- Salary statistics
- Sports professionals
Sports professionals
44 100 - 44 900 kr / month
Pedagogiskt arbete
Salary progression Sports professionals
What does a Professional Athlete do? – Tasks and Work Environment
Professional athletes belong to the category of elite sports performers and work to perform at the highest level within their sport. Tasks revolve around training, competitions, and match preparations, but also include recovery, mental training, collaboration with coaches and medical teams. The work environment can vary greatly depending on the sport's nature and level, but often involves travel, intensive training sessions, and high demands for performance under pressure. Many professional athletes participate in national and international competitions, which require discipline and physical as well as mental endurance.
Salary Development Over Time
Over the past three years, salaries for professional athletes have seen a noticeable increase. In 2022, the average salary was 31,926 SEK per month. The following year, 2023, the average rose to 41 300 SEK, representing an increase of about 29%. Between 2023 and 2024, the salary further increased to 44 900 SEK, an additional rise of 8.7%. This strong salary growth can be linked to increased commercialization of sports, larger sponsor revenues, and a growing interest in professional sports in Sweden. At the same time, competition for the most talented athletes has intensified, driving up salary levels, especially in the most popular sports.
Professional Athlete Salary – Complete Overview
- Average salary: 44 900 SEK/month
- Lowest/Highest salary: Varies greatly depending on sport and level
- Hourly wage: 270 SEK
- Gender differences: Data not available
- Regional differences: Data not available
Education and Qualifications
Becoming a professional athlete primarily requires long-term and goal-oriented work within one's sport rather than formal education. Many start their journey at a young age and often combine sports high school, club activities, and specialized training. In addition to athletic merits, it is common to supplement with courses in nutrition, mental training, and injury prevention. Practical experience, competition results, and networking within the sport are crucial for reaching elite level.
- Sports education at high school level: 3 years (e.g., sports high school)
- Specialized training and competition experience: Many years, often from childhood
- Courses in sports psychology, nutrition, and injury prevention: Recommended
- Prerequisites: Athletic performance and competition results
- Internships/trainee programs through clubs or federations: Common
Many professional athletes develop careers outside of sports, such as coaches, sports managers, or entrepreneurs, thanks to the discipline and goal-oriented mindset required to succeed at the elite level.
Common Benefits and Compensation
In addition to the basic salary, professional athletes often enjoy benefits such as sponsorship contracts, bonuses for competition success, travel reimbursements, and access to medical support and training facilities. Some also receive assistance with housing, insurance, and dietary advice depending on the sport and club resources.
Competition and Challenges
The path to becoming a professional athlete is highly competitive and requires constant performance at the highest level. Few spots and high demands mean many talents are eliminated early. Injuries, dips in form, and mental pressure to deliver can create physical and mental challenges. Additionally, careers are often relatively short, which requires planning for life after sports. Developments within the sport, changing regulations, and increased global competition also influence opportunities and requirements for success.
Tips for Aspiring Professional Athletes
To succeed as a professional athlete, it is good to combine goal-oriented work with strong discipline in daily life. Continuously working on endurance and motivation facilitates the long journey to the elite level. Being receptive to feedback from coaches and experts contributes to faster development and better performance. Self-awareness and the ability to handle setbacks help maintain focus even when results are lacking. Building a strong social network within the sport is also important, as contacts often open new opportunities. Finally, patience and the ability to set long-term goals are crucial, as success rarely happens overnight.
Key Facts about Professional Athletes
- Education level: Often sports high school and specialized training
- Work environment: Varies, often travel and intensive training sessions
- Work form: Full-time, often with irregular hours
- Demand: 434 registered job openings (2024)
- Special skills: Elite sports, mental training, physical endurance
Career Paths and Future Prospects
After three to five years as a professional athlete, many choose to continue competing at an elite level or transition into roles such as coach, sports manager, or agent. Some also work in sports media or start their own businesses within the sports sector. According to the Swedish Public Employment Service, future prospects are stable, especially in popular sports where sponsor revenues and audience interest continue to grow. At the same time, competition for positions is expected to remain fierce, meaning only the most successful and resilient athletes can expect a longer career in the profession.
Frequently Asked Questions about Professional Athletes
- What does a Professional Athlete earn?
- The average salary for a professional athlete is 44 900 SEK per month. - How does one become a professional athlete?
- The path goes through sports high school, specialized training, competition results, and networking within the sport. - How long is the career of a professional athlete?
- The career is often relatively short, between 5 and 15 years depending on sport and performance. - What benefits do professional athletes receive?
- Common benefits include sponsorship contracts, bonuses, travel reimbursements, and medical support. - Are there salary differences between different sports?
- Yes, salaries vary greatly depending on the sport's popularity, level, and sponsor revenue. - What does the job market look like for professional athletes?
- There are 434 job openings within the profession, but competition is very fierce.
Salary distributed by age and sector
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 37700 kr | 38100 kr | |
| Snitt | 44100 kr | 44900 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 37700 kr | 38100 kr | |
| Snitt | 44100 kr | 44900 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 37700 kr | 38100 kr | |
| Snitt | 44100 kr | 44900 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 39900 kr | 40500 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 39900 kr | 40500 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 39900 kr | 40500 kr |
About the data
All information displayed on this page is based on data from the Swedish Central Bureau of Statistics (SCB), the Swedish Tax Agency and the Swedish employment agency. Learn more about our data and data sources here.
All figures are gross salaries, meaning salaries before tax. The average salary, or mean salary, is calculated by adding up the total salary for all individuals within the profession and dividing it by the number of individuals. For specific job categories, we have also considered various criteria such as experience and education.
Profession Sports professionals has the SSYK code 3421, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.
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