jobfacts

Sports and leisure assistants

SOC 2020 6211

Sports and leisure assistants, provide and maintain facilities for sporting and recreational activities and supervise their use, maintain the continuity of entertainment and social events, offer odds and accept bets on the result of sporting and other events, control gambling activities, work behind the scenes in production and broadcasting enterprises in a supporting role to ensure operations run smoothly.

Also calledLeisure centre assistantRecreation assistantLeisure attendantWardrobe assistantDresserLifeguardand 62 more titles
Typical full-time pay£26,9002025 Provisional
People in the job80,000across the UK
Demand for workersElevated
New adverts a month923↓ 5.1%on last year · 200th of 412

Pay

ONS · ASHE 2025

Half of full-time sports and leisure assistants earn between £23,800 and £30,500 a year.

What full-time sports and leisure assistants earn, 2025
£26,900 typical£21,100lowest 10%£23,80025%£30,50075%n/ptop 10%
Middle half (£23,800–£30,500)n/p: top 10% not published by ONS
Show as table
Lowest 10% earn less than£21,100
Lowest 20% earn less than£23,000
25%£23,800
Median£26,900
75%£30,500
Top 20% earn more thanNot published
Top 10% earn more thanNot published
Typical pay by regionUK median £26,900
Wales!£30,200
Scotland!£29,900
North East!£28,000
East Midlands!£27,000
North West!£26,100
Yorkshire and The Humber!£25,500
West Midlands!£25,500
London!£24,800
South West!£21,600
East of EnglandNot published by ONS–
South EastNot published by ONS–
!Small sample: treat with caution
Show as table
UK median, £26,900
Wales£30,200 (small sample)
Scotland£29,900 (small sample)
North East£28,000 (small sample)
East Midlands£27,000 (small sample)
North West£26,100 (small sample)
Yorkshire and The Humber£25,500 (small sample)
West Midlands£25,500 (small sample)
London£24,800 (small sample)
South West£21,600 (small sample)
East of EnglandNot published by ONS
South EastNot published by ONS
Typical pay over 3 years
  • 2023 £22,300
  • 2024 £24,500
  • 2025 Provisional£26,900
↑ 21% since 2023Provisional figures are revised when ONS publishes the next year’s survey.

Jobs and demand

ONS · Textkernel adverts · DfE

About 923 jobs for sports and leisure assistants are advertised each month. The Department for Education rates demand for workers as elevated.

New job adverts a month, Jan 2017 to Aug 2026
New advertsMonth not published by ONS (1 in all)
Show as table
Aug 2026963
Jul 2026826
Jun 2026870
May 20261,194
Apr 20261,160
Mar 2026Not published
Feb 2026908
Jan 20261,041
Dec 2025569
Nov 2025720
Oct 2025919
Sept 2025985
Aug 2025957
Jul 20251,121
Jun 20251,145
May 20251,103
Apr 20251,127
Mar 20251,163
Feb 2025932
Jan 20251,137
Dec 2024508
Nov 2024675
Oct 2024961
Sept 20241,032
Aug 20241,160
Jul 20241,258
Jun 20241,117
May 20241,432
Apr 20241,357
Mar 20241,221
Feb 20241,006
Jan 20241,238
Dec 2023801
Nov 2023984
Oct 20231,024
Sept 20231,103
Aug 20231,302
Jul 20231,134
Jun 20231,682
May 20231,646
Apr 20231,347
Mar 20231,622
Feb 20231,448
Jan 20231,552
Dec 20221,119
Nov 20221,176
Oct 20221,294
Sept 20221,364
Aug 20221,463
Jul 20221,633
Jun 20221,595
May 20221,849
Apr 20221,774
Mar 20221,781
Feb 20221,661
Jan 20221,699
Dec 20211,087
Nov 20211,351
Oct 20211,490
Sept 20211,680
Aug 20211,332
Jul 20211,032
Jun 20211,053
May 2021949
Apr 2021733
Mar 2021619
Feb 2021195
Jan 2021168
Dec 2020226
Nov 2020175
Oct 2020368
Sept 2020382
Aug 2020297
Jul 2020211
Jun 2020119
May 202081
Apr 2020262
Mar 2020592
Feb 20201,042
Jan 20201,121
Dec 2019562
Nov 2019815
Oct 2019943
Sept 20191,023
Aug 2019960
Jul 20191,113
Jun 20191,044
May 20191,021
Apr 2019853
Mar 2019948
Feb 2019786
Jan 2019995
Dec 2018556
Nov 2018749
Oct 2018908
Sept 20181,003
Aug 2018973
Jul 20181,079
Jun 20181,210
May 20181,039
Apr 2018954
Mar 20181,038
Feb 2018790
Jan 2018990
Dec 2017504
Nov 2017750
Oct 2017804
Sept 2017848
Aug 2017912
Jul 2017855
Jun 20171,054
May 20171,222
Apr 20171,085
Mar 20171,271
Feb 2017853
Jan 20171,032
Is there a shortage of sports and leisure assistants?
Elevated

The Department for Education rates demand as not high, elevated or critical, using five indicators. This is its 2025 assessment; in 2024 it was not high.

