Updated: 06/11/2026
Love sports but aren’t skilled enough for a career as a player? You may wish to remain in the game you love by pursuing a career in sports management. There are numerous jobs in sports management available that allow you to stay connected to the sport you cherish. But what exactly does this entail?
As a professional in sports management, you’ll learn about the business aspects, finance, marketing, and legal issues in the sports world. You may have the opportunity to work in nearly any sport, from the amateur ranks through scholastic levels and the top professional leagues. A career in sports management can be very long and rewarding, as the business brings in billions of dollars annually.
Before delving into the numerous career options for those with a sports management degree, one must consider several things. Think about what you want out of a potential employer in terms of management. Consider the size of the company, how well it treats its employees, the potential for career growth, the success rate in the industry, and the pay rate. Be aware that many jobs in sports management are based on commission.
Although the industry is quite competitive, the misconception is that in sports management, there are only positions involving direct contact with athletes or ticket sales. However, this is not the case, and the following list of sports management careers touches on numerous possibilities.
What Are Sports Management Jobs?
Sports management jobs are careers that support the business, operations, marketing, sales, events, media, and administration functions of sports organizations, teams, leagues, colleges, and athletic facilities.
Top Sports Management Jobs
Here are some lists of different types of sports management jobs you can pursue with or without a degree.
Entry-Level Sports Management Jobs
Sports Information Director
Average salary: $36,092 per year
Virtually every university and professional sports organization employs a Sports Organization Department, which is effectively a cross between a public relations department and a team library of sorts. Before, during, and after games, members of the Sports Information Department provide the media and public with information like player news, team updates, and a variety of statistics.
Ticket Sales
Average salary: $30,000 per year
While selling tickets might not seem to be the most attractive option, ticket sales are essential in professional sports. Sales help bring in revenue for debts and salaries. How can a sports management degree help? You could sell season ticket packages, fill expensive luxury boxes, and make deals with lucrative sponsors. Ticket sales are a great entry-level job that can lead to increased responsibilities and higher-salaried positions in the future.
Youth Sports Coordinator
Average salary: $40,898 per year
Maybe you’d like to work with young athletes to learn from your sports management experience. Why not get involved with sports in a way that makes a difference in people’s lives? After studying for your Sports Management degree, you can work for a local community sports club.
Recreation Coordinator
Average salary: $40,719
Sports are not just about competition; they’re also about community engagement and enjoyment. As a Recreation Coordinator, you’ll plan and oversee recreational sports programs within communities or organizations. From organizing local leagues to promoting sportsmanship and healthy living, this role enables you to make a positive impact by bringing sports to people of all ages and abilities.
Highest Paying Sports Management Jobs
Athletic Administrator
Average salary: $100,000 per year
An Athletic Administrator oversees some of the most critical parts of a sports club, organization, or team. The position may involve hiring new staff, coaches, and player personnel. You may also oversee sponsorship deals, order new uniforms and equipment, and even acquire practice, game, and event venues.
Athletic Director
Average salary: $113,122 per year
If you are interested in working in the amateur ranks of a scholastic environment, this job may be a good fit. An Athletic Director oversees the athletic department to make sure it’s running without a hitch. Some of the duties include budgeting, travel arrangements, and other daily operations, particularly at the high school level. At the collegiate level, however, more of the Athletic Director’s time is geared toward specific supervisory tasks. If you can work at your alma mater, helping the team succeed is an even more rewarding part of the job.
Business Development
Average salary: $121,629 per year
The development of the sports business is the same as that of any other business, involving sales and earning money to keep it thriving. In a professional business development job, you might oversee creating methods to increase or stabilize a fan base or perform market research. At an amateur level, however, the job may involve building relationships with those who could help support the league.
Financial Management
Average salary: $120,469 per year
For those interested in mathematics and sports, managing finances on the staff may be the right fit. Financial Management involves tracking, reporting, and evaluating the team’s financial activities. Some duties may include adjusting budgets for ticket prices, salaries, and merchandise sales. Perhaps you could oversee revenue and expenses, financial forecasts, or annual budgets, all of which affect the team and organization.
Facility Manager
The stage for every thrilling sports event is the facility or stadium where it takes place. A Facility Manager oversees the maintenance, safety, and operations of sports venues. From ensuring the quality of playing surfaces to coordinating with security and vendors, this job in sports management is pivotal in creating an environment where athletes can perform at their best and fans can enjoy the game in comfort.
