Becoming a Sports Manager via Online Education?

At the very least, online education can help you lay a foundation and/or open up alternate career paths. Liberty University Online, one of the highest ranking online schools, is a US school (accredited) offering sports management courses to train individuals to become top-notch sports managers, football coaches, basketball coaches, sports directors, golf course superintendents, etc. Currently, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics there are 11,700 people employed as agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes alone in America, and their average annual salary is $87,430. General and operations managers make on average $110,550 per year and there are about 1,689,680 of them employed today. Colleges and universities like Liberty University Online that provide online education are successfully launching workers into this field.

Typical Work Locations for a Sports Manager
  • office
  • locker room
  • sports desk
  • home office
  • school
  • university
  • hotel
  • at the ball field
  • athletic facility
  • athletes home
Potential Advantages and Benefits of Working as a Sports Manager
  • grow and engage with your contact list
  • ask questions and follow through
  • bring forth a strong work ethic
  • believe and act in partnership
  • utilize gifts sales to secure more funds
  • build a circle of leaders and experts
  • build a list of benefits for exchange With other managers
  • build visibility via technology
  • longevity is always available
  • relationship building with athletes
Potential Drawbacks
  • undergo pressures
  • work late hours
  • face adversities
  • no time to relax
  • no time for family
  • undergo tension
  • solve problems created by team
  • no satisfaction with life
  • tiring job schedule
  • travel often
Related Professions to Consider
  • Public Relations Director
  • Director of Corporate Sales
  • Ticket Operations Director
  • Community Relations Director
  • Equipment Manager
  • Marketing Director
  • Promotions Manager
  • Facilities Director
  • College Sport Manager
  • Recreational Sport Manager
Possible Interview Questions When Applying to be a Sports Manager
  • What is the best advice you can give a person who wants to enter the field?
  • When did you become interested in sports management?
  • What area of sports management did you earn your PhD in?
  • What is the most important quality a person should have to succeed in sports management?
  • What is the biggest misconception new students have about the profession?
  • How do you teach a student to survive in such a competitive profession?
  • How do you plan your staff?
  • What is your overall practice structure?
  • When Special teams are at practice how do you handle?
  • What is your philosophy for each special team?
Common Collaborating Professions
  • Account Executive - Sports Facilities/Events/Promotions
  • Account Executive - Sports Management/Operations/Agent
  • Account Executive - Sports Sales & Marketing
  • Account Executive - Ticket Sales - Sports Management/Operations/Agent
  • Account Executive Digital Media Sports & Olympics
  • Account Executive Online Sales - Sports Sales & Marketing
  • Account Manager - NASCAR - Sports Facilities/Events/Promotions
  • Account Manager - NASCAR - Sports Sales & Marketing
  • Account Manager - Sports and Entertainment
  • Account Manager - Sports Sales & Marketing
Sports Manager Training books Sports Manager (More) Popular books Potential Companies to Work For Common College Majors
  • Athletic program management
  • Fitness program management
  • Human anatomy and physiology
  • Kinesiology
  • Sociology of sports
  • Sports and fitness marketing
  • Sports finance
  • Sports law
  • Parks Recreation and Leisure Studies
  • Pre-Physical Therapy

Sports Manager Salary Information

Category: General and operations managers

Total # Employed in the US 1,689,680
Average Hourly Wage: $53.15/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$22.01 $30.65 $44.55 $66.81 $0.0
Average Yearly Salary $110,550
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$45,780 $63,750 $92,650 $138,960 $0
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
2.2% 16.9% 23.9% 8.4% 33.7% 12.4% 2.4%
General and operations managers — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
North Dakota $75.5/hr $157,050
Oklahoma $65.15/hr $135,500
District of Columbia $62.71/hr $130,430
Delaware $62.49/hr $129,980
Colorado $59.93/hr $124,660
Florida $58.12/hr $120,890
Mississippi $56.39/hr $117,300
Missouri $56.28/hr $117,070
Virginia $56.24/hr $116,980
Oregon $55.96/hr $116,390
Kansas $55.5/hr $115,440
South Carolina $54.48/hr $113,320
Nebraska $53.62/hr $111,520
Wyoming $53.32/hr $110,900
Kentucky $52.2/hr $108,570
North Carolina $51.78/hr $107,710
Connecticut $51.6/hr $107,330
Arkansas $50.23/hr $104,490
West Virginia $49.91/hr $103,800
New York $49.73/hr $103,440
Tennessee $49.61/hr $103,180
Montana $49.6/hr $103,160
Utah $49.19/hr $102,320
New Mexico $48.25/hr $100,370
Louisiana $48.18/hr $100,210
Hawaii $47.64/hr $99,090
Idaho $47.08/hr $97,920
Washington $46.97/hr $97,700
Massachusetts $46.91/hr $97,580
Indiana $46.59/hr $96,910
Pennsylvania $46.48/hr $96,670
Alabama $46.09/hr $95,880
Puerto Rico $45.87/hr $95,410
New Hampshire $45.64/hr $94,920
Wisconsin $43.43/hr $90,340
Ohio $43.33/hr $90,130
Michigan $43.3/hr $90,060
California $42.98/hr $89,410
Nevada $42.54/hr $88,490
Maryland $41.38/hr $86,070
Maine $41.12/hr $85,530
South Dakota $40.07/hr $83,350
Guam $39.39/hr $81,930
New Jersey $38.08/hr $79,210
Alaska $37.78/hr $78,580
Iowa $36.44/hr $75,790


