Plans and runs tournaments, races, and championship events, from venue booking and permits to athlete registration and race-day logistics. BLS does not publish separate figures for meeting, convention, and event planners; it counts them within meeting, convention, and event planner (SOC 13-1121), whose median pay is $61,160 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 13-1121
- Business and Financial Operations
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Sports Event Manager in four numbers
- Median pay
- $61,160a year, or $29.41/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $37KTop 10% $102K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +5.8%Faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+5.8%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +5.8% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 16,800172,100 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025172.1K
- Projected 2035182.1K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 172.1K Projected 2035 182.1K - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- High school7.9%
- Certificate6.6%
- Some college37.2%
- Associate's7.5%
- Bachelor's40.8%
Highest education held by meeting, convention, and event planners Segment Value High school 7.9% Certificate 6.6% Some college 37.2% Associate's 7.5% Bachelor's 40.8%
Also advertised as: Tournament Director, Race Director, Sports Tourism Manager, Championship Event Manager, Sports Commission Event Manager.
Pay
How much do Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners make?
Every sports event manager in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$61,160
Middle half earn $46,970 to $78,790
- 10th
- $36,830
- 25th
- $46,970
- 75th
- $78,790
- 90th
- $101,700
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $36,830 |
| 25th | $46,970 |
| Median | $61,160 |
| 75th | $78,790 |
| 90th | $101,700 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $61,160
- Median hourly wage
- $29.41/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $66,520
- People employed
- 142,860
Versus all US occupations
At $61,160, Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners earn 20% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $10,180 a year.
Versus business and financial operations occupations
Inside the Business and Financial Operations group, where the middle occupation pays $80,730, this is 24% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $101,700 or more while the bottom 10% earn $36,830, a gap of 2.8×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 34% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
District of Columbia posts the highest raw median ($76,970), but once local prices are taken into account Vermont leads at $75,859 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1District of Columbia | $76,970 | $70,036 | 2,360 |
| 2Massachusetts | $75,740 | $71,617 | 4,640 |
| 3New York | $74,730 | $69,245 | 10,330 |
| 4Hawaii | $74,460 | $67,721 | 550 |
| 5Vermont | $74,310 | $75,859 | 430 |
| 6New Jersey | $72,780 | $66,890 | 2,160 |
| 7California | $71,120 | $64,234 | 20,650 |
| 8Connecticut | $70,010 | $67,571 | 1,450 |
| 9Washington | $65,530 | $61,236 | 3,600 |
| 10Maryland | $63,280 | $60,290 | 2,570 |
Job outlook
Is Sports Event Manager a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Faster than average. +5.8% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners | +5.8% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Faster than average
BLS projects employment of Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners to change 5.8% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 10,000 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 16,800 openings are projected each year, 9.8% of the 172,100 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Sports Event Manager
Most sports event managers have a bachelor's degree in sport management, hospitality, or event management, and many start as interns, volunteers, or coordinators at sports commissions, governing bodies, or event companies.
Sports ETA, the association for sports tourism, offers the Certified Sports Event Executive (CSEE) designation through a series of courses. The Events Industry Council's Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) credential is also recognized. Race directors can earn certification through the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA), and USA Triathlon offers race director certification for sanctioned events.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Medium preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as meeting, convention, and event planners.
- Bachelor's Degree40.8%
- Some College Courses37.2%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)7.9%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree7.5%
- Post-Secondary Certificate6.6%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | 40.8% |
| Some College Courses | 37.2% |
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 7.9% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 7.5% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 6.6% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Sports Event Manager do?
Sports event managers turn a tournament or race into a working event. They secure venues and permits, build budgets, recruit sponsors, and manage registration for teams or participants. They also coordinate officials, medical coverage, timing and scoring, security, and volunteers.
Many work for sports commissions and convention and visitors bureaus that bid to bring youth tournaments, college championships, and amateur events to their cities. Others direct marathons, triathlons, and cycling events, where the job includes road closures, course measurement, aid stations, and coordination with police and city agencies. After each event they settle accounts and report results to partners.