Average salary: $102,361
Professional Sports Management Jobs
Sports Agent
Average salary: $59,611 per year
For those wanting direct contact with athletes at the professional level, you may want to be a Sports Agent. In this sports management job, you determine the terms of salaries, performance bonuses, and athlete endorsements. You may also deal with the client’s finances, promotions, public relations appearances, and investments.
Personnel Management
Average salary: $51,107 per year
Those interested in recruiting to develop a competitive team may be interested in a job in personnel management. Requiring a vast knowledge of a specific sport, the Personnel Director must have strong negotiation skills for recruiting the best talent. Also, a Personnel Manager may oversee the hiring, coaching, support, and training of staff.
Broadcast Coordinator
Average salary: $59,368
In the world of sports, the thrill of the game reaches fans through various media channels. As a Broadcast Coordinator, you’ll work closely with television, radio, and online platforms to ensure the seamless broadcast of games and sports events. From scheduling to technical coordination, this role requires a blend of communication and technical skills to bring the excitement of sports to the audience’s screens.
Licensing Coordinator
Average salary: $41,724
The power of sports extends to branding and merchandise. A Licensing Coordinator manages the licensing agreements related to sports branding, logos, and merchandise. This role involves negotiating contracts, ensuring compliance with brand guidelines, and working with various stakeholders to capitalize on the popularity of sports teams and athletes. If you have an eye for detail and a passion for branding, this could be the avenue for you.
Accounts Manager/Corporate Partnerships
Average salary: $68,509 per year
Larger universities and professional sports teams will partner with larger, nationwide, and international corporations to generate revenue streams through sponsorships, advertising, ticket purchases, suite rentals, corporate events, and more. With a sports management degree, you could be uniquely positioned to speak to both worlds.
Additional Jobs in Sports Management
Gameday/Event Coordinator
Average salary: $50,910 per year
A Sports Management degree is beneficial in helping one learn skills needed to plan sporting events, whether at the youth level or the collegiate level.
Legal Services
Average salary: $82,168 per year
Although a law degree will also be needed, working in legal services enables you to represent athletes or organizations.
Parks and Recreation
Average salary: Director: $60,268 per year
Average salary: Supervisor: $42,934 per year
Average salary: Coordinator: $37,025 per year
Needed throughout the country, parks and recreation departments hire those to teach others the value of sports. If you wish to deal with amateurs who love recreational sports, this opportunity may be a perfect fit.
Professor of Sports Management
Average salary: $67,468 per year
Perhaps you are interested in passing along your knowledge to others. If that is the case, after earning a Sports Management degree, you can go back to the classroom and teach others about Sports Management. An advanced degree is likely required to be a professor, but it’s a viable option for a stable, long-term Sports Management career.
Public Relations
Average salary: $64,360 per year
To keep customers and the community interested in the team, many public relations techniques are used. Those involved in Public Relations need various skills, such as creating website content, public speaking at events, writing press releases, and using social media and digital platforms to promote the team.
Resort Management
Average salary: $46,574 per year
Perhaps you want to run a golf club or ski resort. If that’s the case, your degree in Sports Management may get you in the door. This is one avenue most people don’t consider when pursuing their Sports Management degree.
Sports & Health Club Staff
Average salary: Personal Trainer: $34,356 per year
Average salary: Club General Manager: $43,402 per year
Average salary: General Manager, Fitness Club: $40,575 per year
Average salary: Fitness Manager: $39,509 per year
If you’re someone who’s a fitness and/or outdoor enthusiast, you could use a Sports Management degree to get a job with your local sports or health club (i.e., your local gym).
Sports Camp Director
Average salary: $39,085 per year
For those who wish to help youth learn the benefits of sports, the Sports Camp Director position could be for you. Sports teach valuable lessons like teamwork and commitment, as well as help participants improve their skills and love of their chosen game. Also, you can help run the operations of sports camps across geographic regions.
Sports Content Producer
Average salary: $54,086 per year
If you happen to be tech-savvy, this could be a unique and highly beneficial way to elevate your career in Sports Management. Teams from high school through the professional level are often looking for people who can create content that the team can use to market their organization, their players, and their upcoming games and events.
