Sports players: salary in the UK

ONS didn't publish salary figures for Sports players in 2026: too few full-time employees were in the survey sample for a reliable estimate. This is common for jobs where many people are self-employed, because the survey only covers employees.

The wider group Sports and Fitness Occupations (SOC 343) has a median of £29,849 a year.

Job titles in this occupation

ONS codes these 20 job titles to SOC 3431 Sports players. Pay figures are for the whole occupation, not for each title.

Athlete
Boxer
Cricketer
Cyclist
Equestrian
Equestrienne
Event rider
Footballer
Freerunner
Golfer
Gymnast
Jockey
Player
Professional
Professional sportsman
Racing driver
Scramble rider
Show jumper
Speedway rider
Wrestler

Similar occupations

Sports coaches, instructors and officials
£29,434
Fitness and wellbeing instructors
£29,053
Artists
£40,718
Authors, writers and translators
£41,250
Arts officers, producers and directors
£41,984
Photographers, audio-visual and broadcasting equipment operators
£34,261

All jobs in Associate professional occupations

Source: ONS, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings 2026 provisional, Table 14.7a (full-time employees, gross annual pay, UK, tax year ending 5 April 2026). Provisional figures may be revised.