Five High-Paying Jobs in Sports Management

High-Paying Jobs in Sports Management

• Sports Promotor
• Sports Marketing Manager
• Athletic Trainer
• Kinesiotherapist
• Athletic Director

Although high-paying jobs in sports management aren’t plentiful per se, getting a high-paying job in this area is an attainable goal and a lot of money is invested in the sporting industry every year. Since the sports industry is growing, there are many promising careers in this field.

1. Sports Promotor

Sporting events can be profitable, but since sports promotors are usually independent contractors, most are expected to use their own money to invest in these events (so the job sometimes comes with a great deal of risk). Sports promotors generally make their money through admission costs and food and drink sales.

They usually work promoting sports like wrestling, boxing, and mixed martial arts; they are responsible for finding a location, informing the public of the events, and recruiting participants for the events. Therefore, it is their responsibility to make the event interesting and engaging for the public if they want to be successful.

2. Sports Marketing Manager

Sports marketers are similar to sports promotors in that they promote sporting events; however, sports marketers generally have more commercial marketing experience. They promote sporting events (e.g. the Olympics), and some also aim to raise awareness and participation about individual sports.

Sports marketing managers use products, endorsements, and athletes to promote events. They also supervise the staff who works with the advertising agencies and media outlets. They also work with public relations firms.

Sports marketing management positions are usually held by those with degrees in business administration or marketing. They also need strong oral and written communication skills.

3. Athletic Trainer

Athletes usually require trainers to prepare and motivate them to perform well. Demand for athletic trainers is high because trainers need to be qualified, namely through experience and licensing requirements.

Since the demand for athletic trainers is higher than the number of those who are qualified to be athletic trainers, the potential for landing a high-paying job is greater than other careers in this field. Those with sports management degrees have the necessary skills to be athletic trainers. By graduation, they also have acquired a lot of experience in the field.

4. Kinesiotherapist

Physical injury is a common experience for athletes, and, if severe, they may need to work with kinesiotherapists. Kinesiotherapists are trained to help those with injuries through exercise.

The recovery process is sometimes mental as well as physical. Kinesiotherapists may also experience help patients develop a physical therapy program for recovery from long-term illnesses.

The demand for kinesiotherapists is high and will likely continue to grow, especially since people are living longer (and athletes aren’t the only people who need physical therapy). Employment opportunities for kinesiotherapists are common at hospitals, community health centers, and gyms.

5. Athletic Director

High school and college athletic directors manage an athletic department’s money and oversee its coaches. Athletic director positions at the collegiate level are far more common and are generally higher paying than high school positions.

Coaches generally have higher salaries than athletic directors, and it has been tradition (though not as much anymore) for the head football coaches to also fill the role of the athletic director. Because athletic directors are meant to manage money as well as oversee coaches, athletic directors’ backgrounds are increasingly more centered around sports marketing and business than former coaches.

Conclusion

While a good education can be beneficial for careers in this field, a degree is not always necessary. However, at least in the beginning, entrepreneurs will usually need to fund themselves (putting them at potential risk for financial loss).

However, there are more careers available for those with sports management degrees, some of which offer opportunities for high-paying positions (e.g. event marketers, coaches, business administrators).

Related Resource: The 25 Best Online Masters in Sports Management Degree Programs
What Can I do With a Master's Degree in Sports Management
The 15 Top Bachelor's Degrees in Sports Management