The science of exercise and efficiency is the emphasis of the field of sports science. Those with degrees in sports science have expertise in business, psychology, nutrition, anatomy, and physiology. Health, Sports, recreation, fitness, education, sales and are some of the industries that use sports science graduates. The average salary and primary job responsibilities for some positions obtained with a degree in sports science are listed in this article.
What might be covered in a degree program in sports science?
Students are introduced to the numerous scientific fields that pertain to the connection between physical activity and the human form in a sports science program. Throughout the degree, students will gain knowledge of psychology, psychiatry, neurobiology, biomechanics, biochemistry, psychometrics, anatomy, immunology, muscle mechanics, and biokinetics. By being introduced to these numerous fields, sports science students have a broad background in the knowledge that can help them select which career route would be ideal for them.
Most bachelor sports science degree programs last three to four years, although some colleges have begun to provide master’s programs that typically last one to two years and are frequently more research-based.
Typically, the academic and practical components of sports science degree programs are balanced. Individual research and coursework serve as a foundation for classes and workshops, and lab work and experimental exercise sessions help students apply what they have learned. There are many different ways that sports science programs are evaluated, but the majority include a thesis in the final academic year. The other primary methods of evaluation include written and hands-on exams, essays, and lab reports.
What should I major in if I want to pursue a degree in sports science?
The majority of sports science programs demand that potential students have taken at least one scientific-based course in high school. Physical education, chemistry, and physics are all important and would provide a strong basis for a prospective student of sports science, but biology is likely the most valuable course.
A sports science degree can result in a broad spectrum of careers, but if a potential student is already certain of their envisioned career trajectory, they could discover some subjects quite more useful than others. For instance, a future sports psychologist should also consider studying psychology, while somebody wishing to work as a nutritionist or dietician may want to keep in mind studying food technology.
Before enrolling in a sports science study, there are numerous options to gain job experience in a relevant area, like assisting at a fitness club, participating in outdoor recreation, or even operating at a gym.
45 jobs for sports science graduates
If you have a degree in sports science, you could be qualified for the following occupations, ranging from entry-level to highly technical positions:
1. A sports agent
Nationwide average hourly wage: $13.57
Primary responsibilities: Sports agents’ main responsibilities include finding and representing athletes, negotiating their contracts, marketing them to teams, and using data and analytics to evaluate their performance.
2. Manager of a sports league
Nationwide average hourly wage: $14.19
Primary responsibilities: A sports league manager’s main responsibilities are to plan and direct the activities of amateur or professional sports groups. They are in charge of budgeting, buying or maintaining supplies, hiring people, and scheduling.
3. A director of activities
Nationwide average hourly wage: $15.01
Primary responsibilities: An activities director creates exercise and activity schedules that are appropriate for elderly populations while employed for a senior or retirement home. They are in charge of making plans, buying equipment, hiring, and educating fitness teachers.
4. Camp manager
Nationwide average hourly wage: $15.23
Primary responsibilities: A camp director’s main responsibilities include designing camp programming, supervising camp workers, and managing day-to-day operations. They are frequently seasonal employees.
5. A wellness coordinator
Nationwide average hourly wage: $15.79
Primary responsibilities: A wellness coordinator designs health-related programs that satisfy the needs of clients while working in a fitness environment. They are in charge of personnel training, facility upkeep, and customer safety.
6. Recreational Coordinator
Nationwide average hourly wage: $16.38
Primary responsibilities: A recreation coordinator’s main responsibilities include planning group activities, events, and fitness or specialty programs for a given population or region on behalf of a recreation department, park, or private organization.
7. Kinesiologist
Nationwide average hourly wage: $17.89
Primary responsibilities: A kinesiologist’s main responsibilities include studying human mobility, assisting injured patients in their recovery, and promoting healthy muscle development and movement.
8. A sports coach
Nationwide average hourly wage: $17.09
Primary responsibilities: A sports coach’s main responsibilities include scheduling practices, devising game preparations, and assisting young, amateur, or professional athletic teams in refining their techniques and physical preparation.
9. A fitness equipment technician
Nationwide average hourly wage: $19.92
Primary responsibilities: A fitness equipment technician’s main responsibilities include assembling, maintaining, and fixing exercise equipment and machines in either private or public gyms, hospitals, or homes.
10. Chorerographer
Nationwide average hourly wage: $22.83
Primary responsibilities: A choreographer develops dance sequences for music and productions and instructs dancers in effective execution.
