2026’s highest paying jobs with a sport management degree

If you love the fun and competition of athletics, working in sports management fields can be a truly enjoyable career choice. Many sports management jobs pay very well, too.

Sports management is an umbrella term for careers that use skills like planning, directing, budgeting, or organizing within the context of a department or company with a product or service related to sport or physical activity.¹ If you love sports but don't plan on pursuing competitive athletics, sports management is a way to stay in the game.

Because there are so many different sports management careers–from sports agents to sports lawyers to sports finance managers and more–it can be hard to know which professional path is best for you. What is clear, though, is that earning an online master of sport management* and gaining experience will help you pursue the highest-paying sports jobs.

In this article, we’ll take a quick look at some of the highest paying jobs with a sports management degree. You’ll learn more about your sports management salary options, so you can make a confident decision for your future.

How much money can you make with a sports management degree?

National labor experts report that entertainment and recreation managers earn a median rate of $77,180 a year.² That number doesn’t tell the whole story, however. Earning potential rises dramatically with education and experience.

New graduates with a sports management degree may start at $47,000, while seasoned executives can earn upwards of $239,200.³ This means these careers aren't just fun and exciting, but they can also be very lucrative.

Like all industries, sports management professionals earn more in certain parts of the nation. The highest paying jobs in sports management also come with real-world experience and connections.

What are the highest paying jobs with a sports management degree?

If you're unsure what path to pursue, explore the highest paying sports management careers. If you are intrigued by one of these professional opportunities, you can jump-start your success with a sports management degree. The University of Kansas (KU)'s School of Education and Human Sciences and School of Business help students network among successful alumni. You can follow in their footsteps toward a fast-paced, exciting career that spans across the sports sector.

Sports agent

A sports agent works to negotiate player contracts and secures endorsement deals. These professionals get paid when the athletes they represent get paid. It’s a fiduciary relationship in that the agent is legally obliged to act in the best interests of their clients.⁴

As a sports agent, you oversee athletes’ entire careers and act as their business representative. If they’re talented and disciplined, you can earn a lot. On the lower end of professional sports, a National Hockey League agent could earn $750,000, and a National Football League agent could earn $54,993,000.

Sports team general manager

A sports team general manager leads the team’s front-office strategy. This includes working in collaboration with the coach to handle player acquisitions.

Sports team general managers use leadership and management skills to oversee all operations within a team or an organization. Nationwide, they earn on average $65,026.⁵

Athletic director

Athletic directors mostly manage sports programs of academic institutions. They hire and supervise coaches while ensuring compliance with all National Collegiate Athletic Association rules and regulations. They oversee the budgets, equipment, and facilities of the athletic department.

Taking the varying sizes and budgets of schools nationwide, athletic directors earn between $16,500 and $119,000 a year.6 The average annual pay is $62,246.⁶

Sports lawyer

One of the highest paying jobs in sports is a sports lawyer. In part, this is because this sports management specialty will require additional education beyond an online master of sport management. Sports lawyers handle contracts, negotiations, and legal compliance of sports programs. They can also advise and represent clients regarding intellectual property and disciplinary issues.

Nationwide, sports lawyers earn $100,626 a year on average.⁷

Sports marketing director

Sports marketing directors are in high demand as teams look to grow their base through fan engagement. These top managers create marketing strategies to manage the team’s brand and reputation with their fans and the public. This includes overseeing sponsorship deals, advertising campaigns, and all outreach opportunities to shine the light on a team’s talented professional athletes and location.

Sports marketing directors usually manage an entire department of other sports marketing professionals, and they are well-paid as a result. A sports management job salary typically rounds up to $104,448 a year.⁸

Factors that influence sports management salaries

Several factors influence what the highest paying job in sports management will be year after year, including industry segments and geographic location. Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York, for example, have the highest average salaries in the nation.⁹ However, with professional sports teams and collegiate athletics in nearly every city, you can find opportunities without having to relocate.

Salaries also vary with real-world experience, professional networking opportunities, and, perhaps most importantly, education level. Earning a sport management master’s degree helps you get the specialized skills needed to excel in these careers, making it easier to access the highest paying sports management careers.

Advance your career in sport management with KU

When you enroll in an online master's in sport management, you’re well-positioned to launch a career in the many lucrative fields that handle the business behind sports teams. Whether it’s traditional sports, extreme, or other alternative competitive athletics, you’ll be in the epicenter of the game. You can interact with professional and collegiate athletes, helping to shape their dream careers and the future of whatever sport interests you the most. It all kicks off with KU's online master's in sport management.

Learn more about the interactive learning, collaborative projects, and one-on-one mentorship built into KU’s curriculum. As a Jayhawk, you may discover a professional pathway that combines your passions for business management and sports. Schedule a meeting with an admissions outreach advisor today to discover where your sports management degree can take you.

*This program is a Master of Science in Education (M.S.E.) degree in health, sport management, and exercise science with an emphasis in sport management.