Headline risk
6%
Low RiskAthletes and sports competitors
United States AI Work Index tracks this occupation on the shared structural baseline and then layers on local demand resilience, wages, and confidence.
Why This Score
Share of job tasks that overlap with current AI capabilities
Median annual wage
Projected employment change over 10 years
Typical preparation needed for this occupation
Occupation profile
Compete in athletic events.
Task evidence
100% weighted task match · 0% effective coverage
Scores combine AI task overlap, human advantages, and local demand. How it works
United States Now
Median Wage
USD 62,360
Employment 2024
19.1K
Projected Change (2024–34)
5.5%
Openings (2024–34)
2.1K
Wage distribution
Demand outlook
Employment of athletes and sports competitors is projected to grow 5 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations.
Role Profile
Tasks
- 1. Maintain equipment used in a particular sport. AI use: 0%
- 2. Assess performance following athletic competition, identifying strengths and weaknesses and making adjustments to improve future performance. AI use: 0%
- 3. Participate in athletic events or competitive sports, according to established rules and regulations. AI use: 0%
- 4. Maintain optimum physical fitness levels by training regularly, following nutrition plans, or consulting with health professionals. AI use: 0%
- 5. Attend scheduled practice or training sessions. AI use: 0%
- 6. Exercise or practice under the direction of athletic trainers or professional coaches to develop skills, improve physical condition, or prepare for competitions. AI use: 0%
Technologies
Requirements
Work context
Worker profile
Median age 41.8 · 3.5M employed
Under 25: 10% · 25–54: 66% · 55+: 24%
Related
No direct US role match is available yet for this occupation.
Source coverage
11/11 source families · O*NET 30.2 / OEWS 2024 / ORS 2025 / OOH 2025-08-28 / Projections 2024-34 / CPS 2025 / Anthropic task penetration
Mapping quality
title_match · employment series present
Narrative & sources
Athletes and sports competitors participate in organized, officiated sporting events to entertain spectators.
Athletes and sports competitors may work irregular schedules, including evenings, weekends, and holidays. They typically work more than 40 hours per week for several months during their particular sports season. They frequently work outside, so they may be exposed to all weather conditions.
No formal educational credential is typically required to become an athlete or sports competitor. Athletes must have athletic talent and an extensive knowledge of their sport. They typically get such knowledge through years of practice and experience at lower levels of competition.
The median annual wage for athletes and sports competitors was $62,360 in May 2024.
Employment of athletes and sports competitors is projected to grow 5 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations.
Published limitations
This page shows the local country layer, not realised individual job outcomes. The global structural baseline is shared across countries; only the local demand and wage layer changes here.
Built from O*NET occupation descriptions, task statements, technology skills, work context, Job Zones, Anthropic task penetration, BLS OEWS wages, BLS projection tables, BLS ORS requirements, BLS OOH narrative content, BLS skills data, and BLS CPS occupation age tables.