11. Personal trainer
Nationwide average hourly wage: $22.55
Primary responsibilities: A personal trainer’s main responsibilities include helping customers identify their strengths and limitations, creating tailored fitness programs, and imparting effective workout skills.
12. A fitness instructor
Nationwide average hourly wage: $24.24
Primary responsibilities: A fitness instructor’s main responsibilities include teaching individual or group workout classes and seminars at a gym. They guide participants through carefully planned exercises while demonstrating how to use the equipment and suitable approaches.
13. Professor
Nationwide average hourly wage: $24.06
Primary responsibilities: Teaching college students in anatomy, physiology, exercise science, or similar subjects is the main responsibility of a professor with a degree in sports science. They create lesson plans, deliver lectures, and assess written and oral exams.
14. A massage therapist
Nationwide average hourly wage: $30.38
Primary responsibilities: A massage therapist’s main responsibilities include using manual techniques to ease clients’ stiffness, soft tissue discomfort, and tension in individuals who are recovering from injuries as well as those who are not.
15. Sports psychologist
Nationwide average hourly wage: $33.38
Primary responsibilities: The main responsibilities of a sports therapist are to supervise recovering players, treat injuries, and decide when they are fit enough to compete again.
16. Sports development manager
Nationwide average hourly wage: $31,196
Primary responsibilities: A sports development officer’s main responsibilities include hiring and training employees, planning events, and creating budgets for city, school, and organized athletic programs.
17. A physical therapist
Nationwide average hourly wage: $31,256
Primary responsibilities: A physiotherapist’s main responsibilities include assessing and managing patients’ ailments, enhancing their strength, and creating plans to avoid further physical issues.
18. Sports commentator
Nationwide average hourly wage: $32,791
Primary responsibilities: The main responsibilities of a sports anchor are writing and reporting sports news and stories for radio or television. During live broadcasts, they also talk to sports personalities and analyze game results.
19. Manager of a sports center
Nationwide average hourly wage: $34,851
Primary responsibilities: Staffing, budgeting, marketing, and management at gyms, recreation areas, and facilities like public pools or tennis courts are the purview of a sports complex or facility manager.
20. An exercise physiologist
Nationwide average hourly wage: $35,836
Primary responsibilities: An exercise physiologist evaluates an athlete’s capabilities and previous injuries before creating individualized exercise programs. To ascertain and keep track of a person’s level of fitness, they also provide tests and do data analysis.
21. Research associate
Nationwide average hourly wage: $36,563
Primary responsibilities: A research assistant with a background in sports science typically undertakes research on exercise or physiology, evaluates literature, compiles findings, and conducts data analysis in a lab setting. Also, they support the principal investigators on these projects.
22. A sports editor
Nationwide average hourly wage: $36,585
Primary responsibilities: The main responsibilities of a sports editor are editorial planning, assigning, and editing sports news and material for magazines and websites.
23. Sports journalist
Nationwide average annual wage: $41,293
Primary responsibilities: A sports writer’s main responsibilities include covering athletic events for a newspaper, conducting interviews with players and coaches, and writing pieces about the outcomes of games and notable figures in the field.
24. Orthopedic technologist
Nationwide average annual wage: $42,014
Primary responsibilities: An orthopedic technician’s main responsibilities include assisting physicians who treat musculoskeletal problems. They interact with patients, explain how to utilize devices and braces, and assist with orthopedic surgery.
25. A fitness consultant
Nationwide average annual wage: $42,101
Primary responsibilities: The main responsibilities of a fitness consultant include assessing clients’ strengths, recommending diet changes, creating workout plans, and instructing them on good form.
26. Nutritionist
Nationwide average annual wage: $43,475
Primary responsibilities: A nutritionist’s main responsibilities include assessing the health and eating patterns of their customers to design nutritional recommendations and meal plans that are specific to their wants, needs, and financial constraints.
27. Spa supervisor
Nationwide average annual wage: $43,443
Primary responsibilities: A spa manager’s key responsibilities include managing the hiring and training of employees, upkeep of the facility, budgeting, and marketing for health and wellness spas.
28. Dietician
Nationwide average annual wage: $48,057
Primary responsibilities: A dietician’s main responsibilities include meeting with clients to go through their dietary needs, developing a plan to assist them to reach their objectives, keeping track of their progress, and offering guidance on nutritional matters.
