Athletes and Sports Competitors

AUTOMATION RISK
CALCULATED
17%
risk level
POLLING
13.1%
Based on 1,021 votes
LABOR DEMAND
GROWTH
35.7%
by 2031
WAGES
$94,270
or $45.32 hourly
VOLUME
11,930
as of 2022
SUMMARY
JOB SCORE
8.0/10

Automation risk

17% (Minimal Risk)

Minimal Risk (0-20%): Occupations in this category have a low probability of being automated, as they typically demand complex problem-solving, creativity, strong interpersonal skills, and a high degree of manual dexterity. These jobs often involve intricate hand movements and precise coordination, making it difficult for machines to replicate the required tasks.

More information on what this score is, and how it is calculated is available here.

Some quite important qualities of the job are difficult to automate:

  • Manual Dexterity

  • Social Perceptiveness

  • Persuasion

User poll

13.1% chance of full automation within the next two decades

Our visitors have voted that there is very little chance of this occupation being replaced. This assessment is further supported by the calculated automation risk level, which estimates 17% chance of automation.

What do you think the risk of automation is?

What is the likelihood that this occupation will be replaced by robots or AI in the next 20 years?






Growth

Very fast growth relative to other professions

The number of 'Athletes and Sports Competitors' job openings is expected to rise 35.7% by 2031

Total employment, and estimated job openings

* Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the period between 2021 and 2031.
Updated projections are due Sep 2023.

Wages

Very high paid relative to other professions

In 2022, the median annual wage for 'Athletes and Sports Competitors' was $94,270, or $45.32 per hour

'Athletes and Sports Competitors' were paid 103.6% higher than the national median wage, which stood at $46,310

Wages over time

* Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Volume

Significantly lower range of job opportunities compared to other professions

As of 2022 there were 11,930 people employed as Athletes and Sports Competitors within the United States.

This represents around 0.008% of the employed workforce across the country.

Put another way, around 1 in 12 thousand people are employed as Athletes and Sports Competitors.

Job description

Compete in athletic events.

SOC Code: 27-2021.00

Resources

If you're thinking of starting a new career, or looking to change jobs, we've created a handy job search tool which might just help you land that perfect new role.

Search jobs in your local area

Comments

Leave a comment

Future Footballer (Small chance) says
Robot code can be hacked
Jul 05, 2022 at 10:42 PM
Brandon Dehkordi (Small chance) says
Even if replacing martial artists, sports players and coaches was possible with machines it would defeat the purpose of pushing the human body to its limits and becoming the best at something.

If a robot did this job then it would no longer be the same job, just a comparison of robots to see whose hardware is better whereas in human sports it takes years and even decades of dedication to become good enough to stand at the top and is symbolistic of a journey that no robot could ever replicate.
Aug 26, 2021 at 06:20 PM
OP says
Yeah, guys sports will be boring if it's replaced by robots but the chance is low sooo
Jul 31, 2021 at 02:10 PM
Sam B says
Total Bull****
No one wants to watch a robot play football
Jun 17, 2021 at 08:13 AM
Francesco (No chance) says
The sole purpose it exists it to extend the human body's limits. No point in replacing it with robots
Apr 17, 2021 at 10:00 AM
Mapo'a (No chance) says
It is a human activity and will never be automated
Apr 08, 2021 at 05:42 PM
lara (No chance) says
why would we want to watch robots play our favorite sports and represent our countries.. also, all the robots would have the same abilities so no one would win!
Mar 21, 2021 at 05:34 AM
Kylian says
how could robots replace Messi and Ronaldo
Feb 22, 2021 at 02:26 PM
Its_Aarav (No chance) says
Because I just don't see robots running marathons and playing football
Jan 07, 2021 at 08:25 AM
Nate H (Small chance) says
Small chance because AI can't really be compared to a human and their athletic ability. AI in a few years might be seen as some people but I don't think that they would be able to play sports.
Dec 04, 2020 at 06:08 PM
Sam (Small chance) says
Why would someone want to see robots playing sports as entertainment?
Oct 07, 2020 at 08:49 PM
June says
I agree. There’s less then 5% chance of automation.
Nov 09, 2021 at 03:47 AM
Imran (No chance) says
because a human can be truthful but robots can be truthful but if we change the chip it will automatically change the opinion
Jul 18, 2020 at 05:34 PM
SanMasterpro (Small chance) says
Messi can't be replaced by ANY robot >:V
Jul 15, 2020 at 08:27 PM
the guy that don't give a damn (No chance) says
there is no way wtf why would we watch robots instead of an athlete bro. as an nba player I don't give a damn bro. go tell Kyrie this shit. he would believe this
Jun 16, 2020 at 10:21 AM
Cristiano Ronaldo Jr says
I going to be soccer player so i going to kill robots
May 26, 2020 at 01:26 PM
Hi (Small chance) says
It will ruin the sport and fans won't enjoy it as much
May 20, 2020 at 04:45 PM
Yu says
Can one beat a machine that might read your energy or predict your next move?
May 16, 2020 at 11:00 AM
RAYAN (No chance) says
Robots are monotonous, and can't think analytically. Sports are going to be VERY boring if they are going to be replaced by robots.
May 06, 2020 at 05:21 PM
Neil (No chance) says
There will always be people wanting to watch other humans compete. Robot sports will likely become it's own genre of sports but it will never replace human sports.
Apr 26, 2020 at 07:25 PM
Clemente cp says
Not all athletic Jobs consist on competition.

