Athletes and Sports Competitors
Machines can already do 6% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 33%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Athletes and Sports Competitors in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 6% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 0% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2041, and 33% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 15,070 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $66,710 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 74% for contact with people.
- Also called: Baseball Pitcher, Baseball Player, Basketball Player, Golf Professional.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attend scheduled practice or training sessions | 25% | 3% to 30% | |
| Maintain optimum physical fitness levels by training regularly, following nutrition plans, or consulting with health professionals | 20% | 3% to 30% | |
| Participate in athletic events or competitive sports, according to established rules and regulations | 15% | 3% to 30% | |
| Exercise or practice under the direction of athletic trainers or professional coaches to develop skills, improve physical condition, or prepare for competitions | 15% | 3% to 30% | |
| Assess performance following athletic competition, identifying strengths and weaknesses and making adjustments to improve future performance | 8% | 25% to 50% | |
| Receive instructions from coaches or other sports staff prior to events and discuss performance afterwards | 8% | 10% to 40% | |
| Represent teams or professional sports clubs, performing such activities as meeting with members of the media, making speeches, or participating in charity events | 5% | 25% to 50% | |
| Maintain equipment used in a particular sport | 4% | 3% to 30% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills athletes and sports competitors use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
This job is already among the lowest risk for its skill shape.
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Athletes and Sports Competitors?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2041. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of athletes and sports competitors?
Machines can do 6% of the tasks of athletes and sports competitors today and 33% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 27-2021.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Athletes and Sports Competitors: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/athletes-and-sports-competitors/