29. A physical education instructor
Nationwide average annual wage: $47,057
Primary responsibilities: A teacher of physical education teaches kids how to exercise safely in a grade school setting. For the purpose of keeping students active and educating them on the advantages of fitness, they organize fitness and exercise classes.
30. Event planner
Nationwide average annual wage: $51,679
Primary responsibilities: An event planner with a degree in sports science might organize and oversee sporting events. They closely collaborate with sponsors and vendors while managing the event’s budget, marketing, and branding.
31. A gym manager
Nationwide average annual wage: $49,385.
Primary responsibilities: A gym manager oversees all operations at a private or public gym, including employee recruitment and orientation, facility sanitation, equipment maintenance, rules, and budgeting.
32. An athletic manager
Nationwide average annual wage: $53,632
Primary responsibilities: An athletics manager’s main responsibilities include managing the day-to-day business, finances, travel arrangements, communications, event schedule, and brand for a particular athlete, team, or sports group.
33. Sports advisor
Nationwide average annual wage: $56,993
Primary responsibilities: The main responsibilities of a sports consultant are to offer individuals, teams, and organizations guidance on how to be successful in the sporting world. Also, this person assists in negotiating sponsorships, endorsements, and other business agreements.
34. Licensed nurse
Nationwide average annual wage: $61,740
Primary responsibilities: A registered nurse’s main responsibilities include evaluating patients, conducting physical examinations and diagnostic testing, treating minor wounds and diseases, educating patients, and supporting physicians.
35. A health educator
Nationwide average annual wage: $62,612
Primary responsibilities: The main responsibilities of a health educator are to analyze the health of a community or population, promote wellness through educational initiatives, and work for a health institution, organization, or government.
36. A sports scout
Nationwide average annual wage: $61,890
Primary responsibilities: Athletes with potential are sought after by athletic scouts, who also watch games, speak with coaches, and keep an eye on market trends and athlete data. People frequently put a lot of effort into one sport.
37. A community program director
National average yearly salary: $63,768
Primary responsibilities: A community program director creates educational, recreational, and sporting initiatives for one community to maintain the population’s physical fitness. They are in charge of setting the budget and recruiting employees for these programs.
38. Chiropractor
National average yearly salary: $68,155
Primary responsibilities: A chiropractor is a health care provider with a Doctor of Chiropractic degree who utilizes their hands to modify patients’ joints to relieve pain or speed up the healing process after an injury.
39. Director of Athletics
National average yearly salary: $66,017
Primary responsibilities: An athletic director’s main responsibilities include managing the school’s sports program, typically in a high school or college. This person oversees the athletic department’s finances, salaries, travel arrangements, equipment purchases, facility upkeep, and game schedules.
40. Project manager
National average yearly salary: $81,970
Primary responsibilities: Project management for businesses in the sport, fitness, or health industries is one of the main responsibilities of a project manager with a degree in sports science. They are in charge of scheduling, financing, problem-solving, and stakeholder communication for the project.
41. A professional athlete
National average yearly salary: $81,107
Primary responsibilities: A professional athlete must exhibit great talent in a team sport or an individual sport. In addition to playing their sport, developing a brand, and playing at a top standard, their responsibilities also involve keeping up their strength and conditioning.
42. A physical therapist
Nationwide average yearly salary: $82,787
Primary responsibilities: Physical therapists with a Ph.D. in Physical Therapy degrees create rehabilitation and therapy programs to help patients who are ill or wounded regain their mobility.
43. Occupational therapist
National average yearly salary: $82,686
Primary responsibilities: Using specialized exercises, equipment, and technology, occupational therapists assist seriously ill or disabled patients in leading reasonably normal lives.
44. A sport psychologist
National average yearly salary: $105,078
Primary responsibilities: A sports psychologist is a psychiatric specialist certified to assist athletes of all levels in overcoming anxiety, gaining confidence, and achieving goals. They visit with athletes to learn about their needs, offer guidance, and track advancement.
45. A medical assistant
National average yearly salary: $105,941
Primary responsibilities: A medical assistant is a trained healthcare practitioner who assists doctors during surgeries and performs physical examinations, tests, diagnoses, and prescriptions for drugs.
