Careers for people who love sports include personal trainer, coach, referee, physical education teacher, strength and conditioning coach, athletic trainer, physical therapist, sports data analyst and sports marketing. Very few people play professionally, but many build careers around the game. The routes run from a short credential to a doctorate, so start by deciding whether you love the competition, the body, the strategy or the business.
Which part of sports do you love?
“I love sports” can mean very different things. Some people love the training and the body; they lean toward fitness and health care. Some love teaching and team culture; they lean toward coaching and education. Others love strategy and numbers, or the stories and business around a team. Name your part first, because it points to very different careers. Many sports jobs also run on nights, weekends and travel during the season, so ask how that fits the life you want.
Sports careers grouped by training
Short credential or on-the-job
- Personal trainer: A trainer credential and CPR are the usual start; building clients takes time. See how to become a personal trainer.
- Referee or sports official: Officiating associations train and assign officials, often part-time at first.
- Youth or club coach: Many start as volunteers or assistants and add coaching education along the way.
Certificate or associate degree
- Sports turf manager: Associate and certificate programs in turf management lead to work on fields, courses and stadiums.
- Massage therapist: A training program and, in most states, a license; some specialize in athletes.
Bachelor’s degree
- Physical education teacher: A bachelor’s and a state teaching license; coaching often comes with it. See how to become a teacher.
- Strength and conditioning coach: Usually a related degree plus a professional strength credential, with long hours in season.
- Sports data analyst: Statistics and coding skills applied to scouting and performance. See how to become a data analyst.
- Recreation program coordinator: Running leagues, camps and fitness programs for cities, schools and nonprofits.
- Sports marketing or communications: Promotions, social media and media relations for teams, leagues and brands; entry jobs are competitive.
Graduate degree or license
- Athletic trainer: A master’s from an accredited program, a national board exam and, in most states, a license.
- Physical therapist: A doctoral degree and a national licensing exam; sports is one specialty among many. See how to become a physical therapist.
- Sports medicine physician: Medical school, residency and often a sports medicine fellowship. See how to become a doctor.
- Sports psychologist: A doctorate and license, or a related master’s for performance-focused roles.
Related majors are covered in what you can do with a kinesiology degree, a marketing degree and a communications degree. The college majors guide and our career paths cover more, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook lists current pay and outlook.
For athletes thinking about life after playing
If you play now, your sport has already taught discipline, teamwork and handling pressure. Many athletes also find the end of playing harder than expected, because so much of who they are is tied to it. Our guides to career planning for student athletes, life after college sports and athletic identity after sports are good next reads.
How to test the fit
- Volunteer as an assistant coach or official for a youth league for one season.
- Shadow an athletic trainer or physical therapist; ask about evenings, weekends and travel.
- Help a team or club with stats, video or social media and see whether the behind-the-scenes work holds your interest.
- Use informational interviews to ask people in sports jobs how they got their first one.
Where a mentor helps
A mentor helps athletes and fans turn a love of sports into a realistic plan: comparing careers, balancing training and school, applying for programs and internships, and staying accountable when the season ends. Mentors are not admissions counselors, credentialed career counselors or recruiting advisors; they help you do the planning yourself. Learn about mentoring for student athletes and our career and education mentoring.
Related
- Career path guides
- Mentoring for student athletes
- Athlete transition mentoring
- Careers for people who like math
- Careers for People Who Like Working With Their Hands
Common questions
What sports jobs pay well without going pro?
Physical therapy, sports medicine and some analytics, marketing and management roles are among the better-paid paths. Check the Bureau of Labor Statistics for current figures.
What is the difference between an athletic trainer and a personal trainer?
Athletic trainers are licensed health care professionals with a graduate degree who prevent and treat injuries. Personal trainers design workouts and usually hold a shorter fitness credential.
What should I major in for a sports career?
Kinesiology or exercise science suits health and training paths; marketing, communications or business suits the business side; statistics or computer science suits analytics.
Can I work in sports if I never played in college?
Yes. Most people in sports careers did not play at a high level. Skills and experience matter more than your playing record.
Get started
Love sports and want a career plan that fits? Call (888) 305 5422, email contact@blackburnmentoring.com or start with a short assessment. A member of our team reviews every assessment personally and sets up a free intro call.