A career in Sports Marketing is excellent for people who want a job that involves both business skills and their love of sports. Luckily, the sports industry relies heavily on marketing and corporate sponsors to generate revenue, so there are many different kinds of jobs available for sports-minded people.
From advertising agencies to public relations firms, numerous companies are looking for new talent — making the types of sports careers available to you nearly limitless. And, if you’ve pursued a degree in Marketing or Sports Marketing, your chances of landing one of these sports marketing jobs skyrocket.
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8 of the Best Sports Marketing Jobs to Pursue
Are you ready to land your dream job in sports marketing? Here are the various types of careers in sports marketing to consider.
- Advertising
- Sales
- Event Management
- Public Relations
- Merchandising
- Marketing Research
- Restaurants and Hospitality
- Sports Agents
1. Advertising
While some companies use outside agencies for advertising purposes, many hire advertising personnel to handle advertising campaigns. While working in an advertising department, you may be assigned jobs that include media ad buys, graphic design, and copywriting. Other opportunities that are often available within advertising departments include targeted/themed promotional campaigns, product-specific advertising, social media campaigns, and radio and television ads.
Salary range: $22,000 – $82,000
Average salary: $51,440
2. Sales
When it comes to the area of sales in sports marketing, there are many roles to choose from. If you were a representative of the customer service department, you would maintain a good relationship with fans as well as small businesses and larger organizations that buy season tickets. Representatives can also work with groups or people that are looking to purchase a large number of tickets for events. In some cases, salespeople are also required to sell a luxury box or other premium seating.
People in sales might also sell sponsorship opportunities for sports organizations. This often includes a more complex approach, and you usually have to bring a well-thought-out strategy for the proposal. So, you might have to collaborate with team representatives as well as with other businesses to come up with a mutually-beneficial partnership. Additional responsibilities in sales also include approaching advertisers that might want to advertise during radio or televised broadcast, at the sporting venue itself, or in a printed program.
Salary range: $30,500 – $63,500
Average salary: $45,803
3. Event Management
Primarily, your job will be to execute the event flawlessly, including the organization of sponsors, audio and video production, promotional campaigns, and ticket sales. There are numerous roles in event management, including Director of Operations and various assistants and support staff.
Salary range: $20,500 – $81,000
Average salary: $43,395
4. Public Relations
A job in public relations (PR) involves writing press releases and dealing with both local and national media — acting as a representative of the sports team. A public relations position entails promoting and supporting a positive media presence for the organization, sports team members, and the league. To be a good PR employee, you must have both excellent oral and written communication skills.
Salary range: $20,500 – $92,000
Average salary: $48,382
5. Merchandising
If you are looking for retail opportunities, then you will, most likely, have to turn to sports specialty stores. In the merchandising sector, you could either be in store management or you can purchase products for an organization too.
You might also be employed in a larger store and specialize in merchandise related to sports for that particular location (like a national retailer). Large organizations such as a pro teams or colleges and universities often have professional opportunities to handle their sports merchandise.
Salary range: $28,365 – $83,811
Average salary: $56,910
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6. Marketing Research
Organizations generally hire personnel for marketing research to have an insight into the marketplace that a particular sports entity serves. As someone employed in marketing research, you will have to learn more about participants, fans, as well as the team’s competitors. Marketing researchers might also provide consumer satisfaction and economic impact surveys among key data that promote the business of sports.
Salary range: $37,000 – $78,000
Average salary: $53,712
7. Restaurants and Hospitality
In many cases, businesses utilize sporting events to entertain clients or to provide perks for employees. As someone employed in the area of hospitality and restaurants, you would need to market the opportunities to businesses, offering diverse packages depending on the need. Each client can have different preferences in this area, so you often have to modify proposals in food and beverage alternatives and facility selections.
Salary range: $44,000 – $97,000
Average salary: $65,539
8. Sports Agents
The primary job of a sports agent is to represent the sports team or a sports personality. This career is highly sought after and is usually very competitive. In some cases, agents might also work with trademarks and licensing images for organizations, teams, and athletes.
Salary range: $18,000 – $100,500
Average salary: $48,115
Getting Ready for Your Sports Marketing Job
What are sports marketing jobs like on a day-to-day basis? What do you do?
Generally, marketing, promotions, and advertising managers have to work closely with financial staff members and art directors to come up with effective marketing campaigns. You have to be able to work well with others and communicate your ideas effectively and efficiently.
In many cases, you will be working under pressure, and your schedule will be tight. You might also have to travel a lot to meet media representatives or clients.
How to get a sports marketing job?
For a majority of the marketing, advertising, and promotion management positions, you need to have a bachelor’s degree. Work experience in sales, promotions, marketing, and advertising is also a big plus. You also need to have excellent interpersonal skills and embrace creativity in your work life too. To help prepare for the intricacies of the job, you should learn how to write reports, analyze data, and make presentations.
Sports Marketing Salary: How much will a job in sports marketing pay?
According to a 2016 survey, the median yearly wage for promotions and advertising managers exceeded $100,000. Meanwhile, the annual median salary for marketing managers was more than $130,000. But these are management positions. Sometimes, new college graduates will qualify for a team member position, which does not pay quite as much. But — you can work your way up!
Future Careers in Sports Marketing
Vacancies in different types of careers in sports marketing, such as promotions, marketing, and advertising managers, are expected to grow by 9% through 2024, much faster than the average for other occupations. Some of the job titles you can look for are:
- Director of Operations
- Marketing Director
- Director of Client Services
- Public Relations Director
- Sales Manager
Applying for a Job in Sports Marketing
Ready to see what’s out there? Visit Jobs in Sports to view the different types of sports careers available to you, and start applying today!
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