Career in Sports Management in India: Salary, Career Options, Roles

Introduction

Sports, as an overall industry, is on the rise in India. Sports Management, therefore, becomes one of the few fields of MBA that promises a lucrative job offer, a promising future, and most importantly, the security of a job, since this line of work is here to stay.

One of the main reasons for this jump in sports revenues and job demands around it, is the birth of numerous sports leagues in India. Ever since the inception of IPL in 2008, several more leagues have been established across sports, such as badminton (PBL), Kabaddi (PKL), hockey (HIL), and football (ISL). Each league has multiple teams and each of those teams requires dedicated sports managers by their side. This is just a portion of the entire scope of the rising Sports Management field in India.

Jobs such as Sports Marketing Managers, Sports General Managers, Sports Public Relations, Facilities Managers, and many more are rising in a geometric progression.

Sports Management is one of the most lucrative and sought-after jobs in the world right now. Their demand is only rising, and will likely not decline. Moreover, rising sports like Pickleball, Formula Kite, and ESports will create a market of their own.

 

Is Sports Management a Good Career?

As of 2023, the Indian Sports industry was worth around INR 158 billion. It had increased nearly 11% from the previous year and is on an upward curve. It is expected to touch unprecedented heights in the coming years. This will create numerous job opportunities in the sports industry. The most lucrative of those, besides the players themselves, will be the ones concerning Sports Management.

Read More: Is an MBA in Sports Management Worth It?

There is a constant increase in the number of sports teams per sports league. Each of those teams will require multiple management positions. Sports Management will also open the doors for individuals to work with Sports Analysis – something that’s a huge part of sports nowadays.

Most importantly, pursuing Sports Management will keep an individual close to their passion for being an athlete themselves. Meeting athletes, working with them, traveling places, and watching their favorite sports as part of their job will not only quench their passion but will also give them deep knowledge about the industry.

Be it a surplus of job options or a lucrative salary, Sports Management covers all bases of a job-seeking employee. Therefore, a career in Sports Management in India is worth pursuing.

 

What are the Career Options in Sports Management?

A student who has completed his/her post-graduation in Sports Management will have the privilege of choosing from a wide range of job options. Here are some of them listed below:

  • Sports Marketing Manager
  • Sports General Manager
  • Sports Public Relations
  • Sports Financial Analysts
  • Sports Agents
  • Sports Information Director
  • Sports Event Manager
  • Facilities Manager
  • Athletic Director
  • Business Managers of Athletes
  • Computer Systems Analyst

 

What is the Salary and Demand for Sports Management?

The starting salary of a Sports Manager may vary from INR 3-5 LPA in any department. It will go up to INR 10-25 LPA depending upon an employee’s work experience, skills gained during his work, company reputation, designation change, and company reputation.

A student who has graduated with Sports Management might get a package of INR 3.5 to 4 LPA on an average. Upon post-graduation, the starting package might go up to INR 6-8 LPA, depending on what the company is willing to pay. Experienced professionals, with more than 5 years, might then get more than INR 15 LPA.

Some of the other salaries of various desirable positions are as follows:

  1. Sports Marketing Managers: INR 20-35 LPA
  2. Sports General Managers: INR 30-40 LPA
  3. Sports Public Relations: INR 20-30 LPA
  4. Facilities Manager: INR 15-20 LPA
  5. Sports Financial Analysts: INR 10-15 LPA
  6. Athletic Directors: INR 15-20 LPA
  7. Agents of Business Managers of Athletes: INR 30-35 LPA

With such high-end salaries for various positions in Sports Management, the demand for the field is naturally growing. Sports in India is especially on the rise, with more leagues, tournaments and teams included in the mix. Sports events have jammed the calendar throughout the year, and the Indian public is responding with overwhelming support. Be it Kabaddi or Hockey or Football or Badminton, or Cricket for that matter, stadiums are often going filled during matches and the TRP and online view-count are always high.

There is an insatiable appetite for sports in India currently. It is only filled with more events, ably supported by Government initiatives leading to the promotion and infrastructure of each event. Such positive signs have also led to more investments being poured into every event from private investors.

A big factor in this thunderous explosion of Indian sports has also been the terrific performances of Indian athletes at world events across sports. India has won more medals at the last two Summer Olympics i.e. Tokyo (2021) and Paris (2024) than ever before. Several Indian athletes are shining at the World stage, such as Hima Das, Gukesh D, Neeraj Chopra, etc.

