Life As an Athlete or Sports Competitor
Job Description: Compete in athletic events.
Life As an Athlete: What Do They Do?
- Exercise or practice under the direction of athletic trainers or professional coaches to develop skills, improve physical condition, or prepare for competitions.
- Represent teams or professional sports clubs, performing such activities as meeting with members of the media, making speeches, or participating in charity events.
- Lead teams by serving as captain.
- Assess performance following athletic competition, identifying strengths and weaknesses and making adjustments to improve future performance.
- Participate in athletic events or competitive sports, according to established rules and regulations.
- Receive instructions from coaches or other sports staff prior to events and discuss performance afterwards.
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Athlete Required Skills
Athletes and Sports Competitors state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
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Is There Job Demand for Athletes and Sports Competitors?
There were about 11,800 jobs for Athlete or Sports Competitor in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 7.6% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 900 new jobs for Athlete or Sports Competitor by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 1,700 job openings in this field each year.
The states with the most job growth for Athlete are Utah, Colorado, and Nevada. Watch out if you plan on working in Idaho, Alaska, or Minnesota. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Salary for an Athlete
The average yearly salary of an Athlete ranges between $19,040 and $208,000.
Athletes and Sports Competitors who work in Colorado, California, or Texas, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Athletes and Sports Competitors in different U.S. states.
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| California | $125,160 |
| Colorado | $183,110 |
| Connecticut | $67,800 |
| Florida | $76,870 |
| Georgia | $67,760 |
| Kansas | $67,380 |
| Kentucky | $40,600 |
| Maryland | $50,250 |
| Massachusetts | $63,700 |
| Michigan | $52,680 |
| Missouri | $72,590 |
| Nebraska | $67,930 |
| Nevada | $89,730 |
| New Jersey | $65,430 |
| New York | $102,930 |
| Pennsylvania | $48,710 |
| Rhode Island | $68,630 |
| South Carolina | $36,260 |
| Texas | $130,580 |
| Utah | $69,660 |
| Washington | $78,370 |
What Tools do Athletes and Sports Competitors Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Athletes and Sports Competitors:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Web browser software
- Email software
- Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
- Oracle PeopleSoft
- YouTube
- Motion analysis software
Becoming an Athlete
What education or degrees do I need to become an Athlete or Sports Competitor?
How Long Does it Take to Become an Athlete?
Who Employs Athletes and Sports Competitors?
The table below shows the approximate number of Athletes and Sports Competitors employed by various industries.
References:
Image Credit: Staff Sgt. Michael Ellis via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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