Sports managers for racing and betting venues manage daily booking activities.
The sports industry encompasses a wide range of athletic disciplines in the United States. College students majoring in sports management can pursue careers ranging from school athletic directors to sports managers for professional athletes and sports teams. In addition to business management, sports management professionals employ event planning, marketing and sales skills in the field. Their average salary range varies considerably depending on their experience and sports sector.
Education
Sports management majors learn about all aspects of business in the sports industry. Students take courses in subjects such as accounting, management, economics, marketing and computer technology. Sports management majors also develop knowledge of sports culture in popular media and higher education, as well as business ethics, legal issues and industry financing. Careers available to sports management graduates include athletic director, sports manager, sales representative, media relations, intramural director and facilities management. According to the University of Tennessee "Sport Management Concentration Major Guide for 2010-11," entry-level salaries for sports management majors fell within the mid-$20,000 range.
Function
Some sports management majors become sports managers for sports venues and athletic teams. Sports managers for racing and other sports betting establishments oversee daily bookings, and ensure that betting activities comply with federal and state gaming laws. The average salary for racing and sports managers was $55,821 according to a June 2011 Salary.com report.
Athletic directors manage all aspects of their schools' intramural and intercollegiate sports programs. This includes supervising coaches; scheduling use of the locker room and gym facilities; coordinating transportation to and from sporting events; and organizing fundraising initiatives. A June 2011 Salary.com report stated that athletic directors with at least five years of experience averaged a salary of $98,802. Other sports management careers include agents, who represent professional athletes and help them manage their careers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that agents and managers for athletes averaged $97,760 per year as of May 2010.
Geography
Average salaries for the sports management field varied considerably across major metropolitan areas, according to a June 2011 SalaryExpert report. For example, sport management positions in Phoenix earned an average salary of $31,872. In Charlotte, sports management workers averaged $31,150. Sports management professionals in Miami and Atlanta averaged $51,759 and $48,231 respectively. In Los Angeles and New York City, they earned the highest average salaries at $83,156 and $71,012 annually. Houston sports management professionals reported the lowest salaries, averaging just $18,648 per year.
Potential
Despite intense competition for jobs in the sports management field, jobs for coaches and scouts are projected to increase 25 percent through 2018, according to the BLS. Moreover, positions for umpires, referees and other sports officials are projected to grow 10 percent during the same time period. Sports management majors will be needed to respond to a larger population that will continue to seek out sports for fitness, recreational and entertainment purposes. Moreover, sports management professionals with teaching certification will have the best chances for obtaining coaching positions in schools. Coaching, athletic director and other sports management positions at the college and professionals levels will have the greatest earnings potential.
Tags: management majors, sports management, management professionals, average salary, June 2011