Fitness jobs

Although only a small percentage of individuals will ever compete at the professional level, the sports business employs a large number of people in non-playing roles. The following are a few examples of well-paying occupations that are available to persons who have a passion for sports.

Let's be honest and acknowledge a harsh truth about sports: very few individuals will ever reach the level of a professional athlete in their lifetime.

Not only are the very best athletes allowed to compete at the professional level, but certain sports don't even have a professional level, or at least not one that pays significant sums of money to its participants.

If you're not a great athlete but you still have a passion for sports, how can you discover employment in the sports industry that pay well?

To our good fortune, the number of opportunities available in fields connected to sports is far bigger than the number of athletic roles in professional sports. There is always a significant number of individuals working behind the scenes to ensure that everything goes well for the professional athletes competing on the field, the court, or the ice. This is the case in any area that is considered to be glamorous.

There are 12 instances listed below. We haven't rated them since, even within the same industry, the pay ranges might be rather different from one another. But if you manage to conquer that industry and become the best at what you do, you may make many millions of dollars. That's the case with a good number of these positions!

Manager of Sports Teams

Someone who focuses largely on the commercial aspects of the sporting world is called a sports manager.

In professional sports, the sports manager might be one of the most essential persons in the company, all while being entirely unknown to the team’s fan base. You, on the other hand, will be the one tasked with managing everything, including anything from team travel to philanthropic activities to victory parades.

How much can you make?

The compensation of a sports manager often falls between in the range of $35,000 and $42,000, with significant variations possible due to factors such as location and the particular sport in question.

For instance, a sports information director may earn $60,000, while an athletic director can earn $80,000, and professional sports managers can make anywhere from $200,000 and up, and even into the seven-figure range.

Education requirements?

To become a sports manager, you will need to have a bachelor's degree at the very least. However, if you have a master's degree, you will be able to advance more swiftly in terms of both your compensation and your position.

Physical Therapist

Physical therapists often deal with patients who are recuperating from injuries or surgeries and are in need of assistance moving. In most cases, they attend to the needs of the general public; nonetheless, it is possible to create a focus on sporting events.

How much can you make?

Your dedication to advancing in your field will eventually be rewarded. The yearly pay that is considered to be the norm for physical therapists is $89,349 per year.

If you have a specialty in treating athletes, you have the potential to earn more than this level of pay with further experience and a developing reputation.

Education requirements?

In most cases, you will be required to get a doctor of physical therapy degree (often known as a DPT) or another kind of professional degree in order to work as a physical therapist.

In addition to this, the state in which you want to work will require that you get a license. You may start off working for a physical therapy practice, particularly one that specializes in sports medicine. However, at some point in the future, you will be able to create your own practice and focus solely on dealing with athletes.

Physician of Sports Medicine

The term "sports medicine doctor" is something of an oversimplification since there are physicians whose primary area of practice is in the field of sports medicine, as well as other physicians who specialize in the field of sports-related surgery.

How much can you make?

Although it varies from one section of the nation to another and depending on one's area of specialty, the average salary is 239 595 dollars.

For instance, if you work as a team doctor for a college or professional sports team, you'll learn a lot more about sports medicine than if you deal with high school athletes or athletes who compete on the weekend.

Education requirements?

It goes without saying that you'll need to complete medical school, in addition to fulfilling any other criteria imposed by the state. And because sports medicine is highly specialized, it may be many years before you have the expertise to deserve greater salary.

Professional at Golf or Tennis

A country club is where you'll find a golf or tennis pro working the vast majority of the time. They will be available to give help to club members as well as private tuition to individuals as well as groups. Additionally, they will be present.

How much can you make?

The annual salary for a professional tennis player is an average of $51,041, whereas the annual salary for a professional golfer is an average of $43,998.

Both positions are greatly reliant on the amount of experience you have as well as the kind of club you will be working at.

Education requirements?

Both capacities normally do not need any kind of formal schooling on the part of the individual. However, a high level of expertise and experience, as well as the capacity to instruct and direct others effectively, are unquestionably necessary preconditions. A degree of professional renown, in particular as a player, is another important factor to take into consideration.