  • Visas grantedUsual
  • Online job advertsUsual
  • Wage growthAbove usual
  • Pay against similar jobsUsual
  • Hours workedWell above usual
Note: uncertain in multiple indicators: change in hourly wage, visa density.
Vacancies hard to fill because of skills
20%against 27% for all jobs
Broader groupFigure for leisure and travel services, which includes sports and leisure assistants. DfE Employer Skills Survey 2024.
Where the most jobs are advertisedadverts a quarter
London249
Highland44
Somerset41
City of Edinburgh40
Westmorland and Furness34
Buckinghamshire34
Manchester34
Glasgow City34
Leeds34
Cornwall33
London is published as one area. Averages leave out quarters ONS withheld.
Where sports and leisure assistants are most concentratedShare of local job adverts, compared with the UK.

Recruitment from abroad. 11 sponsored work visas were granted for this job from July 2025 to June 2026, most to people from Ecuador, Colombia, Jamaica, ranking it 210th of 313. Home Office

Who does it

ONS · Annual Population Survey · April 2025 to March 2026
Age of sports and leisure assistants
61%
12%!
5.8%!
7.7%!
8.5%!
5.5%!
!Small sample: treat with caution
Show as table
16–2461%
25–3412% (small sample)
35–445.8% (small sample)
45–547.7% (small sample)
55–648.5% (small sample)
65+5.5% (small sample)
Highest qualification
Degree or equivalent26%
Higher education below degree!4.8%
A levels or equivalent33%
GCSEs or equivalent33%
Other qualifications!3%
No qualifications!0.9%
!Small sample: treat with caution
Show as table
Degree or equivalent26%
Higher education below degree4.8% (small sample)
A levels or equivalent33%
GCSEs or equivalent33%
Other qualifications3% (small sample)
No qualifications0.9% (small sample)

Main employers: operation of sports facilities (32%), other amusement and recreation activities (7.5%), museum activities (6.5%), other education nec (4.6%).

How to get in

Hold a degree
26%
as their highest qualification
Most common qualification
GCSEs or equivalent
held by 33%
Apprenticeships
1
from level 2
Apprenticeships take
18 months
typically

Routes in

Leisure centre assistant

You can get into this job through:

College

You could take a college course, which may help when looking for work.

Courses include:

  • sport and fitness
  • leisure operations
  • active leisure and learning

Other sporting qualifications, for example in fitness, swimming and coaching, will also be acceptable to employers.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

Apprenticeship

You could apply to do a Leisure Team Member Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship.

As well as learning how to support the daily operations of a leisure centre, you'll also cover areas like:

  • lifeguarding duties
  • swimming teaching
  • gym instruction
  • leading group activities

This apprenticeship can take up to 2 years to complete.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship

Other ways in

Volunteering

You could improve your chances of employment by getting practical experience in a leisure centre, either through seasonal work or by volunteering.

Apply directly

You can apply directly for jobs. You'll find it useful when looking for work if you've got customer service experience and an interest in sport, exercise and fitness.

What you’ll need

  • pass enhanced background checks

Registration and professional bodies

Career tips

Some employers may prefer you to have a qualification in first aid, gym instruction or lifeguarding.

Professional and industry bodies

You can join the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) for professional development and learning opportunities.

Further information

You can find more information about working in leisure from CIMSPA.

Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for leisure centre assistant. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Wardrobe assistant

You can get into this job through:

University

You can take a higher national diploma, degree or postgraduate qualification to work as a wardrobe assistant. Subjects include:

  • costume design
  • fashion
  • textiles
  • costume construction

These may give you an advantage later if you want to become a costume designer.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • between 1 and 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a higher national diploma or degree
  • a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study

College

You could start by doing a college course to get some of the skills needed for this job, such as:

  • fashion and textiles
  • art and design
  • T Level in Craft and Design (Textiles and Fashion option)
Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level

Apprenticeship

You could apply to do an Advanced Apprenticeship to get into this role, like:

  • Costume Performance Technician Level 3
  • Garment Maker Level 3

These can take up to 2 years to complete.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

Other ways in

Work your way up

You could start out as a production runner with a stage or screen company and get the experience and contacts you need to move into wardrobe and costume work.

You could also work for a theatrical costume hire company to get into the industry.

Volunteering

Volunteering is a great way to build up your skills and to make contacts with people in the industry. Your contacts can be a good way of finding paid work later on. You can get volunteering experience through:

  • student theatre and film productions
  • amateur or community theatre
  • dressmaking
  • casual work as a costume 'daily' or temporary helper on film and TV sets

Registration and professional bodies

Career tips

Many wardrobe assistants work freelance and their rates can vary widely. The Broadcasting, Entertainment, Cinematograph and Theatre Union (BECTU) has information about recommended daily pay rates for wardrobe assistants.

Further information

You can learn more about being a wardrobe assistant from Get Into Theatre.

Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for wardrobe assistant. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Lifeguard

You can get into this job through:

Apprenticeship

You can apply to do a Leisure Team Member Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship, through your place of work.

As part of this apprenticeship, you will gain a first aid certificate along with a lifeguarding qualification.

Entry requirements

Employers will set their own entry requirements.

Work your way up

You may be able to work as a leisure centre pool attendant or assistant, and complete lifeguard qualifications on the job.

Other routes

You can qualify as a lifeguard by taking one of the following courses:

  • National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ)
  • Level 2 Award in Pool Lifeguarding

To be a beach lifeguard, you'll need to complete the National Vocational Beach Lifeguard Qualification (NVBLQ).

You can take a qualification by:

  • joining a local swimming club as a volunteer and training with them
  • training with a professional body at an approved centre

You can also apply to train with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

What you’ll need

  • be over 16 years of age
  • pass enhanced background checks as you may work with children and vulnerable adults
  • jump or dive into deep water
  • swim 50 metres in less than 60 seconds
  • swim 100 metres continuously on front and back in deep water
  • tread water for 30 seconds
  • surface dive to the floor of the pool
  • climb out of the pool unaided without using ladders or steps
  • complete a 400m pool swim in less than eight minutes
  • make a surface dive to a depth of 2 metres
  • be a confident sea swimmer
  • climb out of deep water unaided

To take a pool lifeguard qualification you'll need to be able to:

To qualify as a beach lifeguard you must:

Registration and professional bodies

Career tips

Lifeguards often work part time and are paid by the hour. Rates can vary between £10 and £14 an hour.

Further information

You can find out more about training to be a pool or beach lifeguard from:

  • Surf Life Saving GB
  • Royal Life Saving Society UK
  • Swimming Teachers' Association

Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for lifeguard. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Apprenticeships

1 for this job

© Skills England 2025. This information is licensed under the Open Government Licence https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

The work

ONS · ESCO · O*NET

Typical tasks

  • maintains sports and leisure equipment and prepares equipment for use
  • supervises the use of swimming pools, gymnasium apparatus, fitness machines and other recreational equipment
  • work in teams patrolling popular stretches of the coast, advising people when and where they can swim safely and making rescues when necessary
  • maintains hygienic operation of swimming pools and associated facilities such as hot tubs, showers and changing areas
  • carries clubs for golfers, advises on the layout and distance of golf courses and appropriate choice of golf club
  • announces acts, makes introductions, proposes toasts and maintains the continuity of entertainment events and social functions
  • assesses likely outcome of an event and establishes odds, accepts and records bets, issues receipts and pays out on winning bets
  • controls the progress of games of cards, roulette and other gambling activities according to established rules
  • provides support in production and broadcasting operations, such as helping set up and maintain the set, running errands, moving equipment, looking after guests, and transporting crew and cast between locations

Skills

  • maintain customer service
  • maintain relationship with customers
  • accompany people
  • advise on dating
  • assess character
  • assist customers
  • assist guest departure
  • assist VIP guests
  • deal with aggressive behaviour
  • develop professional network
  • enforce regulations of selling alcoholic beverages to minors
  • ensure health and safety in escort services
  • give advice on personal matters
  • greet guests

Knowledge

  • sexology
  • alcoholic beverage products
  • be in touch with your body
  • beverage products

Suits people who like

  • Organising and following procedures
  • Practical, hands-on work

Outlook

DfE · Skills Imperative 2035
Broader groupThese projections are for leisure, travel and related personal service occupations, a group of 11 jobs that includes sports and leisure assistants.
Change in jobs, 2020 to 2035↑ 5.6%about 41,000 more jobs
Workers needed by 2035421,000including people replacing those who retire or leave

Sources

Pay
ONS, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, 2025 provisional
People in the job, who does it
ONS, Annual Population Survey, April 2025 to March 2026
Job adverts
ONS, online job adverts (Textkernel), to Aug 2026
Demand, skill shortages
Department for Education and Skills England, Occupations in demand and the Employer Skills Survey
Outlook
The Skills Imperative 2035 (2024), NFER/Nuffield/DfE/IER/CE
Routes in
National Careers Service job profiles
Apprenticeships, qualifications
Skills England occupational maps
Skills, interests
ESCO classification of the European Commission; O*NET data, U.S. Department of Labor (CC BY 4.0, modified)
Visas
Home Office, immigration system statistics

Figures as of 10 October 2026.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Occupations in demand and the Employer Skills Survey: Department for Education and Skills England. Immigration system statistics: Home Office. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

© Skills England 2025. This information is licensed under the Open Government Licence https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Source: The Skills Imperative 2035 (2024), NFER/Nuffield/DfE/IER/CE.

This service uses the ESCO classification of the European Commission.

This service includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This service has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. CC BY 4.0 licence.

jobfacts is independent. It is not part of, affiliated with or endorsed by the Office for National Statistics, the Department for Education, Skills England, the National Careers Service, the Home Office, the European Commission or the U.S. Department of Labor.