Athletes

(NOC 5251)

in All Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport

Athletes participate in competitive sports events on an amateur or professional basis. They play team sports like hockey, baseball, football and lacrosse; or compete in individual sports like skiing, figure skating, boxing or track and field; or in games like poker or chess. They work for professional team organizations or they may be self-employed.

Job Outlook

Undetermined

Read more

  • Estimate change in employment not available for this occupation.
  • Estimate 0 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for this occupation.

Compared to: All Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport

  • Estimate 840 employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 1495 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for these occupation.

Hourly Pay

N/A

Minimum

N/A

Median

N/A

Maximum

Annual Pay

N/A

Minimum

$4,473

Median

N/A

Maximum

Compared to: All Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport

Hourly Pay

$13.00

Minimum

$21.00

Median

$40.00

Maximum

Annual Pay

$945

Minimum

$11,712

Median

$60,447

Maximum

About the job

Nature of work

Athletes participate in competitive sports events on an amateur or professional basis. They play team sports like hockey, baseball, football and lacrosse; or compete in individual sports like skiing, figure skating, boxing or track and field; or in games like poker or chess. They work for professional team organizations or they may be self-employed.

Job duties

Athletes:

  • Train under the direction of a coach or trainer to qualify for competition.
  • Attend scheduled practice and training sessions.
  • Participate in local, regional, provincial, national or international competitions and sporting events.
  • Assess performance after an event to identify strengths and weaknesses.

Sample job titles

  • athlete
  • baseball player
  • boxer
  • competitor - gambling
  • figure skater
  • football player
  • gamer - video games
  • golfer
  • harness race driver
  • hockey player
  • jockey
  • professional athlete
  • skier
  • sprinter
  • track athlete

Skills

  • Athletes need to have a demonstrated ability in a specific sport and must train extensively under a coach.

Job requirements

  • Demonstrated ability in a sport or type of game.
  • Extensive training under the supervision of a coach.
  • Certification with a sports federation may be required.
  • A background combining athletic training and college or university studies is strongly recommended.

Other considerations

None

By the numbers

Quick look

80

employed in 2016

52.9%

employed full-time

11.8%

self employed

23.5%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
76.5%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
24.1

median age

Compared to: All Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport

11,000

employed in 2016

53.3%

employed full-time

29.3%

self employed

55.6%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
44.4%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
38.2

median age

Where will I likely work?

47.1%

Halifax

N/A
17.6%

North Shore

N/A
11.8%

Southern

N/A
11.8%

Cape Breton

N/A
11.8%

Annapolis Valley

N/A

Compared to: All NS Occupations

47.0%

Halifax

15.6%

North Shore

12.9%

Annapolis Valley

12.7%

Cape Breton

11.8%

Southern

Top Industries of Employment

50.0%

Arts, entertainment and recreation

16.7%

Construction

16.7%

Information and cultural industries

16.7%

Educational services

What is the age of Employment?

53.0%

15-24

24.0%

25-34

12.0%

35-44

12.0%

45-54

Compared to: All Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport

29.7%

15-24

15.9%

35-44

15.7%

45-54

15.4%

25-34

14.9%

55-64

Top levels of education

50.0%

High school

N/A
18.8%

Less than high school

N/A
18.8%

Bachelor

N/A
12.5%

Diploma Below Bachelor

N/A

Compared to: All Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport

26.4%

Bachelor

$17,829 median annual income
24.9%

High school

$7,552 median annual income
19.5%

College Diploma

$22,120 median annual income
13.7%

Less than high school

$2,922 median annual income
7.9%

Master

$36,173 median annual income

Education & training

Kinesiology and Exercise Science

College or University Program

These programs focus on the anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, and biophysics of human movement, and applications to exercise and therapeutic rehabilitation. They include courses in biomechanics, motor behaviour, motor development and coordination, motor neurophysiology, performance research, rehabilitative therapies, the development of diagnostic and rehabilitative methods and equipment, and related analytical methods and procedures in applied exercise and therapeutic rehabilitation.

Institutions providing this program

Acadia University

Wolfville, NS

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

St. Francis Xavier University

Antigonish, NS

Employment requirements & contacts

No regulating bodies were found under this occupation profile

Contacts

Sport Nova Scotia
Halifax, NS

Additional resources

There are no additional resources for this occupation.