Athletes and Sports Competitors Job Outlook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of athletes and sports competitors to grow 5.5% from 2025 to 2035 (about 1,300 more jobs), with about 2,200 openings a year, and the May 2025 median pay of $66,710 a year ranks 344th of 825 occupations.
- Projected change
- +5.5%
- Openings a year
- 2,200
- Median pay
- $66,710
- Pay rank
- 344th of 825
Is employment of athletes and sports competitors growing or shrinking?
Growing: BLS projects employment of athletes and sports competitors to rise 5.5% (about 1,300 more jobs) from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% projected across all occupations. That is faster than the +1.5% summed from BLS's employment levels across the 41 arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations with a projection. That change ranks 201st of 830 projected occupations.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Employment, 2025 | 22,900 |
| Employment, 2035 | 24,100 |
| Projected change | +5.5% |
| Openings a year | 2,200 |
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035. A projection is a BLS estimate, not a count. The 22,900 jobs here differ from the 15,070 on the salary page because Employment Projections also counts the self-employed and a wider set of workers, while OEWS counts wage and salary jobs in May 2025. BLS published these projections on August 27, 2026; checked November 10, 2026. Confirm any figure in the BLS Employment Projections tables.
BLS's reasons for this projection are at the Occupational Outlook Handbook. State projections are at Projections Central; projections by industry are left to BLS. Education, licensing and work context at O*NET.
How many job openings are there each year?
About 2,200 openings a year, from job growth and from workers leaving the occupation, the 528th most of 830 occupations. About 94% of them replace workers who change occupations or leave the labor force; the rest come from the 130 jobs added in an average year.
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035.
How does pay for athletes and sports competitors rank?
The median of $66,710 a year ranks 344th of 825 occupations with a published median. It sits in the upper half of occupations on pay and the lower half on openings.
Source: BLS OEWS national file, May 2025. Wage and salary jobs only; the self-employed are not counted. OEWS pay excludes overtime, shift differentials and non-production bonuses. Ranks count only the occupations with that published figure: 830 for projected change, 830 for openings, 825 for median pay, which is why the totals differ.
What does it take to start?
- Typical entry-level education: no formal educational credential.
- Typical on-the-job training: long-term on-the-job training.
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, education and training assignments.
How do related jobs compare on outlook?
| Occupation | Change | Openings a year | Median pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coaches and Scouts | +6.1% | 36,400 | $47,320 |
| Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials | +5.2% | 4,300 | $40,710 |
| Dancers | +2.2% | 1,600 | $24.80/hr |
| Musicians and Singers | +0.3% | 17,400 | $47.80/hr |
| Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors | +7.3% | 68,000 | $47,160 |
| Amusement and Recreation Attendants | +3.7% | 100,400 | $32,150 |
| Athletic Trainers | +12.7% | 2,400 | $62,520 |
| Training and Development Specialists | +10.8% | 46,000 | $69,280 |
Related occupations from O*NET; projections from BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035; pay from BLS OEWS, May 2025.