Entertainers and Performers, Sports and Related Workers

How to become an Athlete or Sports Competitor

Official title: Athletes and Sports Competitors

Also called: Baseball Pitcher, Baseball Player, Basketball Player, Golf Professional, Hockey Player, Major League Baseball Player, Minor League Baseball Player, Professional Athlete, Professional Golf Tournament Player, Race Car Driver

Compete in athletic events.

Main tasks

Assess performance following athletic competition, identifying strengths and weaknesses and making adjustments to improve future performance.
Maintain equipment used in a particular sport.
Attend scheduled practice or training sessions.
Maintain optimum physical fitness levels by training regularly, following nutrition plans, or consulting with health professionals.
Participate in athletic events or competitive sports, according to established rules and regulations.
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.
Represent teams or professional sports clubs, performing such activities as meeting with members of the media, making speeches, or participating in charity events.

How to become one

No formal educational credential is typically required to become an athlete or sports competitor. Athletes must have athletic talent and an extensive knowledge of their sport. They typically get such knowledge through years of practice and experience at lower levels of competition.

Typical education to start: No formal educational credential

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

College: Education & Teaching degrees, Offered by 35 universities in the US
Licence: A licence is required in 35 states.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $66,710 a year The middle half earn $36,790 to $109,880.
About 22,900 people work in this job now, and about 24,100 are projected by 2035. (+5.5%)
People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Questions people ask

How do I become an Athlete or Sports Competitor?

How much does an Athlete or Sports Competitor earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $66,710 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $36,790 to $109,880.

Is an Athlete or Sports Competitor a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 6% by 2035, from about 22,900 to about 24,100 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become an Athlete or Sports Competitor?

Not always. 56% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Education & Teaching degrees.

Will AI change the work of an Athlete or Sports Competitor?

People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.