The realm of sports and athletics is a world of passion, dedication, and exhilaration, where the thrill of competition meets the unity of teamwork. Beyond the crowd’s cheers and the glory of victory, this vibrant industry offers a diverse spectrum of career possibilities for athletes and sports lovers alike.
These career paths are presently explored by over 155,000 youths in the UK with over 85% of children aspiring to these careers as well. Whether you’re a budding athlete with dreams of making it to the professional stage or an ardent sports enthusiast eager to turn your passion into a profession, there are countless avenues awaiting exploration within the sports industry.
Learning about what you need to be in line with your aspirations is one of the first steps. You can enrol in courses or work at sports facilities in your neighbourhood to get more familiar with all you can do as a sports lover. Here, we will discuss the top 10 careers you can choose as an athlete or a sports lover, alongside their salary expectations from Paycale and Glassdoor. So, let’s get right to it.
Average Salary: £24,000
Starting Salary: £19,000
Highest Salary: £29,000
As a coach, you train and develop athletes or teams. You can become a trainer with or without a degree. You can also become a coach at various levels, from youth sports to college and professional teams.
At the minimum, you must have a level 2 sports coaching qualification. You can get this from the National Governing Body (NGB). You can also start your coaching journey as a personal trainer, and our training courses are a good way for you to start your career.
Average Salary: £33,000
Starting Salary: £26,000
Highest Salary: £41,000
The role of a sports manager is to oversee the administration and operations of sports organisations. This often includes managing budgets, marketing, and logistics.
You can start the journey to sports management with an undergraduate or postgraduate degree in any relevant niche. You can get a marketing or finance degree or a degree in sports management to help you prepare for any sports management field you find yourself in.
Average Salary: £40,000
Starting Salary: £35,000
Highest Salary: £47,000
A sports nutritionist is a professional who helps athletes optimise their performance by providing nutrition guidance and meal plans tailored to their needs.
Usually, a degree in food and nutrition or biochemistry is a requirement to start a career. Having practical knowledge will also bolster your career, especially in the early stages. With Futurefit’s nutrition courses, you can learn the basics required to become a sports nutritionist.
Average Salary: £50,000
Starting Salary: £30,000
Highest Salary: £93,000
A fitness trainer works with athletes to improve their physical fitness, strength, and conditioning.
Oftentimes, you can become a fitness trainer by turning your passion for sports and fitness into a profession. You can also get into it through a certification or apprenticeship. A Level 2 qualification in personal training is a great qualification to have.
Average Salary: £36,000
Starting Salary: £28,000
Highest Salary: £46,000
A sports analyst uses data and statistics to provide insights into player performance and team strategies for sports organisations. They analyse performance data to identify areas of improvement and make recommendations to help teams perform better. Sports analysts are also responsible for preparing reports and providing feedback to coaches and managers.
You need a post-secondary degree in a related field like journalism, communication, or broadcasting. A background in math or statistics is a plus for statistical sports analysis.
Average Salary: £42,000
Starting Salary: £30,000
Highest Salary: £61,000
A massage therapist is a skilled professional whose primary goal is to assess the sports client’s needs, whether it’s relief from muscle tension, stress reduction, or addressing specific health issues, and tailor a massage session to meet those needs.
You don’t need a degree to be a massage therapist but practical skills and a proven track record are essential. Some employers will also require you to have a professional certification. The Future Fit Sports massage qualification is a good place to start.
Average Salary: £26,000
Starting Salary: £22,000
Highest Salary: £30,000
A fun and interesting career is to combine your love of sports and technology by working in the video game industry, developing sports-themed video games. You will need to learn many programming languages to create a fine mix of your technological prowess and creative skills.
Average Salary: £37,000
Starting Salary: £23,000
Highest Salary: £41,000
If you are interested in sports equipment, consider a career in sales and marketing for sports equipment companies. With sufficient resources, you can also start a store for sports equipment.
The most important skill you need for this job is selling. As an entrepreneur in the field, other another concern will be to think of ways to grow and manage your business.
Average Salary: £56,700
Starting Salary: £25,500
Highest Salary: £150,000
A professional job is to specialise in sports law, dealing with legal issues related to contracts, intellectual property, and athlete representation.
Though you can choose to specialise in sports law, it is not mandatory, but you must be a professional in whatever law field you practice. You need to have a law degree and a strong law knowledge. Your career is dependent on this, and so are your clients.
As a sports photographer, you capture the excitement of sports events through photography or videography. These professionals provide visual coverage of games, matches, and athletes. It is a strong genre of photography and an essential part of sports to capture the wins, losses, and emotions.
This job title often includes capturing, editing, compilation, and sports journalism.
To become a sports photographer, start by taking a photography class; many free courses and certifications are available to start. In our digital world, you can create your photo and video portfolio with your mobile phone.
You can also find an internship to build practical knowledge and buy gear. The tools and gears needed to start documenting sports through photography and journalism are usually very expensive, so joining a company might be the better option.
The sports world offers a multitude of exciting paths. Whether you aspire to be a pro athlete, coach, marketer, or sports medicine expert, your passion for the game is your greatest asset.
Remember that success in this field requires dedication, skills, and adaptability. Embrace opportunities, learn from mentors, and stay focused on your goals. Challenges may arise, but you can turn your passion into a fulfilling career with determination.