Coaches and Scouts pay in the United States

Goes furthest in New Jersey
·Arts, Design and Media·
249k jobs
Biggest filer STA Support Institute6 certified filings on public record
Reported annually
248,950 employed
+6% to 2035
59% AI exposure
Bachelor's degree
50 states reported
and more...

What this work is

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.

Where the money actually goes furthest

New Jersey pays the most both before and after cost of living — $76,700, worth $70,489 once local prices are counted.

Pay by state

50 states and territories publish a median for this occupation. Switch the ranking to see how much the order changes.

Adjusted for what things cost in that state.

Median pay for Coaches and Scouts by state, ranked by what it is worth locally
StateHourlyAnnualWorth locallyAfter state taxJobs
New Jerseyannual only$76,700$70,489$73,9405,670
Louisianaannual only$60,960$69,107$59,5062,550
Vermontannual only$59,990$61,239$57,968630
District of Columbiaannual only$65,360$59,472$62,460630
West Virginiaannual only$52,050$58,156$50,349910
Iowaannual only$49,350$56,232$48,0293,410
New Yorkannual only$59,920$55,522$57,22911,220
New Mexicoannual only$49,980$54,202$48,643590
Wyomingannual only$49,420$53,317$49,420470
Nebraskaannual only$47,810$53,063$46,2331,180
Connecticutannual only$54,790$52,881$52,5264,070
Arizonaannual only$53,130$52,771$52,1664,120
Rhode Islandannual only$53,630$52,434$52,0141,170
Massachusettsannual only$55,130$52,127$52,3736,310
Nevadaannual only$51,020$51,030$51,0202,390
Hawaiiannual only$55,860$50,804$53,057760
Montanaannual only$48,020$50,734$46,301990
Ohioannual only$46,530$50,156$45,96613,150
Georgiaannual only$48,210$50,067$46,3304,510
Pennsylvaniaannual only$48,730$49,943$47,2338,170
New Hampshireannual only$51,490$49,428$51,490870
Illinoisannual only$49,120$49,139$46,8258,840
Michiganannual only$47,050$48,898$45,2887,910
Idahoannual only$46,600$48,800$44,9041,410
Minnesotaannual only$48,050$48,722$46,2454,680
Marylandannual only$50,590$48,199$48,3673,960
Indianaannual only$44,480$47,658$43,1755,960
Kansasannual only$42,900$47,629$40,7943,300
Wisconsinannual only$44,800$47,608$43,5235,480
Oregonannual only$48,960$47,368$45,2173,930
Missouriannual only$42,790$47,115$41,6354,730
Oklahomaannual only$41,160$46,857$39,6952,420
North Carolinaannual only$43,840$46,475$42,5188,530
Utahannual only$45,680$46,206$43,6012,940
South Carolinaannual only$42,950$45,813$41,8693,310
Virginiaannual only$46,290$45,786$44,3746,810
Coloradoannual only$47,110$45,715$45,7284,120
Delawareannual only$45,200$45,286$43,258600
Maineannual only$43,640$44,966$41,9341,060
Washingtonannual only$48,030$44,883$48,03011,790
Arkansasannual only$38,930$44,778$37,5882,070
Californiaannual only$47,660$43,045$46,55531,150
North Dakotaannual only$37,100$41,704$37,1001,180
Tennesseeannual only$37,780$41,123$37,7806,250
South Dakotaannual only$36,360$41,043$36,3601,290
Alaskaannual only$41,170$40,220$41,170350
Kentuckyannual only$35,570$39,452$34,2732,800
Floridaannual only$39,370$38,071$39,37018,120
Texasannual only$36,510$37,615$36,51015,300
Puerto Ricoannual only$32,090Not publishedNot published610

National median for comparison: $47,320. “Worth locally” divides pay by the area’s price level, so a figure above the headline means money goes further there than the US average.

$47,320/year

Across the states

$19,840$106,340

25th to 75th percentile, lowest and highest state

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How much of this job could software do?

59%Moderate exposure
Hands, places, peopleLanguage and information

The two methods broadly agree.

Method 1 — ability mix51%

Cognitive share of O*NET ability importance (element families 1.A.1–1.A.4), O*NET 31.0

Method 2 — task content66%

Importance-weighted share of O*NET tasks classed as language or information work, O*NET 31.0

What this does and does not mean

Exposure means a model could plausibly do a meaningful share of the tasks in this job. It is not a forecast that the job disappears, and it says nothing about whether any employer will actually automate it.

For what the labour market expects, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment in this occupation to change by +6% between 2025 and 2035, with about 36,400 openings a year.

Which parts are exposed

  • 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.

Amber marks language and information work. Green marks tasks that need a person in a place.

What named employers said they would pay

From certified US Department of Labor visa filings. These are wages employers committed to for sponsored roles — not company-wide averages, and not necessarily what everyone in the job earns. Cells with fewer than three filings are withheld so no individual’s pay is identifiable.

EmployerRole as filedState25thMedian75thFilings
STA Support InstituteDirector of Academy Sports PerformanceNJ$50,250$60,000$60,0006
Loveland Youth Soccer AssociationDirector of Player PerformanceOH$40,000$40,000$41,0935
University of FindlayAquatics and Diving CoachOH$33,125$39,550$45,6004
Kent State UniversityAssistant Head CoachOH$50,000$50,000$50,8954
Washington State UniversityInternational Recruiting Coordinator/Lead Assistant CoachWA$56,250$60,000$70,0004
Arizona State UniversitySpecial Assistant to Athletic Administration - AquaticsAZ$35,250$35,250$47,6253
Grand Canyon UniversityAssistant Men’s Soccer CoachAZ$80,000$90,000$92,5003
Precision Sport Science LLCSport Scientist and Strength & Conditioning CoachCA$41,885$41,885$42,6353
IMG Academy, LLCAssistant Softball CoachFL$41,764$45,738$45,7383
Purdue UniversityAssistant Coach - Women's TennisIN$62,000$65,000$66,0003
Missouri Valley CollegeMen’s Volleyball Head CoachMO$37,985$40,000$46,7953
University at Albany, State University of New YorkAssistant Coach- Women's LacrosseNY$52,500$53,000$58,0003
Eastern Washington UniversityAssistant Women’s Basketball CoachWA$56,263$57,000$62,0923

Where coaches and scouts move next

Occupations that share most of this one’s skills, with the pay difference and the change in AI exposure.

Location

San Diego, CA, United States of America (SAN-San Diego Intl.)

Photograph by Antoni Shkraba.