10 Highest Paying Jobs With a Sports Management Degree 2025

You can be qualified for various jobs with a sports management degree, though you might be wondering which high-paying jobs are available in this field. Fortunately, there are many different jobs at all salary levels once you enter this career field, so you can be sure to find jobs with a sports management degree that match your needs.

Below, we'll discuss the estimated sports management degree salary, which may depend on the role. We'll also explore what some of the highest-paid careers in this industry might look like. You can also explore high-paying jobs with a bachelor's degree for more information on obtaining the biggest return for your higher education.

What Is a Sports Management Degree?

A sports management degree covers numerous topics for students interested in entering a career that involves leadership and logistics in professional, amateur, and college-level athletic organizations. Students will learn topics related to successful sports management careers, with coursework in sports law, sponsorship deals for athletes, sports marketing, and finance in sports.

Sports management career paths vary and may require a significant amount of sports business knowledge, in addition to management and legal acumen. Typical degree levels for those interested in working in sports management include the following:

• Associate of Arts (AA) in sports management
• Bachelor of Science (BS) in sports management
• BS in business administration, concentration in sports management
• Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Master of Sports Management

Learn More: What Is Sports Management?

Best Jobs With a Sports Management Degree

The following jobs in sports are all attainable when you get a sports management degree. These jobs vary in their daily tasks and salaries, so it's important to consider all your career options when deciding whether or not to pursue sports management. Below, you can view some of the highest-paying jobs with a sports management degree.

The following salary information was gathered from reputable sources such as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), which provides official data on wages, employment trends, and job outlooks across various industries. Please note that these salaries are based on national averages. The actual salary will vary depending on experience level, geographic area, and other factors.

1. Sports Marketing Manager

Estimated Median Salary: $156,580

Sports marketing managers organize marketing campaigns for their athletes or teams, align marketing strategies, and secure brand deals and sponsorships. Many sports marketing managers are in charge of developing marketing content or overseeing marketing teams that work to manage social media presence and other marketing campaigns involving the sports organization.

A bachelor's degree in marketing, business, or sports management could apply to these types of positions, depending on the role.

2. Sports Lawyer

Estimated Median Salary: $145,760

Sports lawyers provide legal counsel to athletic organizations, athletes, sports teams, and other sporting organizations. In addition to a bachelor's degree in sports management and a deep understanding of the sports management industry, you must obtain a Juris Doctor (JD) legal degree.

Sports lawyers are typically responsible for contracts, intellectual property, negotiations, and litigation involving their client and a third party. In general, lawyers are one of the highest-paying careers in the sports management world and outside of it.

3. Sports Agent

Estimated Median Salary: $143,730

The job of a sports agent can be glamorous since they represent athletes within their chosen organizations — or within the organization itself. Sports agents help to secure contracts and sponsorships with their athletes, and they work primarily for the athletes' interests.

Sports agents usually only need a bachelor's degree to perform their jobs; however, it can help to have some understanding of law, since these agents often work closely with sports lawyers.

4. Facilities Manager

Estimated Median Salary: $102,340

Even though facilities managers might not be the most highlighted career in the world of sports, this position is essential to sports facility operations. The facilities manager ensures that training centers and fields where games are played operate smoothly with the following tasks:

• scheduling maintenance
• overseeing budgets
• managing facility staff
• coordinating with event organizers

The best way to achieve this career is to earn a bachelor's in business administration with a focus on sports management.

5. Sports Manager

Estimated Median Salary: $76,572

The sports manager can have various duties, depending on the organization they work for and the size of their team. In general, sports managers schedule all team practices and travel, work directly with event planners and sports marketing professionals, oversee ticket sales, and work with coaches on training and other initiatives.

A bachelor's degree in sports management is the ideal degree for this role, as the courses clearly align with the tasks required for this position.

6. Athletic Director

Estimated Median Salary: $70,498

Athletic directors need to be experienced in both athletics and management. They're in charge of representing their athletic department at a college or professional athletic organization, in addition to hiring staff, ensuring compliance, and budgeting.

Generally, individuals will need business experience and a master's degree in sports management to obtain this career. The master's degree program will help students gain the skills necessary for a job that requires much responsibility.

7. Sports Public Relations Specialist

Estimated Median Salary: $66,750

Sports public relations specialists need to have a strong background in communication along with a good knowledge of sports management and athletic programs. These specialists are responsible for media relations, releasing communications to the press, and setting up interviews with athletes.

In general, you can obtain a business or communications bachelor's degree with a minor in sports management; you can also opt to pursue a master's degree in sports management after graduating with one of these degrees to gain a background in multiple areas.

8. Sports Development Officer

Estimated Median Salary: $62,092

To be a sports development officer, you'll need management skills, organizational skills, and a good knowledge of sports management. A bachelor's degree is generally enough for this position.

Sports development officers oversee the development of new sports programs and the continued success of sports programs within their organization.

9. Sports Event Planner

Estimated Median Salary: $56,920

Becoming an event planner takes strong organizational skills — in addition to people skills and management knowledge. Sports event planners are responsible for the following tasks:

• coordinate game day activities and schedules
• select venues and/or place bids for these venues
• work on event budgeting
• coordinate with sports marketers or other promotional professionals

A bachelor's degree in business administration with a concentration in sports management or a master's degree in sports management is preferable for this job.

10. Athletic Equipment Manager

Estimated Median Salary: $45,710

An athletic equipment manager is responsible for maintaining all the equipment and uniforms needed for athletes to perform well. Duties may involve handling the purchasing, monitoring, and repairing of athletic equipment, as well as issuing and fitting uniforms for athletes.

An athletic equipment manager may also manage staff or work on a team to maintain equipment. A bachelor's degree in sports management is usually sufficient for this job.

FAQs About High-Paying Jobs With a Sports Management Degree

If you want to find high-paying sports management jobs, you may have some questions about the type of degree and career paths available. We'll answer your most frequently asked questions about this topic below.

Is Sports Management a Good Major?

Sports management can be a good major, as long as you are prepared for the competitive nature of the jobs available in this field. Sports management is a highly desired job for many, and it helps to have a specialization in the field of sports management to secure a job more easily.

For example, obtaining a bachelor's degree in business administration with a minor in sports management helps you handle the business and management side of this career. You can also pair your sports management degree with minors such as public relations or communications to further hone your skillset.

Do You Need a Master's Degree in Sports Management?

While a master's degree in sports management is not required for every position in this field, this degree can help you when it comes to increasing your annual salary. Additionally, an undergraduate degree in business administration or communications can become more valuable in the field of athletics and sports if you also have a master's degree in sports management to increase your knowledge of this field.

Learn More: What Can You Do With A Masters in Sports Management?

How Much Do Sports Management Professionals Make?

Sports management professionals can make a range of salaries, depending on their exact duties and their specialized roles within the sports and athletic career field. On average, sports management professionals make between $50,000 and $100,000 annually.

Positions that require more specialized education, such as sports marketing management, may pay more than positions such as sports event planning and athletic equipment managing.

What Is the Average Master's in Sports Administration Salary?

If you are interested in a master's degree in sports administration, you may be wondering about the expected sports administration salary. On average, a career in sports administration pays an estimated $56,000 annually.

Sports administration is not one of the high-paying sports jobs out there, but individuals can earn up to $76,000 per year and have a comfortable, rewarding career.

Explore Sports Management Degree Programs

When considering sports majors that pay well, it's common to settle on sports management degree programs, as these programs open the doors for numerous careers within the world of sports and athletics. You can check out Learn.org for more information on online and in-person sports programs to help you decide which degree is best for you and which sports management careers to pursue.