Owing to this, there has been an increased drive of scouting talented athletes from every corner of the country. This was only possible with sports agencies and groups like JSW Sports that have taken up this initiative proactively. An improvement in sports results created more interest, which created more jobs in every sports field. Sports Management jobs were the most lucrative of them all.

 

How to Make a Career in Sports Management in India?

To become a Sports Management professional, one has to pursue a course in this field. A student could pursue a BBA in Sports Management, which he/she can do after passing Class 12 with 50% or more aggregate marks across academics.

After graduating with a BBA in Sports Management, he/she can further pursue an MBA in the same field. This will improve their specialization skills, make them more industry-ready, and qualify them for better, more lucrative job offers. Good companies hire good students from reputed colleges who’ve completed their MBA for desirable designations.

Very few institutes like MBA ESG, ISBR Bengaluru School or Symbiosis International University, for example, all provide a comprehensive course in Sports Management.

MBA ESG offers a carefully designed course syllabus that is completely geared towards industry needs. It helps an individual easily jump from their curriculum to the corporate world without being burdened or overwhelmed by the demands of the industry. The faculty member group here is also comprised of industry experts.

MBA ESG also provides a healthy starting package of somewhere around INR 7-10 LPA, which is considerably higher than the average starting package of many Sports Management graduates in India. Companies like GOSPORTS, LACOSTE, SPORTS4ALL, WELLS FARGO, MPL, etc., are all active recruiters in this program.

 

What Education is Required to Study Sports Management?

To study Sports Management, a student needs to study in high school and pass Class 12 with 50% or more marks across all subjects in Science, Commerce, or Arts.

After that, the student can pursue a BBA in Sports Management from any reputed college. He/She can follow that by enrolling in an MBA program from any renowned college like MBA ESG.

To pursue an MBA, a student need not compulsorily graduate from BBA Sports Management. They can graduate from any field and go on to do an MBA in Sports Management. However, doing a BBA in Sports Management previously will provide them with an edge in the field. They will be a little bit more acquainted with the job roles and the industry demands.

 

​What are the Roles and Responsibilities in Sports Management?

In a nutshell, the roles and responsibilities in Sports Management mainly involve planning, organizing, and managing various sports events. However, they could further be broken down as per various designations and job necessities.

1. Event Management

Event Managers in Sports take care of the organization, coordination, marketing, and ticket sales of events.

2. Facility Management

Facility Managers ensure the maintenance of facilities, and tend to the day-to-day operations of the venue, infrastructure, or the facility in question. They are also in charge of leasing the property if and when it’s required.

3. Financial Management

These Sports Managers have their roles all related to money and finance. Budgeting, Revenue Generation, and Financial Planning are part of their roles and responsibilities.

Some of the other responsibilities of Sports Managers form a part of their overall complete role. Negotiation, Training, Sponsorship, Liasoning, Customer Service, etc., are just some of the many other responsibilities as part of their job.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

1. Is there Scope in Sports Management in India?

Sports Management is a high-in-demand field of work due to the lucrative salary and the many job options. Its scope is far-reaching and wide in India. Planning, Organizing, Marketing, Business Management, Athlete Representation, Public Relations, and Media, are the various areas where a Sports Manager is demanded. Several Sports Managers also indulge in Operations and Finance.

2. Does Sports Management Pay Well in India?

Yes. Sports Management does pay well in India. It usually has an average starting salary of INR 3-5 LPA for any graduate. However, reputed colleges like MBA ESG take it up a notch to INR 7-10 LPA. With experience and advanced skills, these managers can earn even up to 20-30 LPA across various designations.

3. Which Sports Career is Best in India?

Many sports are growing rapidly in India, and all of them promise to have a bright future for players and professionals around it. However, Cricket still seems to take the cake in terms of a lucrative career path. Cricketers earn the most in India, and proportionally to them, Cricket Managers, Cricket Journalists, and other officials earn the most. Since Cricket is the most popular sport in India, a Cricket Manager looks like the best Sports Management job in India.

Also, among all Sports Management jobs, General Managers and Marketing Managers seem to get the highest salary. Therefore, those are the most desirable options for a career in Sports Management in India.

4. What is the Best Job for Sports Management?

Ans: Depending upon the higher range of salaries, Sports General Managers and Sports Marketing Managers are ideally considered the best career in Sports Management in India.

Author: SEO Team