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Sports Players

Professional sportsmen and women train and compete, either individually or as part of a team, in their chosen sport for financial gain.

Wages

New workers
AVERAGE
Experienced
£12,752
£24,977
£45,361

New workers start around £12,752. Normal pay is £24,977 per year.
Highly experienced workers can earn up to £45,361.

Available jobs

In the past year there were 19,326 vacancies for this type of job

8.31%

Projected job growth over the next 8 years

Related courses

People work towards these careers by taking these courses at college and uni.

What they do most days?

  • Discusses performance problems with coaches, physiotherapists, dieticians and doctors.

  • Maintains clothing and other specialised sporting equipment.

  • Builds stamina, physical strength and agility through running, fitness exercises and weight training.

  • Attends training sessions to develop skills and practice individual or team moves and tactics.

  • Participates in exhibitions, pre-qualifying events, tournaments and competitions.

Hard Skills

Hard skills are specific, learnable, measurable, often industry or occupation-specific abilities related to a position.

Skills are ranked based on the number of job adverts that list them as required skills.

  • Cash Register

  • Product Knowledge

  • Marketing

  • Effective Communication

  • Gymnastics

  • Project Management

  • Business Development

  • Food Preparation

  • Inventory Management

  • Restaurant Operation

Soft Skills

Soft skills can be self-taught and usually do not necessitate a certain completed level of education.

Skills are ranked based on the number of job adverts that list them as required skills.

  • Customer Service

  • Sales

  • Communication

  • Leadership

  • Management

  • English Language

  • Coaching

  • Operations

  • Enthusiasm

  • Security Policies

How do I get a job like this?

People in these types of job started their career paths after studying courses like the ones below.

Routes to this career

See all

Football Studies

Nottingham College

BA (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · Nottingham · 22/09/2025

Tariff points: 64/64

Sports Therapy

Edge Hill University

BSc (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · Ormskirk · 09/2025

Tariff points: 128/128

Sports Therapy

University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI)

HND · 2 Years · Full-time · Inverness · 09/2025

Tariff points: 42/48

Sport Coaching

Leeds Beckett University

BSc (Hons) · 6 Years · Part-time · Leeds · 15/09/2025

Tariff points: 112/128

Sports and Exercise Science

University Academy 92 (UA92)

BSc · 3 Years · Full-time · Manchester · 05/01/2026

Tariff points: 104/104

Sports, Coaching and Fitness

South Eastern Regional College

FD · 2 Years · Full-time · Bangor · 09/2025

Tariff points: N/A

Sport & Exercise Science

Liverpool Hope University

BSc (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · Liverpool · 09/2025

Tariff points: 104/104

Sports Management

University of Wales Trinity Saint David

HND · 2 Years · Full-time · Swansea · 22/09/2025

Tariff points: 32/32

PE and Sports Coaching

University of Chester

BSc (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · Chester · 06/10/2025

Tariff points: 112/112

Sports Therapy

Plymouth Marjon University

BSc (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · Plymouth · 22/09/2025

Tariff points: 112/112

Sport (Top Up)

Cardiff Metropolitan University

BSc (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · Cardiff · 22/09/2025

Tariff points: N/A

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