Changing
Social work, sport and culture
Professional athlete
#143Changing
Key facts
+5.2%jobs, 2025 to 2035
United StatesThis job is hiring in the United States; its exposure to AI is medium. AI exposure: very low according to the ILO, moderate according to the BLS. Employment change in the United States by 2035: +5.2% (BLS).
The job
Athletes and sports players (ISCO 3421). Athletes and sport players participate in competitive sporting events.
Page built from official classifications (ILO, ESCO); figures cover all the jobs grouped here.
47 job titles linked to this page
Titles from the European ESCO classification. They are also used for search.
- athlete
- aviation sport athlete
- basketball player
- boxer
- bull fighter
- cyclist
- discus athlete
- football player
- golf player
- handball player
- high jump athlete
- hockey player
- horse rider
- javelin athlete
- long distance athlete
- long distance runner
- long jump athlete
- middle distance athlete
- middle distance runner
- motorcycle driver
- olympic athlete
- pole vault athlete
- professional athlete
- professional baseball player
- professional basketball player
- professional football player
- professional handball player
- professional hockey player
- professional rugby player
- professional soccer player
- professional sports player
- professional surfer athlete
- professional volleyball player
- race car driver
- roller skater
- rugby player
- skater
- skier
- snow sports athlete
- snowboarder
- sports player
- sportsman
- sportswoman
- tennis player
- track and field athlete
- volleyball player
- wrestler
Training
Check any training provider through official public services before paying.
Gauges
Risk 3/5 · Moderate
AI exposureMediumBLS AI exposure category "moderate" (2026), higher than the ILO 2025 index (very low)
Employment outlookGrowthBLS, 2025-2035 projections (Athletes and sports competitors)
Hiring difficultyNot availableNo US indicator measures hiring difficulty job by job
PayAverageBLS, 2025 median annual wage: $66,710
EntryVery quickBLS, typical education needed for entry
No US indicator measures hiring difficulty job by job: this gauge stays empty. How countries are compared
Sources
- AI exposure categories and employment projections, 2025-2035 (XLSX file)Bureau of Labor Statistics, United States · August 2026 · official statistics
- Generative AI and Jobs: a refined global index of occupational exposureInternational Labour Organization and NASK · May 2025 · large survey
- ESCO, European classification of skills, competences, qualifications and occupations (job titles and O*NET crosswalk)European Commission · version 1.2 · official statistics
- Jobs in 2030: projections by occupational family (summary table)Dares and France Stratégie · March 2022 · official statistics
- Labour needs survey (BMO) 2026France Travail · 2026 · large survey
- EURES report on labour shortages and surpluses 2025, annexEuropean Labour Authority · June 2026 · official statistics
Checked on 27 October 2026.