You do not have to be a professional athlete or the most valuable player (MVP) to have a career in the sports industry. In fact, behind every major league team, there is another team of business professionals working to support the players on the field.
Sports management, a growing field with a wide range of positions, is all about coordinating the business functions of sports and recreation. The field offers a variety of career paths, such as that of a sports data analyst or sports agent. Pursuing a Sport Management degree is what can prepare you for a professional role in this industry. But how lucrative is a sports management career? Let’s find out.
In today’s article, we’ll explain what a degree in Sport Management is, the salary you can expect from a sports management career, and the jobs available in this field.
What is a Sports Management Degree?
Sports management is the business end of sports, from local community leagues to professional sports. This includes everyone supporting a team’s success, from the general manager to the scouting and operations staff.
A Sport Management degree opens students to a dynamic career in managing, coordinating, and marketing athletic events and teams. Additionally, depending on a student’s chosen specialty, this degree incorporates different aspects of other industries like accounting, business, law, economics, and marketing.
Sport Management programs focus on the financial, legal, and ethical realities of sports management. Graduates of Sport Management programs pursue careers as athletic directors, sports marketers, event coordinators, sports managers, and more.
What is the Sports Management Salary Potential?
Sports management salaries vary based on various factors, including education, experience, employer, and location. An entry-level sports management salary may fall in an average range, but there is tremendous room for growth and advancement, including lucrative bonus plans on top of regular pay.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports the median annual wage for entertainment and sports occupations to be $49,470/year, which is higher than average. They also project a faster-than-average employment growth rate of 13% through 2031.
Additionally, Payscale reports that the average base salary for an individual with a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Sports Management is $55,000/year.
One’s location also plays an essential factor in a sports management salary. For example, sports management professionals working in the Washington D.C./Northern Virginia area earn the highest pay in the nation at $101,320, followed closely by professionals in New York/New Jersey who earn $97,750 annually.
Lastly, like most career paths, professionals with Sport Management degrees and years of experience can expect to earn more than early career professionals.
High-Paying Jobs with a Sport Management Degree
Various jobs and career paths are available to graduates of Sport Management degree programs, including roles in administration, athlete-facing, sales, marketing, and event planning. These jobs work together to support the team, and the sports management career field thrives.
Here is a partial list of sports management careers and their annual salary information:
- Sports Marketing Managers – $135,030 per year
- Sports General Manager – $122,090 per year
- Computer Systems Analysts – $99,270 per year
- Facilities Managers – $97,930 per year
- Athletic Directors – $86,490 per year
- Agents and Business Managers of Athletes – $78,410 per year
- Athletic Trainers – $48,420 per year
- Coaches and Scouts – $38,970 per year
Additionally, the demand and job growth are high for many sports management roles. With a faster-than-average national career growth rate, the salaries of sports management professionals will likely rise as companies seek to attract skilled, talented, and educated professionals.
The BLS predicts the following growth percentages:
- Coaches and scouts – 20%
- Public relations specialists – 8.1%
- Sports marketing managers – 9.9%
- Facilities managers – 6.9%
A Sport Management degree is an excellent way to maximize your career success and salary potential. Most sports management jobs require a good understanding of how businesses operate, and a sports management degree will prepare you with this knowledge, for various positions in the athletics industry.
The Sport Management BS program at the University of Bridgeport integrates rigorous instruction, project-based learning, and field experience to prepare students for their dynamic and lucrative careers in sports management.
Inside our 120-credit degree program, students can choose a concentration in eSports, focusing on careers in eSports administration and management at the scholastic, collegiate, and professional levels. Or, students can pursue a sports marketing concentration which provides the knowledge and experience necessary to market sporting events and teams.
No matter your career path, a sports management career brings many possibilities, and graduates can expect a higher-than-average sports management salary.
Reach out today for more information about the Sport Management BS at UB and the available financial aid. Your future starts today!