Some day professional tennis players would choose a robot over a sparring to train. Then, the sparring would be left without a job.
Mar 30, 2020 at 04:04 PM
Anonymous (Small chance) says
Cause the game will not be interesting, if robots will make every shot no matter what.
Mar 08, 2020 at 06:59 PM
( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) says
Robots make sports boring and would take way more time to program the bots than to get an actual human being. Just don't replace them it's stupid.
Feb 07, 2020 at 06:41 PM
Makay says
Robots would basically not have feelings and no spirit so what's the point? ;/
Jan 24, 2020 at 05:51 PM
roboter says
imagine footballers become robots, robot fc vs liverpool fc
Jan 18, 2020 at 08:17 PM
ur mum says
Robot F.C 10 - Barcelona 0, Messi crying on the sideline.
Jun 09, 2020 at 03:47 AM
Brad Marchand (Highly likely) says
Robots can’t get hurt
Dec 16, 2019 at 04:03 PM
Theodor Miesvirta says
This website is trash also because robots can’t be atheles! Like literally atheles!
Dec 11, 2019 at 10:39 AM
Theodor Miesvirta says
This website is trash! Why would people go to watch robots playing sports?
Dec 11, 2019 at 10:36 AM
Adam Hilton (No chance) says
Because watching robots play sports is not at all entertaining.
Dec 10, 2019 at 09:22 PM
Daniel Rodgers (Small chance) says
no way robots can be athletes!!!
Dec 09, 2019 at 09:23 PM
Abby (No chance) says
how are robots going to run up and down the field no one would want to watch that.
Dec 09, 2019 at 05:56 PM
Franklin says
I think there will be robot sports but I don't think they'll ever replace human sports, robot sports will be like it's own genre.
Dec 09, 2019 at 04:12 AM
Josh (No chance) says
A robot should not be the next 'Usain Bolt' it just sounds dumb. There may be like a mini tournament for robots but that's it.
Nov 11, 2019 at 01:36 AM
Hutt (No chance) says
Elevator lifts way more than Olympic weightlifter
Cars are faster than Usain Bolt

Athletes will survive


Nov 04, 2019 at 03:07 PM
me (Small chance) says
how can a robot do sports?????
Oct 28, 2019 at 05:46 PM
big daddy (No chance) says
Robots competing would be boring, because they would perform the same as each other
Oct 25, 2019 at 08:48 AM
Landin (No chance) says
Literally athletes.
Sep 17, 2019 at 01:37 PM
it's 2019 says
I enjoy watching the WNBA.
Sep 06, 2019 at 04:29 PM
Insertnamehere says
This is asking if you think robots will take over the sporting industry
Jan 24, 2022 at 11:16 PM
Its 2019! says
I'd rather watch a robot play than a women
Sep 06, 2019 at 04:29 PM
lyy says
This website is really rubbish. Who would run to watch robot movements? The robots are too mechanized, too rigid and featureless. They are all developed by humans.
Jun 29, 2020 at 07:37 AM
ty (No chance) says
why would we watch robots play sports
Sep 06, 2019 at 04:25 PM
Optimistic Pupper (No chance) says
You can't have a robot replace an athlete, because than it would't be sports
Jul 31, 2019 at 03:48 PM
Ty (No chance) says
What he said.
Sep 06, 2019 at 04:24 PM
Dogey (No chance) says
Athletics Need to be unpredictable and suprising so since robots are "perfect" they won't steal jobs with sports.
Jul 30, 2019 at 01:39 PM
Sarah (No chance) says
Athletes are competing in sports and people want to watch sports. Sports players should not be a job that will go extinct.
Jun 25, 2019 at 11:07 PM
Essence Covington (Small chance) says
A sport is a sport for people to play and watch
Jun 24, 2019 at 07:52 PM
Jimmy (Small chance) says
Who wants to watch robots compete?
May 16, 2019 at 04:08 AM
Common sense (No chance) says
Bruh they people
May 07, 2019 at 02:00 AM
pro bowler (No chance) says
your website is wack dose not make sens
May 03, 2019 at 01:51 PM
Amare says
This will never happen
Apr 25, 2019 at 07:42 PM
reeeee says
Watching robots compete against is just boring and no one would ever watch it i rather see a baseball player diving into outfield and making a great play then a robot sit there and raise their metal arm and catch it and how would that even work thats stupid if someone does that to sports
Apr 11, 2019 at 06:38 PM
ty says
I agree with your statment
Sep 06, 2019 at 04:25 PM
Felipe (No chance) says
The attractive part of these sports and its essence are the athletes, without them it would boring as hell
Apr 10, 2019 at 01:59 AM
Theo says
Hmm, like AlphaZero and Stochfish in chess maybe? But we will continue to watch real men perform!
Apr 04, 2019 at 08:29 AM
It's 2019 says
Uh, women's sporting are growing too, and are already big in sports like tennis
Jul 13, 2019 at 09:27 PM
Person says
we get it women can play sports the person was saying they like men's sports
Dec 03, 2021 at 02:10 AM
Campbell Lane says
A robot can't meg me
Apr 03, 2019 at 11:37 PM
jack says
why would people want to watch robots compete in sports?
Apr 03, 2019 at 03:59 AM
William Seiding says
it would be cheating if bots were allowed to participated in sports
Mar 26, 2019 at 01:06 PM
moru says
I agree with you.
Apr 01, 2019 at 03:26 PM

Leave a reply about this occupation

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

People also viewed

Lawyers
Computer Programmers
Preschool, Elementary, Middle, Secondary, and Special Education Teachers
Mechanical Engineers
Graphic Designers

Have your say

Elizabeth Annette Wolter on Writers and Authors

Someone who is passionate about storytelling on Writers and Authors

Vk on Computer Programmers

Dave Leininger on Database Architects

Nemesio Gallardo Araujo on Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians