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Professional athlete

Also called skier, boxer, skater

Professional athletes compete in sports and athletic events. They train on a regular basis and exercise with professional coaches and trainers.

Will there be jobs?Yes, good prospects52 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Legal, social, cultural and related associate professionalsWhat does it pay?About averageFrom about €1,400 (Bulgaria) to €6,600 (Luxembourg) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Legal, social, cultural and related associate professionalsWhat do I need to study?Usually post-secondary or a short degree4 in 10 have a degree. 7 in 10 train through vocational routes.Legal, social, cultural and related associate professionalsWill AI change it?Very littleLevel 1 of 6. AI could help with only small parts of the tasks.Athletes and sports players · ILO

What you'd do

Athletes and sports players · ILO
  • Participating in competitive sporting events
  • Participating in regular practice and training sessions and undertaking private training to maintain the required standard of fitness and skill
  • Undertaking sports promotional activities and media interviews
  • Maintaining a high degree of expertise in a particular sport
  • Deciding on strategies in consultation with coaches
  • Assessing other competitors and conditions at venues
  • Competing in sporting events
  • Adhering to the rules and regulations associated with a specific sport
Assess performance in sport eventsParticipate in sport eventsApply sport games rulesParticipate in training sessionsAdapt lifestyle for sports performance+ 5 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Indoors and outdoors
  • On your feet most of the day
  • Lots of contact with people
  • Good freedom to decide
  • Often more than 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines most weeks
  • Some repetitive tasks
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the US job "Athletes and Sports Competitors"

Will there be jobs?

Yes, good prospects

Many jobs will need filling by 2035.

People working as legal, social, cultural and related associate professionals in the EU
3.99m3.83m4.95m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
915,000 new jobs 1,198,000 replacing leavers
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Legal, social, cultural and related associate professionals52
All jobs29
Right now
4 of 27 countries report a shortage of athletes and sports players, 4 a surplus.
Athletes and sports players · EURES

What does it pay?

About average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €1,400 a month (Bulgaria) to €6,600 (Luxembourg), before tax.

Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.

Among technicians and associate professionals in the EU, women earn 16% less per hour than men. Technicians and associate professionals · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Usually post-secondary or a short degree

Post-secondary training or a short degree in sports is the usual route.

Highest qualification of legal, social, cultural and related associate professionals (EU, 2025)
Degree 44%Vocational 33%General secondary 15%Basic schooling 8%
Field that teaches it
Sports
Vocational route, EU
7 in 10 trainees in this field
Services graduates in a matching job
59% in the EU

819 institutions in the EU offer services bachelor's degrees. Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

Very little

AI could help with only small parts of the tasks.

How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High

Average task score 0.23 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 8 tasks
Undertaking sports promotional activities and media interviews0.40
Deciding on strategies in consultation with coaches0.34
Maintaining a high degree of expertise in a particular sport0.25
Assessing other competitors and conditions at venues0.23
Adhering to the rules and regulations associated with a specific sport0.23
Participating in regular practice and training sessions and undertaking private training to maintain the required standard of fitness and skill0.21
Participating in competitive sporting events0.08
Competing in sporting events0.07

Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for athletes and sports players. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).