Compete in athletic events.
Athletes and Sports Competitors
SOC: 27-2021 O*NET: 27-2021.00
Median Salary
$62,360
per year
Job Growth
📈 5.5%
Faster (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
2.1
projected jobs/year
Education Level
High school diploma or equivalent
Job Zone 2
Compete in athletic events.
What does a Athletes and Sports Competitors do?
How much can you earn?
Entry Level
$24,960
10th percentile
Early Career
$36,750
25th percentile
Median
$62,360
50th percentile
Experienced
$130,770
75th percentile
Top Earners
$0
90th percentile
National Salary Distribution
10th
$24,960
25th
$36,750
Middle 50%
MEDIAN
$62,360
Mean: $259,750
75th
$130,770
90th
$0
Middle 50% of earners
Median salary
Mean (average)
Key Insights
- •Salary range spans -$24,960 from entry level to top earners
- •Middle 50% earn between $36,750 and $130,770
- •Salary spread is 150.8% around the median, showing high variation
- •Total national employment: 14,370 professionals
What's the job outlook?
Job Market Intelligence
Medium Demand
Market demand
Medium Risk
Automation risk
Current Employment
National Employment:19,100
Top Industries
Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries88.9%
Spectator Sports87.7%
Other Amusement and Recreation Industries7.5%
10-Year Outlook
Growth Rate:+5.5%
Annual Openings:2,100
Employment Projections
2024 (Current)19,100
Current
2034 (Projected)20,200
+5.5%
+1,000
Employment Change
+5.5%
Growth Rate
10
Year Projection
Growth Category: As fast as average
Geographic Salary & Employment Data
Explore where Athletes and Sports Competitors professionals work across the United States
Showing 15 of 28 locations
Georgia
2,390 jobs$72,1305.28x
Texas
1,380 jobs$94,6601.07x
Florida
990 jobs$45,5701.08x
North Carolina
950 jobs$02.07x
Illinois
690 jobs$01.22x
Ohio
630 jobs$36,7501.22x
California
610 jobs$00.36x
Colorado
460 jobs$01.72x
Missouri
420 jobs$67,9301.54x
Pennsylvania
420 jobs$51,3400.75x
New York
400 jobs$86,8900.44x
Alabama
370 jobs$61,6701.90x
South Carolina
360 jobs$01.72x
New Jersey
360 jobs$214,6300.90x
Louisiana
340 jobs$01.89x
Understanding the Data
Location Quotient (LQ):
- • LQ > 1.0: More jobs than national average
- • LQ = 1.0: Same as national average
- • LQ < 1.0: Fewer jobs than national average
Data Source:
Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024
Key Growth Factors
- •Average growth expected
What skills do you need?
Top 10 Most Important Skills
#1
Speaking
100%
#2
Active Listening
94%
#3
Critical Thinking
86%
#4
Coordination
80%
#5
Monitoring
74%
#6
Judgment and Decision Making
66%
#7
Reading Comprehension
60%
#8
Social Perceptiveness
54%
#9
Persuasion
46%
#10
Complex Problem Solving
40%
Skills Overview
Speaking
advanced5.0
100%
Active Listening
advanced4.7
94%
Critical Thinking
intermediate4.3
86%
Coordination
intermediate4.0
80%
Monitoring
intermediate3.7
74%
Judgment and Decision Making
intermediate3.3
66%
Reading Comprehension
basic3.0
60%
Social Perceptiveness
basic2.7
54%
Skills are rated on a scale of 0-5, with 5 being the most important. The complexity level indicates how advanced the skill typically needs to be.
Filter:
Sort by:
Speaking
advancedImportance100%
skills
5.0/5.0
Active Listening
advancedImportance94%
skills
4.7/5.0
Critical Thinking
intermediateImportance86%
abilities
4.3/5.0
Coordination
intermediateImportance80%
skills
4.0/5.0
Monitoring
intermediateImportance74%
skills
3.7/5.0
Judgment and Decision Making
intermediateImportance66%
abilities
3.3/5.0
Reading Comprehension
basicImportance60%
abilities
3.0/5.0
Social Perceptiveness
basicImportance54%
skills
2.7/5.0
Persuasion
basicImportance46%
skills
2.3/5.0
Complex Problem Solving
advancedImportance40%
abilities
2.0/5.0
Highly Transferable Skills
These skills are valuable across multiple career paths, making career transitions easier:
Fish and Game Wardens100%
5 shared skills
Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film82%
5 shared skills
Correctional Officers and Jailers82%
5 shared skills
Police Identification and Records Officers82%
5 shared skills
Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare82%
5 shared skills
Security Managers82%
5 shared skills
Skills by Career Stage
Entry Level
Must Have:
- ✓Speaking
- ✓Active Listening
- ✓Coordination
Learn on the Job:
- →Social Perceptiveness
- →Judgment and Decision Making
- →Reading Comprehension
Mid Career
Expected:
- ✓Speaking
- ✓Active Listening
- ✓Coordination
- ✓Critical Thinking
Senior Level
Mastery Required:
- ★Speaking
- ★Active Listening
- ★Critical Thinking
Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on developing the top 5 skills first - they have the highest impact on career success
- •Transferable skills open doors to related careers and provide flexibility
- •Balance technical skills with soft skills for well-rounded professional development
- •Entry-level positions prioritize foundational skills that can be built upon over time
What technology will you use?
