450,000 people in the U.S. work in a sports related career.
Over 450,000 Americans work in sports-related occupations, spanning diverse roles that support the industry's growth and impact. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that employment in entertainment and sports occupations will grow faster than the average for all occupations from 2023 to 2033, with approximately 108,900 job openings expected annually due to growth and replacement needs (BLS, 2023). Youth can begin working in this field at 16 years of age and continue throughout their entire career.
Scoreboard Operations & Stats Pathway
In scoreboard operations and statistics, roles such as scoreboard operators typically require little to no college education, while statisticians often require a bachelor’s degree in mathematics or data analytics. This category had a median annual wage of $53,360 in May 2023 (BLS, 2023).
Health-Nutrition-Sports Performance Pathway
Communication & Public Relations
Jobs in health, nutrition, and sports performance include personal trainers, which generally require certifications but not a college degree, and athletic trainers, which require at least a bachelor’s degree, with employment expected to grow by 17% and a median wage of $54,650 (BLS, 2023).
Careers in communication and public relations range from public address announcers, which typically require no formal education beyond experience, to public relations specialists, who often need a bachelor’s degree in communications, earning a median salary of $67,440 (BLS, 2023).
Equipment Room Operations
Equipment staff roles include equipment managers, which may require on-the-job training but not a degree, and sports engineers who often need a degree in mechanical engineering or a related field, with a median salary of approximately $50,000 (BLS, 2023).
Facilities & Turf/Field Management
Business Operation & Ticket Sales
Workers in facilities and turf management may include groundskeepers, a role requiring no formal education, and turf management specialists, who typically need a degree in horticulture or turfgrass management. This category has a 5% projected growth rate and a median salary of $35,460 (BLS, 2023).
Lastly, business operations and ticket sales roles include ticket takers, which generally require no formal education, and sales managers, who often hold bachelor’s degrees in marketing or business administration, earning a median salary of $58,770 (BLS, 2023). These statistics highlight the diverse career paths available in sports-related fields and the economic impact they continue to have across the United States.