Category: Agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes

Total # Employed in the US 11,700
Average Hourly Wage: $42.04/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$12.43 $18.5 $29.76 $50.9 $0.0
Average Yearly Salary $87,430
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$25,860 $38,480 $61,890 $105,870 $0
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
2.7% 14.5% 19.8% 6.5% 42.4% 9.8% 4.3%
Agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Colorado $54.95/hr $114,300
Delaware $51.57/hr $107,260
Oklahoma $49.5/hr $102,960
Kansas $44.21/hr $91,970
Missouri $43.91/hr $91,330
Montana $41.93/hr $87,220
Wisconsin $39.89/hr $82,970
Alabama $35.72/hr $74,300
Kentucky $35.66/hr $74,170
Wyoming $34.44/hr $71,630
Idaho $30.78/hr $64,030
South Carolina $30.41/hr $63,260
Connecticut $29.72/hr $61,820
Utah $29.57/hr $61,500
Washington $29.53/hr $61,430
Nebraska $29.4/hr $61,160
New York $26.11/hr $54,300
Arkansas $26.07/hr $54,230
Mississippi $25.45/hr $52,940
Louisiana $24.77/hr $51,510
Hawaii $24.01/hr $49,950
Oregon $23.24/hr $48,340
Florida $22.33/hr $46,450
New Hampshire $21.83/hr $45,410
Guam $20.98/hr $43,640
South Dakota $20.72/hr $43,100
Massachusetts $18.29/hr $38,050


Category: Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations

Total # Employed in the US 1,745,670
Average Hourly Wage: $24.87/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$9.44 $13.69 $20.41 $30.56 $43.83
Average Yearly Salary $51,720
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$19,630 $28,480 $42,450 $63,570 $91,160
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
% % % % % % %
Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Florida $38.41/hr $79,900
Oklahoma $32.2/hr $66,970
Colorado $31.32/hr $65,150
Missouri $26.5/hr $55,120
North Dakota $25.99/hr $54,060
Delaware $25.72/hr $53,500
District of Columbia $25.13/hr $52,260
Mississippi $25.08/hr $52,170
Virginia $24.62/hr $51,210
Kansas $23.94/hr $49,790
Connecticut $23.68/hr $49,250
Idaho $23.62/hr $49,130
Nebraska $23.39/hr $48,650
Tennessee $23.16/hr $48,160
New York $22.75/hr $47,320
Montana $22.41/hr $46,600
Hawaii $22.31/hr $46,410
Wyoming $22.2/hr $46,170
North Carolina $22.14/hr $46,060
Utah $21.86/hr $45,470
New Hampshire $21.71/hr $45,160
Arkansas $21.68/hr $45,080
Oregon $21.61/hr $44,950
Indiana $21.45/hr $44,610
Alaska $21.03/hr $43,740
Puerto Rico $20.8/hr $43,260
Guam $20.59/hr $42,830
Wisconsin $20.38/hr $42,380
South Carolina $20.33/hr $42,290
Ohio $20.28/hr $42,170
Washington $19.77/hr $41,110
Alabama $19.17/hr $39,870
Nevada $18.76/hr $39,020
Massachusetts $18.75/hr $38,990
Kentucky $18.6/hr $38,690
New Mexico $18.36/hr $38,190
South Dakota $18.17/hr $37,790
Michigan $18.16/hr $37,770
California $18.07/hr $37,590
Maine $17.91/hr $37,240
Louisiana $17.82/hr $37,070
Maryland $17.3/hr $35,990
Iowa $17.07/hr $35,500
Pennsylvania $15.96/hr $33,200
West Virginia $15.68/hr $32,610
New Jersey $15.59/hr $32,420


