Athletes and Sports Competitors
Compete in athletic events.
What it pays
Athletes and Sports Competitors earn a median of $29.98/hr — about $62,500 a year. (Annual figure is approximate: hourly × 2,080.)
Athletes and Sports Competitors earn a median of $29.98/hr — about $62,500 a year. (Annual figure is approximate: hourly × 2,080.)
What you'd actually do
- 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.
How you get there
Typical entry-level education: Less than high school. Overall preparation: some preparation (Job Zone 2 of 5).
The feel of the work
Much of the work happens outdoors. (Compared against the other 818 careers in the guide.)
Working for yourself
About 20.7% of athletes and sports competitors are self-employed.
Who it tends to fit
This work tends to fit people who are hands-on, take-charge and people-focused.
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Quick questions
- How much does a athletes and sports competitor make?
- The median pay is $29.98 per hour — roughly $62,500 a year. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Do you need a degree to be a athletes and sports competitor?
- The typical entry-level education is: Less than high school. Overall preparation level: some preparation (Job Zone 2 of 5).
- What does a athletes and sports competitor actually do all day?
- 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.
Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS. Tasks & interests: O*NET. Career pathways shown in the app are draft archetypes — verify before relying on them. Trailhead is a free career guide for students — honest numbers, no hype.
Trailhead is operated by FLEXVermont LLC. It is intended for high-school students age 13 and older, and the educators and families who support them, and is not directed to children under 13. Trailhead is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not offer professional, financial, or career advice, and its wage figures and pathways are estimates that may not fit your situation — they should not be relied on as the sole basis for any decision.
Trailhead is operated by FLEXVermont LLC. It is intended for high-school students age 13 and older, and the educators and families who support them, and is not directed to children under 13. Trailhead is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not offer professional, financial, or career advice, and its wage figures and pathways are estimates that may not fit your situation — they should not be relied on as the sole basis for any decision.