Careers
Those graduating with Sport Management degrees often pursue career paths as athletic directors on the high school or collegiate levels. They also work on the college level as assistant athletic directors, sport information directors, compliance directors, recreational directors, etc. Some in Sport Management go into business in the area of the sporting goods industry. Additional opportunities exist in sales, marketing, broadcasting, public relations, event coordination, fund raising and a host of other occupations.
The multibillion-dollar sports industry pays salaries that vary significantly. On the collegiate level Sport Information Directors often begin employment as assistants in salary ranges from $25,000 to $30,000 per year. Salary.com listed an Assistant Athletic Director – Academic Compliance median expected income as $70,298 in April 2009. It also listed athletic directors at colleges and universities making a median salary of $94,406. in 2006.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in 2008, ...”marketing managers earned a yearly median salary of $118,160, PR managers earned $101,220 and PR Specialists earned $58,960”. It also listed professional team managers who work at major league teams making over 1 million a year and agents who manage professional teams making millions a year.
It can easily been seen that the job opportunities and salary levels in Sport Management vary greatly. A degree in either program will enable an individual to pursue several different avenues in a professional career with salary levels which can be modest or excessive.