# Athletes and Sports Competitors

> Compete in athletic events.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/athletes-and-sports-competitors
- SOC code: 27-2021.00
- Career family: Arts, design and media
- Median annual pay: $66,710 (10th percentile $26,500, 90th percentile $742,310)
- Projected growth: Faster than average, +5.5%
- Openings a year: 2,200
- Typical entry education: No formal credential
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RES)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 70 |
| Investigative (I) | 7 |
| Artistic (A) | 19 |
| Social (S) | 55 |
| Enterprising (E) | 59 |
| Conventional (C) | 34 |

## What you'd do

- Getting Information (importance 81/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 76/100)
- Analyzing Data or Information (importance 75/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 73/100)
- Performing General Physical Activities (importance 73/100)
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships (importance 72/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 71/100)
- Developing Objectives and Strategies (importance 71/100)
- Coaching and Developing Others (importance 68/100)
- Processing Information (importance 68/100)

## Skills

Speaking, Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Coordination, Judgment and Decision Making, Monitoring, Reading Comprehension, Social Perceptiveness, Active Learning, Complex Problem Solving

## Knowledge

Administration and Management, English Language, Customer and Personal Service, Personnel and Human Resources, Communications and Media, Education and Training, Sales and Marketing, Mathematics, Public Safety and Security, Administrative

## Also called

All Terrain Vehicle Racer (ATV Racer), Archer, Athlete, Automobile Racer (Auto Racer), Barrel Racer, Baseball Pitcher, Baseball Player, Basketball Player, Bass Fisher, Bicycle Racer

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3105) (CIP 3105, 1,394 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Rice University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/rice-university-2227) | Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $48,301 | $87,404 | not reported |
| [Emory University-Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/emory-university-main-campus-916) | Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $40,920 | $87,254 | $12,250 |
| [University of Virginia-Main Campus UVA](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-virginia-main-campus-uva-3072) | Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | not reported | $81,110 | $15,250 |
| [University of Scranton](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-scranton-3036) | Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $30,531 | $79,700 | $27,000 |
| [Wake Forest University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/wake-forest-university-3149) | Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $39,950 | $79,599 | $19,500 |
| [University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-michigan-ann-arbor-main-campus-2956) | Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $47,967 | $79,411 | $20,234 |
| [Manhattan College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/manhattan-college-1583) | Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | not reported | $78,264 | $26,000 |
| [Seton Hall University-New Jersey](https://www.collegesref.com/college/seton-hall-university-new-jersey-2399) | Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $46,465 | $77,835 | $26,618 |

## Related careers

- [Coaches and Scouts](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/coaches-and-scouts): $47,320 median pay
- [Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/umpires-referees-and-other-sports-officials): $40,710 median pay
- [Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/exercise-trainers-and-group-fitness-instructors): $47,160 median pay
- [Amusement and Recreation Attendants](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/amusement-and-recreation-attendants): $32,150 median pay
- [Athletic Trainers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/athletic-trainers): $62,520 median pay
- [Training and Development Specialists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/training-and-development-specialists): $69,280 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.