What Is a Sports Agent Career Path Like?

by Alex Morgan · November 21, 2023

A sports agent is more than someone who handles the affairs of an athlete. They are usually legal representatives who manage not only the bookings but also the workload of said athletes.
These sports agents can be for a team or for an individual athlete. So, what do they do? And what is a job/career for a sports agent like? Let’s dive right into it and find out.

What Do Sports Agents Do?

The life of a sports agent revolves around athletes and teams. Sports agents like Drew Rosenhaus, Rich Paul, Scott Boras, Alexandra Saundry, etc. didn’t get to the stage they are at earning millions of dollars without hard work.
Their primary job is to maintain and upkeep other athletes’ contracts, workload, well-being, and whatnot. Another important responsibility they have is managing client relations as well as negotiating contracts.
That’s when sports agents need to get started properly because you won’t land a big client or major name in sports right after entering the industry. That’s why it’s important to work your way up the ranks and find jobs in:

Sports agent internship;
Entry-level positions in sports agency firms;
Working under other/major sports agents;
Working as or with sports scouts to look for talent;
And work their way up the ladder.

Now, the job description for a sports agent might differ depending on the sports agency as well as the industry they work in. But the responsibilities would remain the same more or less, as a sports agent is someone who can be a:

Contract negotiator;
Marketing specialist;
Talent scout;
Financial advisor to athletes;
Legal counselor to athletes;
And represent the talent/athlete in all or most of these areas.

Many sports agents usually focus on giving legal advice and offer financial and contractual counsel to athletes. They also handle their everyday routines and manage their public appearances, workload, etc. But there are sports agents who specialize in specific areas too.

What Career Opportunities Are There For a Sports Agent?

So, what might a career path and opportunity look like for and sports agent? Let’s start with the first step after graduation, which is finding an internship, and then work our way up the ladder and see the kind of jobs and careers they promise.

Source: Zippia

Sports Agent Internship

A sports agent internship will require you to assist the agency or firm with basic everyday tasks. This will include the things that you aspire to do as a sports agent, including contract negotiations and various other tasks. The benefit of this hands-on experience would be:

It’ll help you understand the nooks and crannies of the industry;
It’ll give you a proper look into everyday operations;
It’ll show you a glimpse of marketing, contract negotiation, athletic management, etc.;
It’ll show you how to perform legal or counseling services;
And teach you a lot of tricks and tips to survive in the sports industry.

That’s why it’s one of the best bases to begin with, and a good-quality sports management bachelor’s degree will offer this by default.

Sports Agency Firms

Finding other gigs at local sports agency firms is another good way to get started in this career. This also depends on the state or city that you are in, as some cities and states are known to be more sports-friendly. But working at a sports agency/firm will help you understand:

Marketing specialization;
Contracts and basics of negotiation;
Talent scouting and recruitment;
And financial planning.

Some famous sports agencies include

Creative Artists Agency (CAA),
Wasserman Media Group,
MKTG Sports + Entertainment,
Newport Sports Management Inc.

Sports Agents

Sports agent is where you should aim to be as this job is where you wish to be. There’s a lot of growth potential and professional challenges in this. As mentioned throughout this article, you will be handling contracts, endorsements, workloads, and general career management as well. Some of the notable sports agents who promulgated famous athletes’ careers include

Arn Tellem
Don Meehan
Drew Rosenhaus
Eugene Parker
Jeff Schwartz
Fernando Cuza

Sports Scouts

Sports scouts are supposed to do exactly what their job title suggests. They scout talents for recruitment and analyze players as well as their performances. Then they make decisions on behalf of the team or organization to aid talent in climbing the ladder. Some past famous sports scouts in the US include:

Michael Jordan
Daniel Sorensen
Emery Moorehead
Shane Victorino
Ken Whisenhunt
Don Garlits

How Much Is A Sports Agent’s Salary?

The salary of a sports agent depends on their services and expertise. A lot of sports agents make between $100,000-105,000 on average. It’s important to remember that it’s the salary of someone who has at least 2-3 years of experience in the field.
BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) suggests there are 13,000+ sports agents in the United States as of this writing who fall under this category. However, BLS also suggests the salary depends on position and job description, such as:

Agents – $102,000 average annual pay
Promoters and Marketers — $68,000 – $70,000 average annual pay
Legal Service/Counsellors – $94,000 – $96,000 average annual pay
Agents in Spectator Sports – $88,000 average annual pay
Scouts and coaches – $45,000 – $65,0000 average annual pay

However, as with any industry, salaries are also dependent on the team sports agent represent, their ethnicity, gender, and sports.

Source: Zippia
So, consider these salaries and your interest before diving into any particular sports agent job.

Sports Agents Vs. Sports Scouts – Differences And Similarities

There are quite a few differences between a sports agent and a sports scout. While they both handle or manage athletes, but in different ways. For instance, the purpose of a sports agent is to focus on:

Contractual negotiations and management for an athlete;
Representing athletes legally, professionally and publicly;
And ensuring favorable endorsements and terms.

Whereas the job of a sports scout is to:

Identify athletes based on skills and talent;
Analyze skills and performance of advancing athletes;
Suggest replacements or alternatives in a team;
And help coaching and management staff find new athletes.

So, the primary difference is that sports scouts are focused more on the on-field elements, while sports agent is focused on professional and legal requirements.

Can I Become A Sports Agent Without A Degree?

There are a few ways that allow you to become a sports agent without a degree. Now, it’s important to understand that this path still requires you to earn the credibility that you would get otherwise from a degree. So, you will have to:

Build a strong network among athletes or sports organizations;
Gain relevant experience like scouting, management, etc.;
Find internships or entry-level positions that don’t require higher education;
Or get certificates/associates that build the necessary skills for a sports agent.

Besides this, there aren’t many chances that anyone without proper education will be considered for a top-tier position like a sports agent.

How To Become A Certified Sports Agent

The best way to become a certified sports agent is to obtain a bachelor’s degree. This means getting a degree that has something to do with sports or law. As mentioned before, sports agents also provide legal counsel and contract negotiation services, which is why they can also get a degree in law.
So, you need to get a relative degree, and here are a few suggestions for sports agents:

Bachelors:

Masters:

Associate Degrees:

Then once you are eligible for a license, you will have to apply for certification as a sports agent by organizations such as NFLPA (National Football League Players Association). You will have to pay the application fee of $2500 and then attend a two-day seminar.
But other than NFLPA, there are other agencies that reward these certifications as well, such as:

National Basketball Players Association (NBPA)

United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee

South Western Athletic Conference

National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA)

So, obtaining a certification after graduation is the next step toward becoming a certified sports agent.

Conclusion

Hope that gave you an idea of what the career of a sports agent looks like. It definitely lands on one of the hefty-paying sides, as experienced sports agents do earn good salaries. However, it comes down to your skills and how you approach the career path, as you can go the graduate, undergraduate, or associate way.

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