People who enjoy promoting events and selling products, and who have a strong interest in sports, can pursue sports marketing. Sports marketing professions are vast and include sports management, advertising, event planning and ticket sales. Average salaries for sports marketing positions range based on experience level, organization and location.
Marketing Assistant
Sports marketing assistants in the United States earned an average salary of $36,000, according to a May 2011 Indeed report. To break into the sports marketing industry, college graduates typically obtain entry-level positions as sales or marketing assistants. They perform administrative work such as billing, faxing and filing. They also update client databases, organize and set up promotional events, and manage social media websites. Other duties include assisting marketing managers, sales planners and account executives.
Marketing Specialist/Coordinator
The average salary for a sports marketing specialist was $40,000 according to a May 2011 SimplyHired report. A May 2011 Salary.com report stated that recreation coordinators in intramural sports averaged $42,448 per year. Recreation coordinators may work in high school athletic programs or with club sports teams. They develop and execute different promotional activities that boost sales and brand awareness. Sports managers negotiate contracts with advertisers and sporting goods companies that want to display and sell their products at an event. At the corporate level, marketing specialists, marketing coordinators and marketing managers plan and implement various marketing campaigns. For example, digital marketing specialists draft and create messaging for mobile and web channels, optimize websites, and track and measure marketing campaign results.
Geography
Average salaries for sports marketers depend on factors such as geographic region. A May 2011 SalaryExpert report stated that sports marketers working in Houston averaged an annual salary of $116,605. In comparison, sports marketers in New York City averaged salaries as high as $140,749. Professionals in Atlanta earned an average salary of $103,772. Sports marketers working in Los Angeles reported an average annual wage of $124,755. Phoenix sports marketers reported the lowest average salary, at $79,859 annually.
Potential
The Bureau of Labor Statistics' "Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition" predicts that marketing jobs will increase 12 percent from 2008 to 2018. Similar to marketing professionals working in other sectors, sports marketers have the opportunity to make six-figure salaries depending on their educational background, skill level, and industry. According to the bureau, the national average for marketing professionals in management was $122,720 as of May 2009. A 2007 Baylor University survey reported similar wages for senior-level workers in professional sports associations including the National Basketball Association, Major League Soccer and Major League Baseball. For example, sales directors working in Major League Soccer organizations averaged $96,597. Major League Baseball senior sales managers and directors averaged $102,350. The National Basketball Association paid sales directors an average salary of $96,437.
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