Sports Jobs Outlook

Sports Jobs: Jobs in the sports are not relegated to athletes. Coaches, referees, physical therapists and dieticians are just a few of the other jobs in this industry.

Education: Training varies widely depending on the role or position and the venue. For high school coaching and sports instructor jobs, schools usually prefer to hire teachers willing to take on the jobs part time.

Scope: Athletes, coaches, umpires and related workers held about 212,000 jobs in 2004. Coaches and scouts held 178,000 jobs; athletes, 17,000; and umpires, referees, and other sports officials, 16,000. Among those employed in wage and salary jobs, 30 percent held jobs in private educational services. About 15 percent worked in amusement, gambling and recreation industries.

Athletes, coaches, umpires and related sports jobs are growing faster than average. Why the sudden surge in sports jobs? The public is turning to sports for fun, fitness and entertainment, of course. Best bets in sports jobs include girls, women and baby boomer teams.

• Sports Jobs Outlook