As of July 01, 2026, the average annual salary for sports event manager in the US is $118,479, equivalent to $57 per hour, $2,278 weekly, or $9,873 monthly. These figures, sourced from Salary.com’s real-time job posting scans, highlight competitive earning potential for sports event manager in cities like San Jose, Santa Clara, and San Francisco.

Annually Salaries for sports event manager in the US vary widely, spanning from $105,040 to $152,617. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($111,445) and 75th percentile ($136,348), while top earners (90th percentile) make $152,617 per year. This $24,903 pay gap underscores opportunities for salary growth through certifications, specialized skills like Customer Service or Cost Control, or targeting high-paying regions like District of Columbia or California.

Location and experience significantly influence earnings. For example, District of Columbia sports event manager often earn 10.7% above national averages due to demand from Fortune 50 companies and industry startups. Professionals are advised to focus on high-growth sectors like to offset market challenges.

Based on HR-reported data: a national average with a geographic differential
sports event manager Salaries by Percentile
Percentile Salary Location Last Updated
10th Percentile sports event manager Salary $105,040 US July 01, 2026
25th Percentile sports event manager Salary $111,445 US July 01, 2026
50th Percentile sports event manager Salary $118,479 US July 01, 2026
75th Percentile sports event manager Salary $136,348 US July 01, 2026
90th Percentile sports event manager Salary $152,617 US July 01, 2026
25% $111,445 10% $105,040 90% $152,617 75% $136,348 $118,479 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
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Check out sports event manager jobs in Columbus, Ohio

Event Operations Team Member

Cedar Point - Fremont, OH

Event Warehouse Associate

RUDIS - Marysville, OH

Warehouse Hiring Event

Uline - West Jefferson, OH

Search More sports event manager Jobs in Columbus, Ohio

What is a sports event manager ?

A sports event manager is responsible for planning, organizing, and executing various sporting events, ensuring they run smoothly and successfully. Key responsibilities include coordinating logistics, managing budgets, securing venues, and liaising with vendors and sponsors. The role also involves overseeing marketing efforts, ticket sales, and event promotion to maximize attendance and engagement. Salaries for sports event managers can vary widely based on factors such as experience, location, and the scale of events managed. On average, salaries range from $40,000 to $80,000 annually, with...

Source: (as of 06/04/2025). Read more from

See user submitted job responsibilities for sports event manager.

Job Openings for sports event manager

Career Path for this job

  1. Down a level:

    Meeting/Event Supervisor

    3 - 5 years experience
    Bachelor's Degree

  2. This Job:

    sports event manager

    5 + years experience
    Bachelor's Degree

  3. Up a level:

    Meeting/Event Senior Manager


    Bachelor's Degree

Understand the total compensation opportunity for a sports event manager, base salary plus other pay elements

Average Base Salary

Core compensation

 
 
 
111445
136348
118479

Average Total Cash Compensation

Includes base and annual incentives

 
 
 
128589
165588
146478
These charts show the average base salary (core compensation), as well as the average total cash compensation for the job of sports event manager in the United States. The base salary for sports event manager ranges from $111,445 to $136,348 with the average base salary of $118,479. The total cash compensation, which includes base, and annual incentives, can vary anywhere from $128,589 to $165,588 with the average total cash compensation of $146,478.

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111445
136348

 

Jobs with a similar salary range to sports event manager : Special Event Manager, Meeting And Events Manager, Meeting And Event Manager