Best Places for This Career
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
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Best Metro Areas
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
- Top-paying cities
- Fast-growing markets
- Local opportunity rankings
CAREERGPS INSIGHTS
Career Analysis for Athletes and Sports Competitors
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Is Athletes and sports competitors a Good Career?
Athletes and sports competitors focus on high-level physical performance, combining physical strength and stamina with strong interpersonal and communication skills. Nationally, this occupation employs about 19,000 people, with a median annual salary of $62,360. Projected employment growth of 5.5% and 2,000 annual openings indicate ongoing movement in and out of the field, giving both new entrants and career changers a pathway to compete for roles. Success in this career draws on leadership, speaking and listening, adaptability, and customer service, reflecting the need to interact effectively with coaches, teammates, and audiences. Creativity and innovation, along with skills in project management, science, and mechanical areas, can help athletes manage training, performance, and equipment-related aspects of their work. With no formal educational credential typically required, this path is accessible to motivated individuals who can develop the physical abilities and broad skill set needed to compete and sustain a career in sports at a professional level.
Athletes and Sports Competitors Salary
Athletes and sports competitors earn a national median annual salary of $62,360, but pay can vary significantly by location. Among the top states, New Jersey shows a notably high median salary of $253,870, while Utah’s median salary is $122,800 and California’s is $79,040. Texas offers a median of $80,510, and Pennsylvania’s median salary is $57,100. At the metro level, the New York-Newark-Jersey City area stands out with a median salary of $100,130. Other metros show a wide range, from $24,890 in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington to $75,550 in Houston and $50,070 in Phoenix. This variation suggests that geographic choice can have a major impact on earnings. For those able to target higher-paying states and metros, the earning potential in this field can be substantially higher than the national median, though opportunities are more limited in some locations than others.
Job Outlook for Athletes and Sports Competitors
Athletes and sports competitors have national employment of about 19,000, with projected growth of 5.5%. This same 5.5% growth rate appears across the highlighted states and metro areas, suggesting a broadly consistent outlook in the locations listed. Nationally, there are about 2,000 annual openings, which reflects both new positions and replacement needs as people leave or move within the occupation. For someone planning a career in this field, these numbers indicate an ongoing flow of opportunities rather than a static job market. Employment levels differ by location, with some states and metros supporting larger numbers of athletes than others, but the growth rate itself remains stable in the available data. Overall, the combination of a defined national workforce, modest projected expansion, and steady annual openings can support both early-career entrants and more experienced competitors looking to move between teams or regions.
Where Are the Best Opportunities for Athletes and Sports Competitors?
Location plays a major role in opportunity for athletes and sports competitors. Among states, Texas has the largest employment level listed at 1,840, with a median salary of $80,510 and an opportunity score of 51.57. California shows employment of 830 and a median salary of $79,040, with a higher opportunity score of 67.38. New Jersey combines relatively low employment (390) with a very high median salary of $253,870 and an opportunity score of 48.84. Utah and Pennsylvania have smaller employment levels (340 and 250 respectively), with Utah’s median salary at $122,800 and Pennsylvania’s at $57,100. At the metro level, New York-Newark-Jersey City stands out, with 560 employed athletes, a median salary of $100,130, and the highest opportunity score listed at 77.27. Phoenix has 870 employed athletes and an opportunity score just over 50, while Houston, Baltimore, and Minneapolis show smaller employment and varied salaries. These differences allow job seekers to weigh salary, scale of the local market, and opportunity scores when choosing where to focus their search.
Education for Athletes and Sports Competitors
The typical education requirement for athletes and sports competitors is no formal educational credential, making this career accessible without a specific degree. However, success depends heavily on a well-rounded skill set. Physical strength and stamina are central, supporting performance and endurance. Leadership, speaking and listening, and interpersonal skills help athletes work effectively with coaches, teammates, and audiences. Adaptability is important for responding to changing conditions and competitive situations. Customer service skills reflect the need to interact positively with fans and stakeholders. Project management skills can support planning and organizing training and competition schedules. Science and mechanical skills may contribute to understanding physical performance and equipment. Creativity and innovation can help athletes differentiate their approach and find new ways to improve. For students and career changers, focusing on developing these abilities—alongside physical training—can strengthen readiness for opportunities in this field, even without formal educational credentials.
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