Jobs Similar to Athletes and Sports Competitors
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to athletes and sports competitors, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Coaches and Scouts, Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials and Bartenders.
Athletes and Sports Competitors: $66,710 median pay · usual preparation: High school.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Athletes and Sports Competitors) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coaches and ScoutsSame group | 73% | $47,320−29% | Bachelor's degree |
| 2 | Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports OfficialsSame group | 72% | $40,710−39% | High school |
| 3 | Bartenders | 71% | $34,340−49% | High school |
| 4 | Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | 71% | $35,360−47% | High school |
| 5 | Animal Trainers | 68% | $39,990−40% | High school |
| 6 | First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services | 68% | $48,560−27% | High school |
| 7 | First-Line Supervisors of Gambling Services Workers | 68% | $63,820−4% | High school |
| 8 | Amusement and Recreation Attendants | 68% | $32,150−52% | High school |
| 9 | Food Service Managers | 68% | $69,390+4% | High school |
| 10 | Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | 68% | $31,200−53% | High school |
| 11 | Baristas | 68% | $31,200Broader BLS group · not compared | High school |
| 12 | Flight Attendants | 68% | $63,580−5% | High school |
| 13 | Shampooers | 68% | $32,600−51% | High school |
| 14 | Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists | 67% | $35,790−46% | Training or associate |
| 15 | Lodging Managers | 67% | $69,250+4% | Bachelor's degree |
| 16 | Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | 67% | $50,340−25% | High school |
| 17 | Crossing Guards and Flaggers | 67% | $38,100−43% | High school |
| 18 | Gambling Dealers | 67% | $34,320−49% | High school |
| 19 | Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | 67% | $39,390−41% | Training or associate |
| 20 | Waiters and Waitresses | 67% | $35,230−47% | High school |
- 1Coaches and Scouts
73% similar · $47,320 (−29%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 2Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials
72% similar · $40,710 (−39%) · High school · Same group
- 3Bartenders
71% similar · $34,340 (−49%) · High school
- 4Food Servers, Nonrestaurant
71% similar · $35,360 (−47%) · High school
- 5Animal Trainers
68% similar · $39,990 (−40%) · High school
- 6First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services
68% similar · $48,560 (−27%) · High school
- 7First-Line Supervisors of Gambling Services Workers
68% similar · $63,820 (−4%) · High school
- 8Amusement and Recreation Attendants
68% similar · $32,150 (−52%) · High school
- 9Food Service Managers
68% similar · $69,390 (+4%) · High school
- 10Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop
68% similar · $31,200 (−53%) · High school
- 11Baristas
68% similar · $31,200 (broader group) · High school
- 12Flight Attendants
68% similar · $63,580 (−5%) · High school
- 13Shampooers
68% similar · $32,600 (−51%) · High school
- 14Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists
67% similar · $35,790 (−46%) · Training or associate
- 15Lodging Managers
67% similar · $69,250 (+4%) · Bachelor's degree
- 16Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance
67% similar · $50,340 (−25%) · High school
- 17Crossing Guards and Flaggers
67% similar · $38,100 (−43%) · High school
- 18Gambling Dealers
67% similar · $34,320 (−49%) · High school
- 19Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers
67% similar · $39,390 (−41%) · Training or associate
- 20Waiters and Waitresses
67% similar · $35,230 (−47%) · High school
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than athletes and sports competitors.
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for athletes and sports competitors also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where athletes and sports competitors is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Animal Trainers (75)
- Amusement and Recreation Attendants (72)
- Baristas (68)
- Flight Attendants (68)
- Food Service Managers (68)
- Demonstrators and Product Promoters (66)
- Farm Labor Contractors (64)
- Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists (64)
- Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers (64)
- Skincare Specialists (64)
Questions about jobs like athletes and sports competitors
What jobs are most similar to athletes and sports competitors?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Coaches and Scouts (73% similar), Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials (72% similar), Bartenders (71% similar), Food Servers (71% similar) and Animal Trainers (68% similar).
Which jobs like athletes and sports competitors pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Food Service Managers ($69,390, +4%; usually a high school diploma) and Lodging Managers ($69,250, +4%; usually a bachelor's degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with athletes and sports competitors ($66,710). Without more preparation than athletes and sports competitors usually need: Food Service Managers.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.