Professionals in the sports management industry can hold any number of jobs. While it is true that the stars on the field are the workers who get most of the money in the world of sports, average salaries for those off the field are nothing to laugh at. Even if you don’t work for a winning team, you can do really well for yourself as a sports management professional.

Sports management is a wide field. SimplyHired.com reports that people in the sports management industry make an average of $50,000 per year, but there are huge differences depending on your specific job. Here are some of the most popular job titles, along with their average salaries:

• Head coach (major sports): $65,830
• Head coach (minor sports): $50,000
• Athletic director: $100,348
• Head athletic trainer: $51,900
• Event ticket manager: $46,470
• Contract Specialist: $55,000

For some, salary depends on how well the team performs. This is especially true when it comes to the coaching staff. Most coaches have a contract with the team or school employing them, but they’re given additional bonuses and raises based on having a winning record. It can go the other way too, though – coaches don’t make as much when their teams don’t win, and they can even face being fired if they have more than one bad season in a row.

The average salaries listed above are, in some cases, skewed by the very high salaries of professional and major university workers. For example, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the middle half of coaches in 2006 made between $17,510 and $40,805. So, especially as someone new to the field, your starting salary will likely be significantly lower than average.

The jobs above, of course, aren’t your only career path choices. You can also work as a sport agent, representing athletes to negotiate contracts and otherwise ensure their happiness in their career. As a sport agent, you’ll be paid a percentage of your stars’ earnings, so your salary will depend on how well your client players on the field. In the United States, here are the average ranges you can expect:

• NFL: $6,750 – $600,000
• NBA: $15,400 – $1,120,000
• NHL: $14,000 – $400,000
• MLS: $600 – $20,000

Remember, those numbers are per client, so by having more clients, you’ll make more money. If you want to work as a sports agent, you can also start out at a larger agency, where you’ll typically make a smaller percentage plus an annal base salary. This is a great way to gain experience and build relationships in the sports world before setting out on your own.

With a degree in sports management, you’ll be qualified for even more jobs, including facility management, recruiting, sports finance, and sports marketing. You can also consider a minor or double major in a related field, such as communications or business so that you’re more qualified for the high-paying jobs in this industry.

For those looking to begin or advance a career in sports management, there are several accredited online colleges that offer degrees in the subject. For beginners, associate's degrees and bachelor's degrees are available. For graduate students wishing for more in-depth study, master's degrees and MBAs in sports management are also available.

	University of Phoenix — The University of Phoenix offers an associate's degree in sports management. This degree program lays the foundation for further study in recreation management and sport. Students will learn about management, ethics, leadership, finance, marketing, and more.
	Ashford University — The bachelor's degree in sports management from Ashford University will prepare its students for managerial positions in the sport and recreation industry, including gymnasium management, athletics equipment merchandising, and professional sports management.
	Southern New Hampshire University — Southern New Hampshire University's MBA in sport management program teaches its students to become adept in the business and marketing side of the sport industry. For this particular program, no GMAT or GRE is required, but applicants must have a bachelor's degree.
	California University of Pennsylvania — The BS in sports management from California University of Pennsylvania features a concentration in fitness and wellness, allowing graduates of this program to find careers working in fitness clubs, gyms, strength coaching, and more. This is a full four-year program that is available 100% online.
	St. Leo University — The MBA degree in sports business from St. Leo University will give its students a thorough understanding of teamwork, ethics, communication, and management within a sport and recreation environment.
	Drexel University — The Master of Science degree in sports management from Drexel University is designed to help sports managers and administrators receive a full understanding of the links between management skills, nutrition, psychology, and sport.
	Tiffin University — TIffin University's MBA program in sports management prepares its students for management positions in recreational, collegiate, and professional sports. The main focus of the program is on developing skills in communication, leadership, IT, and problem solving.
	Columbia Southern University — The MBA in sport management program from Columbia Southern University is designed to produce leaders within the sports industry. Areas of study include HR management, marketing, MIS, ethics, business policy, sport law and risk management, sport fund raising, and sport administration & finance.
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