All careersEveryday & transport

Coach / Scout

$45,920
median pay per year
full range coming in the next data update

What the job actually is

Train athletes or teams, plan practices and strategy, and evaluate talent and performance.

Where you work

Schools, colleges, clubs, and sports facilities.

The hours

Seasonal, with evenings, weekends, and travel

By the numbers

May 2024–25 BLS wage data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.

Median pay
$45,920
per year
What most earn
range coming soon
Openings a year
~41,800
projected, 2024–34
Outlook to 2034
+6%
Faster than average
Working in the U.S.
306,500
people, nationwide

Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.

“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.

How you get in

Typical starting education

Bachelor's degree

Training path: Bachelor's degree.

License or certification

School coaches often need certification such as first aid, CPR, and background clearance.

What it takes

Sport knowledgeMotivationStrategyCommunication

The honest take

Rewarding but often part-time or seasonal, with pay that thins outside the top levels.

Standard Occupational Classification 27-2022. Pay, employment, and outlook from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wage survey and 2024–34 employment projections). See something off? Tell us.