Category: Athletes and sports competitors

Total # Employed in the US 13,620
Average Yearly Salary $80,950
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$16,020 $22,980 $40,210 $88,760 $0
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
2.1% 11.6% 19.1% 7.2% 42.9% 15.6% 1.5%
Athletes and sports competitors — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Alabama - $95,880
Arkansas - $38,950
California - $28,940
Colorado - $126,200
Connecticut - $141,730
Delaware - $43,990
Hawaii - $56,680
Idaho - $64,910
Iowa - $25,190
Kansas - $38,270
Kentucky - $87,460
Louisiana - $46,400
Maryland - $54,140
Massachusetts - $51,590
Mississippi - $51,140
Montana - $69,150
Nebraska - $130,000
New Hampshire - $102,880
North Carolina - $49,890
Ohio - $32,360
Oklahoma - $139,810
Oregon - $85,430
South Carolina - $52,330
Utah - $54,140
Washington - $52,100
Wisconsin - $117,460
Wyoming - $103,210
Guam - $67,510


Category: Umpires, referees, and other sports officials

Total # Employed in the US 14,860
Average Yearly Salary $28,490
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$15,880 $17,820 $22,880 $32,710 $48,080
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
2.1% 11.6% 19.1% 7.2% 42.9% 15.6% 1.5%
Umpires, referees, and other sports officials — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Alabama - $34,200
Arkansas - $30,280
Colorado - $27,430
Connecticut - $28,460
Delaware - $41,920
Hawaii - $25,610
Idaho - $15,940
Iowa - $27,500
Kansas - $24,190
Kentucky - $24,490
Louisiana - $25,410
Maine - $25,720
Maryland - $20,900
Massachusetts - $27,900
Mississippi - $21,580
Missouri - $28,370
Montana - $48,270
Nebraska - $26,560
Nevada - $27,540
New Hampshire - $27,150
New Mexico - $22,690
North Dakota - $34,180
Oklahoma - $56,570
South Carolina - $32,620
South Dakota - $32,180
Tennessee - $30,150
Utah - $44,610
Washington - $16,850
Wisconsin - $23,690
Wyoming - $26,700
Guam - $20,560
Puerto Rico - $42,200


Category: Entertainers and performers, sports and related workers, all other

Total # Employed in the US 23,500
Average Hourly Wage: $18.41/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$8.62 $10.52 $14.78 $22.19 $31.18
Average Yearly Salary $0
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
7.2% 20.6% 28.9% 7.8% 28.4% 5.7% 1.4%
Entertainers and performers, sports and related workers, all other — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary


Category: Gaming and sports book writers and runners

Total # Employed in the US 14,790
Average Hourly Wage: $11.28/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$7.33 $8.18 $9.78 $13.0 $18.0
Average Yearly Salary $23,460
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$15,250 $17,020 $20,350 $27,040 $37,440
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
9.8% 35.8% 32.9% 7.8% 11.8% 1.6% 0.3%
Gaming and sports book writers and runners — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
District of Columbia $16.25/hr $33,800
Alaska $16.18/hr $33,660
Colorado $14.75/hr $30,670
Kansas $14.35/hr $29,850
Maryland $14.21/hr $29,550
Kentucky $13.56/hr $28,210
Montana $12.72/hr $26,470
Hawaii $12.25/hr $25,470
South Carolina $11.59/hr $24,110
South Dakota $11.34/hr $23,580
North Dakota $11.18/hr $23,250
Wyoming $11.06/hr $23,000
Louisiana $10.65/hr $22,150
New York $10.45/hr $21,740
Alabama $10.31/hr $21,450
Tennessee $10.27/hr $21,360
Arkansas $10.16/hr $21,140
West Virginia $9.89/hr $20,570
Pennsylvania $9.87/hr $20,530
Utah $9.56/hr $19,890
Ohio $9.54/hr $19,840
Michigan $9.53/hr $19,820
Massachusetts $9.42/hr $19,590
Nevada $9.37/hr $19,480
New Mexico $9.36/hr $19,460
Nebraska $9.32/hr $19,390
Washington $8.74/hr $18,180
New Jersey $8.69/hr $18,070
Mississippi $8.52/hr $17,720
Oregon $7.26/hr $15,110


Sports Management Programs by State & City