Occupations · Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media

Coaches and Scouts

Instruct or coach groups or individuals in the fundamentals of sports for the primary purpose of competition. Demonstrate techniques and methods of participation. May evaluate athletes' strengths and weaknesses as possible recruits or to improve the athletes' technique to prepare them for competition. Those required to hold teaching certifications should be reported in the appropriate teaching category.

O*NET 30.3 Database (USDOL/ETA) · occupation code 27-2022.00

$45,920median annual wage, May 2024

250,940people employed, United States

▲ 6.4%projected change, 2024→2034

41,800openings a year, incl. replacements

What it pays

A single “average salary” hides the spread. This is the whole distribution — the gap between the bottom and top bar is usually the number that matters.

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 · national, cross-industry · annual wage

Pay over time

Median up 70% between 2003 and 2024, before inflation. The band shows the 10th to 90th percentile.

BLS OEWS, one release per year. Before May 2011 only national estimates were published, so geography detail starts there.

Where the jobs are

Metro area	Median wage	Employed
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA	$58,400	10,670
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$47,230	10,430
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI	$47,770	8,830
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	$48,430	5,870
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA	$47,260	5,520
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$48,010	5,390
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	$36,340	4,900
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	$54,070	4,400
Columbus, OH	$43,620	3,770
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$48,610	3,750
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX	$32,940	3,740
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA	$45,490	3,530

BLS OEWS May 2024, metropolitan estimates · the 12 areas with the most people in this occupation

Typical education to enter: Bachelor's degree · BLS Employment Projections 2024–34

What people in this job actually do

Ordered by how important the work is rated.

Plan, organize, and conduct practice sessions.
Provide training direction, encouragement, motivation, and nutritional advice to prepare athletes for games, competitive events, or tours.
Adjust coaching techniques, based on the strengths and weaknesses of athletes.
Instruct individuals or groups in sports rules, game strategies, and performance principles, such as specific ways of moving the body, hands, or feet, to achieve desired results.
Plan strategies and choose team members for individual games or sports seasons.
Monitor the academic eligibility of student athletes.
Counsel student athletes on academic, athletic, and personal issues.
Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of opposing teams to develop game strategies.
Coordinate travel arrangements and travel with team to away contests.
Plan and direct physical conditioning programs that will enable athletes to achieve maximum performance.
Evaluate athletes' skills and review performance records to determine their fitness and potential in a particular area of athletics.
Identify and recruit potential athletes by sending recruitment letters, meeting with recruits, and arranging and offering incentives, such as athletic scholarships.

O*NET 30.3 task ratings, importance scale

Skills that matter most

Importance, rated 1 to 5.

Speaking4.4

Learning Strategies4.1

Monitoring4.1

Reading Comprehension4.0

Active Listening4.0

Critical Thinking4.0

Active Learning3.9

Writing3.6

Mathematics2.1

Science1.6

O*NET 30.3 skills, importance scale

Software and tools

A dot marks what O*NET flags as in demand.

C++●Facebook●Google Docs●Microsoft Excel●Microsoft Office software●Microsoft Outlook●Microsoft PowerPoint●Microsoft Word●BloomzEdmodoEdpuzzleEdulasticEvernoteFlipgridGoogle ClassroomGoogle DriveGoogle MeetGraphics creation softwareGroupMeMicrosoft PublisherMotion analysis softwareNearpodOnline registration softwareParentSquarePear DeckPerformance database softwareScheduling softwareSchoology

O*NET 30.3 software skills · hot-technology flag

What this work is actually like

Conditions rated against the average across all occupations — only what makes this job different is listed.

4 / 5Considerable preparation — a four-year degree plus several years in the field.

O*NET 30.3 Job Zones

Working conditions that stand out

Public Speaking+1.7 above average

Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets−1.6 below average

Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions+0.9 above average

Importance of Repeating Same Tasks−0.9 below average

Level of Competition+0.9 above average

Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls−0.9 below average

Conflict Situations+0.8 above average

O*NET 30.3 work context, frequency scale · observed 2019-08

How people actually get in

Share of workers by the education they hold.

Bachelor's Degree49%

Master's Degree19%

Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)17%

High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)9%

O*NET 30.2 education, training and experience · observed 2019-08

What kind of person the work suits

Occupational interest profile, rated 1 to 7.

Social5.3

Enterprising5.2

Realistic4.2

O*NET 30.2 occupational interests (RIASEC)

What you take with you

Skills rated for how well they transfer into other occupations.

Instructing4.8

Judgment and Decision Making4.0

Social Perceptiveness4.0

Time Management3.9

Complex Problem Solving3.9

Persuasion3.9

Coordination3.9

Management of Personnel Resources3.9

O*NET 30.3 transferable skills, importance scale

Knowledge the work draws on

Education and TrainingEnglish LanguageAdministration and ManagementPsychologyCustomer and Personal ServiceCommunications and Media

Abilities it leans on

Oral ExpressionOral ComprehensionSpeech RecognitionSpeech ClarityOriginalityInformation Ordering

O*NET 30.3 abilities and knowledge, importance scale

How this job is advertised

The same work is posted under many titles — this is what to search for.

CoachSki CoachGolf CoachSwim CoachTrack CoachTennis CoachSoccer CoachRiding CoachJudo TeacherBoxing CoachHockey ScoutGolf TeacherCollege CoachFitness Coach

O*NET 30.3 job titles reported for this occupation

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What changed since 2015

Comparing O*NET release 20.1 (2015-10-01) with 30.3 (2026-05-01). Signs, not colour alone, carry the meaning.

Now listed 19

+Screencast-O-Matic+Google Docs+Bloomz+Edpuzzle+Pear Deck+Screencastify+Microsoft Publisher+Nearpod+Flipgrid+ParentSquare+Google Meet+Schoology+Google Classroom+GroupMe

Diff across the O*NET releases held here in full since October 2015, following occupations through merges and retirements. O*NET re-surveys occupations on a rolling cycle, so “no change” can also mean “not re-surveyed”.

O*NET 30.3 related occupations

Also called

ScoutCoachTeacherSki CoachSwim CoachHead CoachGolf CoachTrack CoachDiving CoachHockey ScoutSoccer CoachJudo Teacher

O*NET 30.3 alternative titles

The same work in Europe

ESCO occupation	ISCO	Match
physical education teacher secondary school	2330.1.15	close
sports instructor	3422.5	close
tennis coach	3422.5.7	broader
football coach	3422.4.1	broader
sports coach	3422.4	broader
ice-skating coach	3422.5.3	broader

Official ESCO ↔ O*NET crosswalk (ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA)

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