Professional Athlete

Camp Sequoia

What they Do

Athletes and sports competitors participate in organized, officiated sporting events to entertain spectators. Practice to develop and improve their skills. Keep their sports equipment in good condition. Exercise, train, and follow special diets to stay in the best physical condition. Take instructions regarding strategy and tactics from coaches and other sports staff during practices and competitions. Follow the rules of the sport during competitions. Assess performance after each event and identify their strengths and weaknesses


Work Enviroment

Athletes and sports competitors held about 19,100 jobs in 2024. Athletes and sports competitors who participate in outdoor competitions may be exposed to weather conditions of the season in which they play their sport. In addition, many athletes must travel to sporting events. Such travel may include long bus rides or plane trips, and, in some cases, international travel.


How to Become One

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


Pay

The median annual wage for athletes and sports competitors was $62,360 in May 2024. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $24,960, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $239,200.


Job Outlook

Employment of athletes and sports competitors is projected to grow 5 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations.About 2,100 openings for athletes and sports competitors are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.


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