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Creative & Media

Athletes and Sports Competitors

Compete in athletic events.

Median salary (BLS)

$66,710

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$27k – $742k

Job outlook

+6% (faster than average)

AI exposure

Plan a path to Athletes and Sports Competitors

Education

Typical entry: No degree required

Plan my path to this →

How to qualify

Estimate

Cost to qualify

$0–$150

Time to qualify

6 mo

Renewal

  1. 1

    High school diploma or GED

    Course

    Expected by most employers; if you need the GED, test fees run $0–$150 depending on the state.

    $0–$150 · 3 months · varies by state source

  2. 2

    On-the-job training

    Experience

    Employer-provided and typically paid — days to a few months for most no-degree roles.

    Cost varies · 3 months source

Estimated typical U.S. route for "Athletes and Sports Competitors" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.

Typical progression

  1. Junior Athletes and Sports Competitors

    Entry / Junior

    $26,500

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Athletes and Sports Competitors

    Established

    $66,710

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Athletes and Sports Competitors

    Senior

    $404,510

Key skills

A typical day

  • 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.

Fields of study

Any field

Top colleges for Creative & Media

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Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.