Technology & Digital Skills
Essential technology proficiencies for Athletes and Sports Competitors
Technology Intensity
High
Digital Literacy Requirements
This career requires advanced digital literacy
1
Basic
2
Intermediate
3
Advanced
4
Expert
Key Digital Competencies:
Proficiency with specialized softwareTechnical documentationData analysis toolsSystem integration
🔥
Hot Technologies in Demand
These technologies are currently trending and highly sought after in this field
Oracle PeopleSoft
🔥 Hot TechAdobe Photoshop
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Office software
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft PowerPoint
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Excel
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Word
🔥 Hot TechTechnology Stack
Technology Stack Overview
Key technologies used in this career
Oracle PeopleSoft
Adobe Photoshop
Microsoft Office software
Microsoft PowerPoint
Microsoft Excel
Facebook
Microsoft Word
📚 Technology Learning Resources
Recommended Certifications
- •Vendor-specific software certifications
- •Industry-recognized technology credentials
- •Professional development courses
Online Learning Platforms
- •LinkedIn Learning - Comprehensive technology courses
- •Coursera - University-level programs
- •Udemy - Practical skills training
💡 Technology Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on mastering hot technologies first - they're currently most in-demand
- •Build a portfolio demonstrating your proficiency with key tools and software
- •Stay current through continuous learning - technology evolves rapidly
- •Consider vendor certifications to validate your skills to employers
What's the work environment like?
🌤️
Location
MOSTLY OUTDOOR
💪
Physical Demand
MODERATE
👥
Team Orientation
MOSTLY TEAM
🤝
Customer Interaction
FREQUENT
💡Is This Work Environment Right for You?
Consider these factors when evaluating if you'll thrive in this work environment:
- •Are you comfortable working in mostly outdoor environments?
- •Can you meet moderate physical demands?
- •Do you enjoy mostly team team environments?
- •Are you comfortable working with safety protocols and protective equipment?
What are the key tasks?
Tasks & Responsibilities
9
Core Tasks
8
Daily Tasks
20
Work Activities
0
Emerging Tasks
Filter:
Sort by:
Training & Development (1)General Responsibilities (2)Planning & Development (2)Documentation & Record-Keeping (1)Analysis & Evaluation (1)Operations & Execution (2)
1
Attend scheduled practice or training sessions.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Training & Development100% perform100%
2
Participate in athletic events or competitive sports, according to established rules and regulations.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities97% perform98%
3
Exercise or practice under the direction of athletic trainers or professional coaches to develop skills, improve physical condition, or prepare for competitions.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Planning & Development94% perform96%
4
Maintain equipment used in a particular sport.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Documentation & Record-Keeping91% perform94%
5
Maintain optimum physical fitness levels by training regularly, following nutrition plans, or consulting with health professionals.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Planning & Development88% perform92%
6
Assess performance following athletic competition, identifying strengths and weaknesses and making adjustments to improve future performance.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Analysis & Evaluation85% perform90%
7
Represent teams or professional sports clubs, performing such activities as meeting with members of the media, making speeches, or participating in charity events.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Operations & Execution82% perform88%
8
Lead teams by serving as captain.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities79% perform86%
9
Receive instructions from coaches or other sports staff prior to events and discuss performance afterwards.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
Operations & Execution76% perform84%
💡 Key Takeaways
- •Daily tasks focus primarily on training & development activities
- •78% of tasks are performed by most workers in this occupation
- •Career advancement brings increased leadership and strategic responsibilities
What career paths are available?
Career Pathways
0
Advancement Opportunities
0
Lateral Move Options
0%
Avg. Salary Increase
Advancement Opportunities
Typical career progression paths from Athletes and Sports Competitors
💡 Career Planning Tips
- •Most successful advancement happens after 3-5 years of experience
- •Lateral moves can provide valuable cross-functional experience for future leadership roles
- •Focus on developing skills that are transferable across multiple career paths
- •Consider industry trends when planning long-term career moves
Is this career right for you?
Personality & Values Fit
Is This Career Right for You?
Athletes and Sports Competitors professionals typically have a RES Holland code and highly value achievement
RRealistic
EEnterprising
SSocial
Important Personality Traits
Work styles that contribute to success as a Athletes and Sports Competitors
Attention to Detail
CriticalAttention to Detail
Importance Level4.63
Stress Tolerance
CriticalStress Tolerance
Importance Level4.59
Self-Control
Very ImportantSelf-Control
Importance Level4.41
Achievement/Effort
Very ImportantAchievement/Effort
Importance Level4.39
Persistence
Very ImportantPersistence
Importance Level4.26
Initiative
Very ImportantInitiative
Importance Level4.24
Complete Work Styles Profile
Attention to Detail
4.6
Stress Tolerance
4.6
Self-Control
4.4
Achievement/Effort
4.4
Persistence
4.3
Initiative
4.2
Integrity
4.2
Dependability
4.2
Leadership
4.2
Cooperation
4.2
💡 Tips for Career Fit Success
- •While personality fit is important, skills can be developed with practice and training
- •Consider informational interviews to better understand the day-to-day personality requirements
- •Work environments vary by employer - research specific companies for cultural fit
- •Your interests and values may evolve - reassess periodically throughout your career
What education is required?
Education Level
High school diploma or equivalent
Typical duration: High school diploma or GED
Preparation Level
Job Zone 2
Some Preparation Needed
Experience Needed
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful
📚 Education Requirement
Required Level:High school diploma or equivalent
These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work.
Training:
Training of a few months to a year
💼 Experience Requirement
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful
Common pathways to gain experience:
- • Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience
- • Vocational school programs (6 months to 2 years)
- • Industry certifications helpful
2
Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work.
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experienceVocational school programs (6 months to 2 years)Industry certifications helpful
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