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The Average Salary of a Sports Analyst

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A sports analyst writes, researches and studies athletes, athletic teams and sporting events. He often works for commercial businesses such as magazines, newspapers and television studios. Some sports analysts are behind-the-scenes researchers who provide information to news broadcasters and sports reporters. Others are frontline analysts who report directly to the public. A sports analyst's salary is dependent upon his experience, geographic location and type of industry.

Type of Industry

Sports analysts who are employed by television networks tend to earn higher annual wages than those employed by newspapers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, sports analysts and reporters who work for cable and subscription television networks earn an average annual salary of $73,740. Sports analysts who work for public radio and television broadcasting networks earn an average salary of $68,480, and those employed by newspaper companies earn an average of $59,320 on an annual basis.

Geographic Location

Communities that have a large number of sports teams, including professional and college teams, tend to have higher annual salaries than those without. Economic factors and cost-of-living expenses also influence sports analyst's average salary levels. According to the Bureau of Labor statistics, sports analysts and reporters employed in Florida earn an annual mean wage of $108,500. Sports analysts working and residing in South Dakota earn an annual mean wage of $39,920.

Experience

Experience is a critical consideration when assessing a sports analyst's average annual salary. Those with 10 or more years of experience earn almost $30,000 more than those just starting out in the industry. According to Payscale, sports analysts who have worked in the industry for 1 to 4 years earn on average $45,750 annually. Those who have worked in the industry for 5 to 9 years earn an average of $52,381, and sports analysts who have worked between 10 and 19 years in the industry earn an average of $72,500 annually.

Benefits

Health benefits are an added financial perk for sports analysts who work in all types of media industries. According to Payscale, 78 percent of sports reporters receive medical health benefits in conjunction with their base salaries. Another 56 percent receive dental benefits, and 44 percent receive vision-care benefits. These added health benefits make a sports analyst's salary more financially appealing.

References
Writer

As curriculum developer and educator, Kristine Tucker has enjoyed the plethora of English assignments she's read (and graded!) over the years. Her experiences as vice-president of an energy consulting firm have given her the opportunity to explore business writing and HR. Tucker has a BA and holds Ohio teaching credentials.

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