Photographer for sporting events

There is little question that one of the lowest-paying occupations in the sports industry is working as a sports photographer. But if you love photography, and you love sports, this might be a fantastic method to monetize a hobby.

How much can you make?

The average pay in the profession is a very modest $49,445 per year. However, much like the majority of the other careers on this list, the amount of money you make might vary greatly based on where you work and how you do your job.

For instance, the going salary for sports photographers working for newspapers and magazines is probably about $35,000. [Citation needed] But it’s considerably greater if you’re working for a specialist sports newspaper, like Sports Illustrated.

As Furthermore, if you have a great aptitude for catching the biggest plays in sports, you may be able to name your price as a freelance sports photographer.

Education requirements?

The fact that it is not too difficult to get into the industry is one of the most significant benefits (in addition to the fact that one may make money from a passion). You normally require little more than a high school graduation, although lots of on-the-job training is naturally a major advantage.

It is possible that you will need to work with an experienced sports photographer, and in addition to this work, you will need to teach yourself in both the technical aspects of photography as well as an awareness of what sports fans want to see the most.

The opportunity to watch athletic events from the sidelines is a significant bonus of the work.

Industrial Scuba Diver

The occupation of commercial diver is perhaps the most unconventional one on this list. This is due to the fact that you will not be working in a sports-related industry; rather, you will be putting a sports-related aptitude, namely diving underwater, to use.

It is a highly skilled job that requires operating underwater, typically doing maintenance and repair work on the infrastructure of the seabed. Consider drilling for oil and gas offshore, as well as other sectors that are tied to this. It won't be a glamorous job by any stretch of the imagination, but it will allow you to make money off of your diving talents.

How much can you make?

The income is quite stable, coming in about $54,750 per year on average. But just like in any other sector, the amount of money you make might significantly increase depending on factors such as your level of experience and expertise, as well as the business or industry in which you operate.

Education requirements?

Even though there are training programs that may be participated in, there is no minimum necessary academic level. A term in the Navy or Marines, especially as a Navy seal, would be great. But you may also get into the industry if you have a large amount of diving expertise, combined with a flair for adventure and the ability to fix things quickly and easily.

Director of Sports Programming for the Media

Due to the fact that the amount of well-paying positions being offered is restricted to professional sports teams, significant college programs, and media outlets, this is a highly specialized vocation.

A media sports program director is responsible for coordinating the activities of broadcast and programming personnel, managing program scheduling and event coverage, liaising with other departments, and working in collaboration with directors and production personnel to evaluate the length and subject matter of media presentations.

How much can you make?

You’re unlikely to obtain a post at a nearby high school. However, if you are successful in landing a job, the annual income is a respectable $74,389 on average.

Education requirements?

A bachelor's degree in media studies or a comparable subject is often required to break into this industry. In addition to this, it is advantageous to have worked in some role connected to the media for a number of years. It is quite improbable that you will be able to enter the workforce immediately after graduating from college.

Coach of the team

Team trainers are responsible for the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of injuries and diseases affecting the muscles and bones of their athletes. You may think of it as being similar to working in a team as a first aid practitioner. However, this is just the beginning since you are always interacting with other members of the team and are thus often aware of any ailments or physical limits they may have. It will be your responsibility to ensure that they don't become sick and that they can continue working with little or no injuries.

Jobs are largely at colleges and universities, but sometimes at hospitals and secondary schools as well. And if you're one of the fortunate few – as in, no more than a few hundred – you may be working as a team trainer for either a large professional sports team or a prominent university sports program. This is a job that has both a high salary and a lot of public exposure.

How much can you make?

An annual salary of $43,736 is considered to be the norm.

Education requirements?

In most cases, obtaining a bachelor's degree in a subject that is relevant to the area is necessary in order to work as a team trainer.

Reporter covering sports

Who among the sports-watching population doesn't have extensive experience playing "Monday Morning Quarterback"? However, were you aware that you may in fact earn money by doing so? That is something you can do by pursuing a career in sports reporting. There are others that keep a log of the game, write about the significant plays, incidents, and calls, and then often add a fair dose of their own personal commentary to the mix. However, it has the potential to be one of the careers in the sports industry that is both pleasant and impactful.

