Athletes and Sports Competitors

27-2021.00 Zone 2 — Some Preparation Needed

Compete in athletic events.

Also known as: All Terrain Vehicle Racer (ATV Racer), Archer, Athlete, Automobile Racer (Auto Racer), Barrel Racer, Baseball Pitcher, Baseball Player, Basketball Player, ...

Annual Salary

$62,360

Median annual wage (May 2024)

$36,750 25th – 75th percentile $130,770
10th percentile $24,960
90th percentile $208,000+
U.S. Employment: 14,370

Job Outlook

+5.5%

Projected growth, 2024–2034 (Faster than average)

Annual Job Openings 2,100 per year (avg. 2024–2034)
Typical education: No formal educational credential
On-the-job training: Long-term on-the-job training

What You'd Do

  • Attend scheduled practice or training sessions.
  • 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.
  • Maintain equipment used in a particular sport.
  • Maintain optimum physical fitness levels by training regularly, following nutrition plans, or consulting with health professionals.
  • Assess performance following athletic competition, identifying strengths and weaknesses and making adjustments to improve future performance.
  • Represent teams or professional sports clubs, performing such activities as meeting with members of the media, making speeches, or participating in charity events.
  • Lead teams by serving as captain.
  • Receive instructions from coaches or other sports staff prior to events and discuss performance afterwards.

Top Skills

Speaking 3.9
Active Listening 3.8
Critical Thinking 3.8
Coordination 3.6
Judgment and Decision Making 3.3
Monitoring 3.3
Reading Comprehension 3.1
Social Perceptiveness 3.1

Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)

Knowledge Areas

Administration and Management 3.7
English Language 3.7
Customer and Personal Service 3.6
Personnel and Human Resources 3.4
Communications and Media 3.3
Education and Training 3.2
Sales and Marketing 3.2
Mathematics 3.1

Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)

Education Level Distribution

Percentage of workers in this occupation by education level

< High School
34.8%
Bachelor's
24.5%
High School
23.3%
Associate's
8.7%
Certificate
5.5%
Some College
3.3%

Technology & Tools

Software and tools commonly used in this role

In-Demand Technologies

Adobe Photoshop Facebook Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Word Oracle PeopleSoft

Other Tools

Email software Motion analysis software Twitter Web browser software YouTube

Work Styles

Personality traits and work styles important for this career

2.8
Achievement Orientation
2.7
Perseverance
2.6
Self-Confidence
2.5
Stress Tolerance
2.4
Self-Control
2.3
Dependability
2.3
Optimism

Key Abilities

Cognitive, physical, and sensory abilities important for this role

Oral Comprehension 4.0
Oral Expression 3.9
Static Strength 3.9
Problem Sensitivity 3.9
Stamina 3.9
Dynamic Strength 3.6
Speech Clarity 3.6
Explosive Strength 3.6

Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)

Work Activities

General types of job behaviors occurring on this job

Getting Information 4.2
Making Decisions and Solving Problems 4.1
Analyzing Data or Information 4.0
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events 3.9
Performing General Physical Activities 3.9
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships 3.9
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates 3.9
Developing Objectives and Strategies 3.8

Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)

Work Environment

Physical and social factors that influence the nature of work

Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
4.8
Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
4.5
Level of Competition
4.4
Contact With Others
4.3
Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
4.2
Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
4.2
Freedom to Make Decisions
4.1
Telephone Conversations
4.1
Spend Time Standing
4.1
E-Mail
4.0
Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
4.0
Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions
3.9

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Salary data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Outlook data: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034.

This page includes information from the O*NET 30.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license.