Sales jobs in sports play a significant role in helping teams, leagues, and businesses grow their revenue. From ticketing and sponsorships to merchandising and business development, almost every dollar that funds athletes, stadiums, and operations comes through the hard work of sales teams. Without these roles, sports organizations would be unable to deliver the experiences that fans love or support the infrastructure that keeps games running.
Whether you want to work for a professional team, a sports tech startup, a merchandise company, or an agency, sales jobs in the sports industry offer a wide range of opportunities. There is also a growing number of remote sales jobs, especially with companies focused on technology, merchandise, and virtual experiences.
This guide will walk you through the types of sales jobs you can pursue, how much you might earn, the skills and qualifications needed, and how you can get hired. If you are ready to explore some of the best sales jobs in sports, you are in the right place.
Types of Sales Jobs in Sports
The sports industry is filled with various types of sales jobs, offering options that align with your strengths and career goals. Some positions involve selling directly to fans, while others focus on building relationships between sports organizations and corporate brands. Opportunities exist with professional sports teams, college athletic departments, sports leagues, sports technology companies, merchandise brands, and marketing agencies.
Let’s break down some of the most common sales roles you can pursue.
Ticket Sales Representative
The Ticket Sales Representative is often the first role for many individuals entering the sports sales industry. In this role, you will focus on selling season ticket packages, mini-plan bundles, and individual game tickets directly to fans. Most of the work involves outbound efforts, such as phone calls, emails, and in-person meetings.
Success in ticket sales hinges on persistence, enthusiasm, and strong customer service skills. Many teams run structured inside sales programs where new representatives are trained, coached, and given the chance to advance based on their performance. This position teaches valuable selling techniques that can help you grow into other areas of the sports business.
Group Sales Coordinators
Group Sales Coordinators specialize in selling ticket packages and experiences to larger groups, rather than individual fans. They work with schools, businesses, religious groups, nonprofits, and other organizations that want to attend games together.
In addition to selling tickets, Group Sales Coordinators often organize themed event nights, plan exceptional experiences such as on-field photo opportunities, and coordinate with stadium operations teams to deliver a memorable day for group guests. The job requires creativity, organization, and strong communication skills to manage both sales and event planning duties.
Corporate Partnership Executives
Corporate Partnership Executives focus on business-to-business (B2B) sales by developing partnerships between sports properties and companies. These partnerships can include arena signage, sponsored events, digital media campaigns, hospitality packages, naming rights deals, and more. This role is about building long-term relationships that benefit both the brand and the sports organization.
It involves understanding the needs of corporate partners, crafting customized proposals, and presenting these opportunities to marketing and sponsorship decision-makers. It is one of the most exciting and competitive areas within the sports industry’s sales jobs.
Sponsorship Sales Manager
Sponsorship Sales Managers have a role similar to that of Corporate Partnership Executives, but they are often more heavily focused on finding and signing new sponsorship partners. Their responsibilities include researching potential sponsors, reaching out to brand representatives, building tailored presentations, presenting pitches to companies, and negotiating sponsorship contracts.
These jobs can be found within professional teams, sports agencies, and event companies. Strong sales skills, creativity in packaging opportunities, and persistence are essential for success. In many cases, being a Sponsorship Sales Manager provides a clear pathway toward leadership positions, such as Vice President of Sales.
Sales Jobs in Sports Salary Expectations
Salaries for sales jobs in sports vary depending on your role, experience level, and the size of the organization you work for. Entry-level roles, such as Ticket Sales Representatives, typically pay between $35,000 and $45,000 per year. In these positions, you can also earn bonuses or commissions based on the number of tickets you sell, which can make a big difference over the year.
Mid-level roles, such as Corporate Partnership Executives or Group Sales Managers, typically offer base salaries ranging from $55,000 to $75,000 per year. These roles tend to have higher commission structures, especially when closing significant sponsorship or group sales deals.
Senior sales positions, such as Director of Sales or Sponsorship Sales Manager, can earn up to $144,000 or more annually before bonuses and commissions. Top performers at large organizations can even push into six-figure incomes thanks to generous incentive programs. Salaries can also vary depending on the market size; jobs in major cities with large teams often pay more.
Remote sales jobs may offer competitive salaries, too, particularly with sports tech companies and merchandise brands. However, pay structures can differ, sometimes offering lower base salaries but higher commission rates to encourage performance across larger territories.
Skills & Qualifications for Sales Jobs in Sports
Working in sales jobs in sports requires a specific skill set that focuses on relationship building and performance. Strong verbal and written communication skills are essential, as you will spend most of your day interacting with potential customers, partners, or group organizers.
Persuasion skills help you guide conversations toward closing deals, while relationship management skills keep clients happy over the long term.
Time management is another essential ability, as many sales roles require juggling dozens of contacts and follow-up tasks simultaneously. Meeting and exceeding sales goals on a monthly or quarterly basis is often a significant part of performance reviews.
Familiarity with CRM (Customer Relationship Management) software, such as Salesforce, HubSpot, or Microsoft Dynamics, is also highly valued by employers because it demonstrates your ability to track leads, pipelines, and customer interactions professionally.
Having a college degree in business, marketing, communication, or sports management can give you an advantage when applying, but it is not always required. What matters most is your ability to sell. Prior experience in sales, even outside of sports, is valuable.
Many successful people in sports sales began their careers selling cars, tech products, retail goods, or working in customer service roles. Sales internships with sports organizations, even unpaid ones, are another excellent way to gain relevant experience that hiring managers appreciate.
How to Land Sales Jobs in Sports
Getting your first sales job in sports might take some work, but with the right strategy, you can position yourself well.
Step 1 – Gain Sales Experience and Industry Insight
Even if you are still a student or are working in another field, start building your sales experience now. Jobs in retail, hospitality, or customer service can give you transferable skills. Volunteering with local teams, working at minor league games, or assisting with sports events can also provide you with valuable insight into how the sports business operates.
Step 2 – Network with Sports Professionals
Connections matter in the sports industry. Attend networking events hosted by leagues, conferences, or professional groups. Utilize LinkedIn to connect with individuals already employed in sales roles within the sports industry. Request informational interviews to learn more about their career paths and to stay top of mind when openings become available.
Many opportunities come through referrals, so building a network early is critical.
Step 3 – Tailor Your Resume and Cover Letter
When applying, do not send the same generic resume to every job. Highlight your achievements in past sales roles, using specific numbers whenever possible, such as the percentage you exceeded a goal or the amount of revenue you generated. Use keywords from the job posting in your resume and cover letter to show you are an excellent match.
Express your passion for working in the sports industry, but also back it up with proof that you can deliver results.
Step 4 – Target the Right Job Boards and Teams
Instead of relying on general job search sites, use platforms specifically focused on sports careers, such as JobsInSports.
LinkedIn is also a great resource, but be sure to follow specific teams, agencies, and sports companies so you can stay up-to-date with new listings. Set up job alerts to stay on top of new postings and follow sports sales professionals and companies on social media platforms.
Find the Best Sales Jobs in Sports with JobsInSports.com
If you are ready to start your career in sports sales or take it to the next level, JobsInSports.com can help you get there. As one of the leading platforms for sales jobs in the sports industry, it gives you access to hundreds of active listings across professional teams, tech companies, merchandise brands, agencies, and more.
Beyond job listings, JobsInSports also offers tools to sharpen your résumé, strengthen your interview skills, and prepare you to stand out from other applicants. Whether you are aiming for your first role in ticket sales or looking to move into a senior-level corporate partnership position, JobsInSports is built to help you find the best sales jobs in sports and grow a successful career.