How much can you make?

The salary of a sports writer is often lower than the salaries of reporters who cover other topics, such as politics or finance. This is done to demonstrate how much fun covering sports can be. For instance, whereas the average compensation for reporters in general is $49,300 per year, the average income for sports reporters is just $38,922 per year. It's possible that companies regard a passion for the game to be a desirable trait in potential employees.

Education requirements?

To join the sector, you’ll likely require a bachelor’s degree in either journalism or communications. You will also need to have previous job experience or have completed an internship in a radio station, television station, or newspaper.

And, obviously, a fervent interest in sports, along with the communication skills necessary to convey the happenings on the field in a manner that strikes a chord with the audience. Everything will have a significant role in deciding how much money you bring in.

Broadcaster of sporting events

Have you ever watched a sports event on TV, been upset by the announcers, and thought “I can do a better job”? There is a possibility of entering the profession of sports broadcasting if you believe you are capable of doing so; nonetheless, it is an undeniably steep mountain to scale. After all, almost every sports fan who has ever lived has probably given some thought to the idea at some point. And every year, thousands of people make the attempt.

Unfortunately, there are only a limited number of jobs that are considered to be of the highest caliber, and even fewer individuals achieve the degree of superstardom that places them on roughly similar footing with great players and coaches.

How much can you make?

The annual salary for sports broadcasters is around $41,800 on average. However, unlike many other domains, the average does not adequately convey the situation in this one. The most highly compensated commentators in professional sports broadcasting may earn up to $75,754 per year on average. On the other side, there are a few exceptional broadcasters working for large networks that bring in millions of dollars annually.

Education requirements?

A bachelor's degree in broadcasting or communications is required if you want to work in sports broadcasting at the collegiate or professional level. But experience is the actual key. It will be necessary for you to work your way up the ladder, beginning with the local media in your area, such as radio and television broadcasts, and then moving on to the regional or national arena. Due to the high level of competition in this arena, success will not come easily.

Referee of a Sports Event

You may make a career out of officiating sporting events if you have a strong interest in the rules and regulations of a particular sport and are able to thoroughly understand them. This, of course, requires that you have already achieved expert status in the referee's governing canon.

How much can you make?

On this list of jobs connected to sports, coaching has the unfortunate distinction of having the lowest salary. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average wage is about $28,940 per year.

However, one of the primary benefits of working in this industry is that there are more open employment than there are for working in other facets of the sports world.

You may, for instance, decide to pursue a career as a paid sports referee for leisure sports leagues for children, athletic events for high schools, and even college or professional sports if you so want. The more local occupations will pay no more than $10-$20 per hour. However, rates may be much greater at the collegiate and professional levels, particularly with regard to certain sports.

Education requirements?

In most cases, just a diploma from an accredited high school would do. It is of course to your advantage if you have spent a considerable amount of time competing in the sport that you want to referee in the future. However, paying close attention to detail and following the rules, along with a strong moral compass, makes for the most impressive résumé.

Principal Trainer

You may still coach at the high school or college level despite the fact that most people won't make it to the position of head coach of a professional sports team.

How much can you make?

On the front of the pay, there is both good news and bad news. The median pay for coaches is about $36,330. But that’s just the median. It includes many different kinds of coaches, although high school sports coaches and assistant coaches make up the vast majority of its members. College coaches make up a lesser percentage, while professional coaches make up an even smaller portion of the total.

But if you want to dream big, you should know that the head coaches in college and professional football often earn wages in the seven figures. Bill Belichick, the head coach of the New England Patriots, rakes in an estimated $12.5 million year in his professional role.

Education requirements?

Getting a bachelor's degree and being an active participant in the sport you want to coach is normally required if you want to work your way up to the position of head coach.

It seems to reason that if you want to get to the higher levels of the wage scale, you will first have to put in significant time either as a player or an assistant coach. The more successful that program is, the greater the likelihood that you will be successful in securing a top head coaching post at another school.