Sports Mediator/Arbitrator
Average salary: $50,354 per year
For some students, a sports management degree is the stepping stone to additional education and qualifications. Law school could be the next step, giving you the opportunity to become a Sports Mediator.
Sports Writer/Blogger
Average salary: $35,843 per year
Although being a Sports Writer may not be the first or obvious choice for a Sports Management career, having a degree and a love for writing about sports could make this a lucrative option. If you have a strong background in sports business and a degree in sports management, you could be quite successful. The key is to bring in traffic and generate income from ads and affiliate programs.
Ticket Sales
Average salary: $30,000 per year
While selling tickets might not seem to be the most attractive option, ticket sales are essential in professional sports. Sales help bring in revenue for debts and salaries. How can a sports management degree help? You could sell season ticket packages, fill expensive luxury boxes, and make deals with lucrative sponsors. Ticket sales are a great entry-level job that can lead to increased responsibilities and higher-salaried positions in the future.
Tournament Planner
Average salary: $40,224 per year
Like the events planner on this list, a tournament planner handles booking tournament facilities and oversees marketing. Furthermore, they could supervise athletes interacting with the public and must be adept at public relations as well.
Merchandising Manager
Average salary: $86,346
Manages the sale and promotion of sports-related merchandise. This job in sports management includes coordinating with vendors, developing marketing strategies for products, and ensuring that merchandise reflects the brand and appeal of the team or league. Whether it’s jerseys, caps, or other fan gear, the Merchandising Manager plays a vital role in enhancing the fan experience and generating revenue.
Find Your Future in Sports Management
Sports management is one of the most diverse career fields in the industry. Whether you’re interested in marketing, event operations, sponsorships, athletic administration, finance, sales, communications, facility management, or executive leadership, there’s a path that aligns with your skills and interests.
The opportunities outlined in this guide are just the beginning. Every professional sports team, college athletic department, league, venue, agency, and sports organization relies on talented management professionals to keep the business of sports moving forward.
No matter where you are in your journey, the best way to build a successful sports management career is to explore opportunities, develop relevant skills, and make connections within the industry.
Ready to turn your passion for sports into a profession? Browse sports management jobs, discover new career paths, and take the next step toward building your future in sports by creating an account with Jobs In Sports.
FAQs
What jobs can you get with a sports management degree? +
A sports management degree can prepare you for a wide range of careers across the sports industry. Common roles include athletic director, sports marketing manager, event coordinator, ticket sales representative, sponsorship manager, facilities manager, sports agent, operations manager, and community relations specialist. Graduates may find opportunities with professional sports teams, college athletic departments, sports agencies, leagues, venues, fitness organizations, and sporting goods companies.
What is the highest-paying sports management job? +
Executive-level positions typically offer the highest earning potential in sports management. Roles such as athletic director, sports agent, chief operating officer, general manager, and vice president of business operations can command six-figure salaries, particularly with major professional sports organizations, universities, and large sports agencies. Compensation often depends on experience, organization size, and performance-based incentives.
Are sports management jobs in demand? +
Yes, sports management jobs continue to be in demand as the sports industry expands across professional sports, collegiate athletics, esports, sports media, and youth sports organizations. Teams and organizations need skilled professionals to manage marketing, sponsorships, operations, events, fan engagement, and business development. Competition can be strong for certain roles, making internships, networking, and industry experience valuable for job seekers.
Can you work for a professional sports team with a sports management degree? +
Yes, many professionals working for professional sports teams hold sports management degrees. Teams hire sports management graduates for positions in ticket sales, corporate partnerships, marketing, public relations, event operations, fan engagement, community relations, and front-office administration. Gaining hands-on experience through internships or entry-level positions can help open doors within professional sports organizations.
Is sports management a good career? +
Sports management can be a rewarding career for individuals who are passionate about sports and business. The field offers opportunities to work in diverse areas such as marketing, operations, event management, sponsorships, and leadership. While some positions can be highly competitive, professionals who develop strong business skills, build industry connections, and gain practical experience often find long-term career growth opportunities within the sports industry.
What sports management jobs require no experience? +
Many entry-level sports management jobs require little to no prior experience and can serve as stepping stones to larger opportunities. Examples include ticket sales representative, game-day operations assistant, event staff coordinator, marketing assistant, guest services representative, community relations assistant, and athletic department intern. These roles help professionals build industry knowledge, develop valuable skills, and establish connections within the sports business world.
