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All About Athletes and Sports Competitors

Athlete Job Description Compete in athletic events.

Life As an Athlete

  • Represent teams or professional sports clubs, performing such activities as meeting with members of the media, making speeches, or participating in charity events.
  • Maintain optimum physical fitness levels by training regularly, following nutrition plans, or consulting with health professionals.
  • Maintain equipment used in a particular sport.
  • Assess performance following athletic competition, identifying strengths and weaknesses and making adjustments to improve future performance.
  • Exercise or practice under the direction of athletic trainers or professional coaches to develop skills, improve physical condition, or prepare for competitions.
  • Receive instructions from coaches or other sports staff prior to events and discuss performance afterwards.

Athlete Required Skills

Below is a list of the skills most Athletes and Sports Competitors say are important on the job.

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.

  • Motorcycle Racer
  • Athlete
  • Professional Skateboarder
  • Snowboarder
  • Karate Black Belt

What Kind of Athlete Job Opportunities Are There?

In 2016, there was an estimated number of 11,800 jobs in the United States for Athlete or Sports Competitor. 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. There will be an estimated 1,700 positions for Athlete per year.

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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.

Do Athletes and Sports Competitors Make A Lot Of Money?

The typical yearly salary for Athletes and Sports Competitors is somewhere between $19,040 and $208,000.

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Athletes and Sports Competitors who work in Colorado, California, or Texas, make the highest salaries.

How much do Athletes and Sports Competitors make 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

Tools & Technologies Used by Athletes and Sports Competitors

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
  • Facebook
  • Oracle PeopleSoft
  • YouTube
  • Twitter
  • Motion analysis software

How do I Become an Athlete?

Individuals working as an Athlete or Sports Competitor have obtained the following education levels:

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What work experience do I need to become an Athlete?

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Where do Athletes and Sports Competitors Work?

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Athletes and Sports Competitors work in the following industries:

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References:

Image Credit: Staff Sgt. Michael Ellis via Public domain

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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