BS in Sport Business Management CareersBS in Sport Business Management CareersBS in Sport Business Management Careers

Sports management is a competitive, exciting, and rewarding field that presents a wide array of surprising career paths. Whether you want to pursue sales, data analysis, revenue-generating, new media, or marketing, a degree in sport business management can help you find a career you love in sports.

Sports teams, organizations, retailers, and equipment manufacturers are all businesses at heart, and that means they seek skilled professionals who possess not only a love of sports, but also a keen business sense.

When you earn your bachelor’s degree in sport business management online, you can pursue a variety of paths in the business of sports. You can build your sales and data analysis toolbox as well as develop high-level skills like creating and executing social media strategies, coordinating corporate sponsorships, and developing cohesive team brands.

The job outlook and revenue predictions vary according to specific job type, the field you choose to enter, and your location. But many of the available options project growth — which means you have plenty of opportunity to put your sports savvy to work.

Where can a degree in sport business management take you? While general communication, decision-making, and collaboration skills are important, specific skill sets may lend themselves to certain career paths. For example, some jobs require strong social media or communication skills, where employees have the opportunity to report on events and react to the public in real time. Other jobs involve raising funds, developing marketing materials, or managing relationships with sponsors.

So where will your skills in sport business management take you? Here are a few popular career trajectories.

The success of a sports franchise or business can receive a boost from its marketing efforts. As a sports marketing analyst, your job would be to assist in the development and execution of marketing plans. Since duties rely strongly on data-based decision-making, a sports marketing analyst should possess skills in traditional marketing methods and statistics. When you pursue a career as a sports marketing analyst, you have the opportunity to help guide sports-related brands through their next evolution.

Growth and Salary

The overall field of market research analysis, which includes sports marketing analysis, is projected to see tremendous growth from 2019 to 2029 — 18% overall, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

According to Glassdoor, entry level sports marketing analysts can earn an average median income of $54,000 annually. With additional experience in the sports marketing field, and depending on factors like location, top earners can make as much as $80,000.

Skills recommended to succeed include:

Sports teams, apparel companies, sporting goods businesses, and sports sponsoring agencies are all essentially brands. As such, organizations in all of these industries require a strategy for success.

Sales managers in this field are well-versed in marketing strategies, advertising tactics, and managing promotions. They deeply understand the brand’s aesthetic and convey its values and message to the right audience.

Those in this position often work as part of a larger team, which makes communication and collaboration skills essential. In addition, sports sales managers should be able to react in a timely and appropriate manner to the public’s response to brand changes and outreach initiatives, ensuring mutual success for both their brand and clients.

Growth and Salary

The BLS projects a trend of expansion for advertising, promotions, and marketing managers across all industries, with 6% growth from 2019 to 2029. And data compiled by Glassdoor puts the average salary for an early career sports sales manager at about $63,000, making this is a worthwhile and rewarding career path to consider.

Skills recommended to succeed include:

Also within the realm of marketing, social media strategists focus specifically on the digital platforms where a brand connects to the public — often in real time.

Social media strategists are responsible for developing cohesive marketing plans on these platforms, performing tasks like managing brand reputation, analyzing relevant social media data for trends, and running promotional campaigns.

If you want to be a social media strategist, you may find yourself serving as the first line of communication with fans and consumers. That means you should be a savvy communicator and skilled relationship-builder, able to make decisions on the fly and carry the ideals of a brand into the world.

Growth and Salary

Data compiled by Glassdoor indicates an average annual income of approximately $50,473 for social media strategists just entering the job market, with a potential for growth and promotion to other roles, such as social media director. With additional years of experience and advanced expertise, social media strategists can expect to earn more than $72,000 annually, though this pay rate can vary by location.  The BLS anticipates a 7% job growth rate among public relations specialists, the category that includes social media strategists, from 2019 to 2029.

Skills recommended to succeed include:

Many sports teams, apparel manufacturers, and other entities rely heavily on corporate partnerships, and it’s the responsibility of coordinators to forge, maintain, and manage those relationships.

As a corporate partnerships coordinator, you would be expected to serve as a liaison between corporate sponsors, sports teams, sports-affiliated businesses, and support staff. You may also assist in the details of contracts, maintaining open lines of communication and reporting on various deliverables that relate to promotions and sponsorships.

As corporate partnerships coordinators work closely with stakeholders both within and outside of their organization, strong communication and leadership skills are essential.

Growth and Salary

Self-reported data from those in this position on PayScale.com indicates an average salary of $46,720 for partnerships coordinators across a variety of fields. If you want to pursue a career in corporate partnership coordination, your degree in sport business management could help you build an integral understanding of the intersection of sports and business, making you more competitive for these roles.

Skills recommended to succeed include:

Event coordinators plan and execute events both large and small.  Extremely organized, with strong attention to detail, these individuals help everything run smoothly for teams, fans, and sponsors.

Sports event coordinators work in a variety of areas, from local tournaments and college sporting events, to international events like the Olympics. These highly organized sports management experts acquire permits, plan for travel and accommodations, ensure safety for athletes and attendees, and work many others to promote and execute sports events of all sizes.

Growth and Salary

According to the BLS, the field of meeting, convention, and event planning is projected to see 8% growth from 2019 to 2029 — faster than the national average of all jobs.

While salaries can vary substantially based on factors like experience and location, according to Glassdoor, early career event coordinators can earn an average annual salary of $42,000. After additional experience in the industry, senior event coordinators can earn upwards of $50,000.

Skills recommended to succeed include:

Whether you’re interested in managing brand strategy for an apparel company, developing marketing for a sports team, analyzing sports marketing data, or tackling the coordination of big events, there are rich opportunities to discover with a degree in sport business management.

By pursuing a bachelor’s degree in sport business management at Maryville, you can develop critical skills in business, communication, and leadership that can help you advance in your career — wherever that takes you.

Discover how our Rawlings Sport Business Management online bachelor’s degree program can help prepare you for success in the world of sport business.

Sources

Glassdoor, General Sports Sales Manager Salaries

Glassdoor, Event Coordinator Salary

Glassdoor, Senior Event Coordinator Salary

Glassdoor, Social Media Strategist

Glassdoor, Sports Marketing Analyst Salaries

PayScale, Partnerships Coordinator Salary

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Managers

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Job Outlook: Social Media Specialist

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Market Research Analysts

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners