Salary

Sports Management Salary Overview

What is the Average Salary in Sports Management?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), unlike many fields the average salary for people working in sports management varies widely depending on the specific occupation. However, as of May 2020, the median annual wage for all management occupations, including sports management, was $109,760. The bottom 10% of sports management professionals earned less than $42,480 per year, while the top 10% earned more than $208,000 per year.

In addition to your level of education, experience and talent, how much someone in sports management earns is dependent on where they live. Some cities and states pay more due to market conditions and demand for labor.

To the right is a map of the mean annual salary of sports management professionals with the highest paying states in dark blue (source: BLS.gov May 2021). In particular, Washington, California, Minnesota, Tennessee, New York, Connecticut and Florida have higher median wages for sports management professionals, particularly sports agents.

Salary of Common Sports Management Careers?

The following are common careers in sports management, with the average salary for each sports management career. The actual salary a person earns, of course, depends on not just on your choice of career, but also your degree level, experience, geographic location, job performance, and employer type, among others:

1. Athletic Director Average Salary: $97,000
2. Event Manager Average Salary: $54,000
3. Sponsorship Manager Average Salary: $63,000
4. Sports Agent Average Salary: $72,000
5. Sports Marketing Manager Average Salary: $76,000
6. Facilities Manager Average Salary: $60,000
7. Ticket Sales Manager Average Salary: $48,000
8. Athletic Trainer Average Salary: $49,000
9. Equipment Manager Average Salary: $44,000
10. Sports Information Director Average Salary: $53,000
11. Sports Broadcaster Average Salary: $62,000
12. Sports Journalist Average Salary: $42,000
13. Sports Psychologist Average Salary: $78,000
14. Sports Medicine Physician Average Salary: $209,000
15. Fitness and Wellness Director Average Salary: $54,000
16. Recreation Director Average Salary: $62,000
17. Sports Event Coordinator Average Salary: $46,000
18. Sports Program Director Average Salary: $60,000
19. Sports Nutritionist Average Salary: $53,000
20. Sports Physical Therapist Average Salary: $85,000

How Degree Level Impacts Salary in Sports Management

In general, a higher level of degree in sports management leads to a higher salary, but the actual salary someone earns depends a great deal on a variety of other factors as well including; the specific job, industry, location, job performance and experience. Just to provide a general idea, however, here is a rough estimate of the average salary increase for each degree level in sports management (BLS 2020):

• Associates degree in sports management: $30,000 – $50,000 per year
• Bachelor’s degree in sports management: $50,000 – $70,000 per year
• Master’s degree in sports management: $70,000 – $100,000 per year
• PhD in sports management: $100,000 – $150,000+ per year

Because the actual salaries earned within sports management vary so significantly based on your specific field or career, here are four examples of sports management careers and the potential impact of degree level on salary:

1. Event Coordinator:

• Associates degree: $30,000 – $40,000 per year
• Bachelors degree: $40,000 – $50,000 per year
• Masters degree: $50,000 – $70,000 per year
• PhD: $70,000 – $100,000+ per year

2. Sports Marketing Manager:

• Associates degree: $40,000 – $50,000 per year
• Bachelors degree: $50,000 – $70,000 per year
• Masters degree: $70,000 – $100,000 per year
• PhD: $100,000 – $150,000+ per year

3. Athletic Director:

• Associates degree: N/A
• Bachelors degree: $60,000 – $80,000 per year
• Masters degree: $80,000 – $120,000 per year
• PhD: $120,000 – $200,000+ per year

4. Sports Psychologist:

• Associates degree: N/A
• Bachelors degree: $40,000 – $60,000 per year
• Masters degree: $60,000 – $90,000 per year
• PhD: $90,000 – $150,000+ per year

Once again, people considering a career in sports management should note that these salary ranges are not definitive, can vary depending on the specific employer, location, and years of experience.