Professional experience
Search for possibilities that fit the profession you want to enter. If you’re passionate about coaching child sports, consider volunteering, and if you want to teach physical education, seek out work experience at a school. Working in a recreation center on the marketing and administration side, or as a fitness instructor or pool attendant, is advantageous.
Also, you can obtain valuable professional experience in a summer camp program for kids’ sports, in community health promotion, or outdoor pursuits.
Your degree may call for a year of work experience. Use the chance to explore your desired field of work and build a beneficial network of connections for your post-graduation life.
Common employers
There are positions available with a variety of businesses in the public, commercial, and non-profit industries, including:
- Reputable sports organizations
- Regulatory bodies, national athletic associations, and other athletic organizations
- Spas, gyms, and facilities for public and private recreation and sport
- Local government
- Schools, colleges and universities, and the NHS and other areas of the health sector.
After earning your degree in sports science, you could start your own company or consultancy. You may pursue a profession in administration or finance, two fields unrelated to sports.
Skills for your resume
Gaining knowledge of sports performance and the elements influencing behavior in sports is possible with a degree in sports science. You pick up information about particular fields, like psychology, nutrition, physiology, biomechanics, and biochemistry.
You’ll also master several fundamental abilities, such as:
- Data analysis and research
- The capacity to work independently and collaboratively; oral communication and presenting abilities
- Writing proficiency, time management, and planning, among other things
- Efficient problem-solving
- Professionalism and a client-focused attitude
- In-depth knowledge of information technology.
Additional studies
Certain sports-related occupations necessitate postgraduate studies. For instance, you’ll need to complete pertinent approved psychology qualifications if you wish to work as a fitness and sports psychologist. You must obtain the necessary coaching certification provided by the national governing organization of your preferred sport to become a sports coach.
You can continue to earn a postgraduate teaching credential if you desire to teach physical education. You might have more options for research and teaching in higher education with a master’s or Doctorate.
You might also continue your education in a new field like journalism to work as a sports writer, law to help athletes with employment and contract issues, or marketing to promote a sporting event.
To get more information in a specific field of interest, like sport musculoskeletal or biomechanics sports science, it is also feasible to specialize at the Masters’s level.
What do graduates in sports science do after graduation?
Sports science has quickly gained popularity as the sports and fitness sectors continue to grow, and it is a degree option that can be applied in a range of different areas. Using the management and business abilities acquired from the degree, sports leadership is a popular career path for graduates, frequently in roles inside sporting clubs and organizations.
Although positions in sports science and physiotherapy frequently need extra training, these professions are also attractive alternatives for graduates of sports science. Sports education could prove to be a wonderful career route for those who are passionate about teaching, and there are increasingly more opportunities available, from training customers as personal trainers to educating youngsters in a school setting.
Sports nutritionists play a crucial part in maintaining sportsmen and sportspeople in top form in today’s health-conscious society, making them an extra possible job option for graduates in the field of sports science. Many graduates pursue employment as physical education teachers, athletic directors, athletic trainers, and personal trainers; however, because management, organization, and motivating skills are major components of most sports science curricula, graduates can adapt to a variety of jobs.
Those with an interest in pursuing training and education further than the university level can specialize and work as research scientists, sports psychologists, physiotherapists, and nutritionists, among a variety of other positions.
Conclusion
Sports science is a fascinating field with lots of excellent employment options. One of the five occupations mentioned above could prove to be the perfect fit for graduates searching for the top sports science careers currently accessible.
Frequently Asked Questions about sports science
- What are the most common careers for kinesiology majors?
Kinesiology graduates can work as massage therapists, epidemiologists, fitness and strength coaches, athletic trainers, and fitness professionals. Also, you can work as an occupational therapist, a personal trainer, or at academic institutions as an administrator or professor.
- Who are the Kinesiologists?
A kinesiologist is a person who examines how the human body moves and uses that knowledge for either therapeutic or instructional purposes. They research the fundamentals of movement control, injury avoidance, exercise development, and overall wellness.
- Where do those who study sports work?
Sporting design companies, gyms, health clubs, educational establishments, and sports organizations.
- What distinguishes kinesiology from exercise science?
Exercise science focuses primarily on the fundamentals of motion and performance, particularly during physical exercise, while kinesiology generally applies to the ideas of human mobility in daily life.
Elizabeth is a seasoned content writer with multiple years of experience writing on different topics under the general terms of scholarship, academics, business management, and human resource management and development.
She has a degree in Mass Communication and other relevant certifications.