Day-to-day tasks
- Book venues and secure permits for tournaments and races
- Build event budgets and recruit sponsors
- Manage team or participant registration systems
- Coordinate officials, timing, medical, and security services
- Recruit, train, and direct event volunteers
- Plan courses, road closures, and aid stations with city agencies
- Prepare bids to host championships and track event economic results
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Planning happens in offices, but event weeks are on site, often outdoors, with very early mornings and long days. Weekends are the norm because most tournaments and races happen then. Travel to site visits, bids, and industry meetings is common, and the work peaks in spring through fall.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayHandling conflict situations at least monthly.
Cost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely seriousMistakes are not usually serious.
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Active Listening4.0
- Speaking4.0
- Critical Thinking3.9
- Writing3.5
- Monitoring3.5
- Active Learning3.4
- Mathematics2.5
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 |
| Active Listening | 4.0 |
| Speaking | 4.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.9 |
| Writing | 3.5 |
| Monitoring | 3.5 |
| Active Learning | 3.4 |
| Mathematics | 2.5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Social Perceptiveness3.9
- Coordination3.9
- Service Orientation3.9
- Time Management3.8
- Complex Problem Solving3.6
- Judgment and Decision Making3.6
- Persuasion3.5
- Negotiation3.4
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.9 |
| Coordination | 3.9 |
| Service Orientation | 3.9 |
| Time Management | 3.8 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.6 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.6 |
| Persuasion | 3.5 |
| Negotiation | 3.4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Desktop publishing software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Geographic information system · in demand
- Graphics or photo imaging software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Project management software · in demand
- Sales and marketing software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Web page creation and editing software · in demand
- Web platform development software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Sports Event Manager?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code ECS) built on O*NET's Meeting, Convention, and Event Planner profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Sports Event Manager |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 1 |
| Investigative | 2 |
| Artistic | 2 |
| Social | 5 |
| Enterprising | 7 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around leading, persuading, selling and making decisions, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Enterprising7.0
- Conventional5.4
- Social4.9
- Artistic2.5
- Investigative1.6
- Realistic1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Sports Event Manager
O*NET related occupations
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- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Office and Administrative Support
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More business and financial operations careers
Median annual pay, with meeting, convention, and event planners highlighted
- Financial Advisor$105,070
- Accountant$83,680
- Insurance Underwriter$81,370
- Coroner$80,730
- Claims Adjuster, Examiner, and Investigator$78,000
- Loan Officer$76,690
- Human Resources Specialist$75,940
- Appraiser and Assessor of Real Estate$67,960
- Sports Event Manager$61,160
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Financial Advisor | $105,070 |
| Accountant | $83,680 |
| Insurance Underwriter | $81,370 |
| Coroner | $80,730 |
| Claims Adjuster, Examiner, and Investigator | $78,000 |
| Loan Officer | $76,690 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $75,940 |
| Appraiser and Assessor of Real Estate | $67,960 |
| Sports Event Manager | $61,160 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Sports Event Manager appears on
Questions
Sports Event Manager: frequently asked questions
How much do Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for meeting, convention, and event planners. It counts them within meeting, convention, and event planner, whose median pay is $61,160 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $46,970 and $78,790, and the top 10% earn $101,700 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Sports Event Manager?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as medium preparation. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 40.8% hold bachelor's degree.
Is Sports Event Manager a growing career?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 5.8% over 2025–2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 16,800 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Sports Event Manager do?
Sports event managers turn a tournament or race into a working event. A typical task: book venues and secure permits for tournaments and races. Employers most often ask for Data base user interface and query software, Desktop publishing software, Electronic mail software.
Which states pay Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners the most?
The highest state medians for Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners are District of Columbia ($76,970), Massachusetts ($75,740), New York ($74,730) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Vermont moves to the top at $75,859.
What personality type suits a Sports Event Manager?
O*NET scores Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners highest on the Enterprising, Conventional and Social interest areas, so the work mixes leading, persuading, selling and making decisions with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ESFJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.