Coaches and Scouts: Career Overview
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.
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What Tasks Do Coaches and Scouts Take On?
Typical responsibilities of coaches and scouts span:
- 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.
What Coaches and Scouts Need to Know
Top coaches and scouts combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The competencies that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Athletic Coach
- Athletic Instructor
- Athletic Scout
- Athletics Teacher
- Baseball Club Manager
- Baseball Coach
- Baseball Scout
- Basketball Coach
Job Outlook
The U.S. employs around 334,229 coaches and scouts working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to decline by -0.5% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Coaches and Scouts Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $78,709 |
| Hourly median | $37.84 |
| 10th percentile | $54,067 |
| 25th percentile | $66,388 |
| 75th percentile | $91,030 |
| 90th percentile | $103,351 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Coaches and Scouts Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Wyoming | $60,640 |
| New Jersey | $60,350 |
| District of Columbia | $59,740 |
| Maryland | $59,470 |
| Connecticut | $53,250 |
| Louisiana | $52,260 |
| Vermont | $50,440 |
| West Virginia | $50,230 |
| New York | $50,220 |
| New Hampshire | $50,120 |
| Nebraska | $49,480 |
| Maine | $49,140 |
| Rhode Island | $49,130 |
| Oregon | $48,840 |
| Hawaii | $48,630 |
| Massachusetts | $48,250 |
| Nevada | $47,950 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,520 |
| Colorado | $47,470 |
| Arizona | $47,460 |
| Washington | $47,340 |
| Minnesota | $47,150 |
| Mississippi | $47,120 |
| Idaho | $46,890 |
| South Carolina | $46,760 |
| Florida | $46,680 |
| California | $46,120 |
| Illinois | $45,920 |
| Virginia | $45,390 |
| Michigan | $44,210 |
| Missouri | $43,790 |
| Arkansas | $42,290 |
| Wisconsin | $41,790 |
| Oklahoma | $41,600 |
| North Carolina | $41,550 |
| Alabama | $41,150 |
| Iowa | $40,870 |
| Kansas | $40,040 |
| Utah | $39,920 |
| Delaware | $39,910 |
| Georgia | $39,380 |
| Ohio | $38,480 |
| Montana | $38,140 |
| New Mexico | $37,740 |
| Tennessee | $37,430 |
| Indiana | $36,740 |
| Kentucky | $36,390 |
| Alaska | $36,220 |
| Texas | $36,080 |
| North Dakota | $35,940 |
| South Dakota | $34,440 |
| Puerto Rico | $26,960 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Earnings for coaches and scouts shift depending on where you work. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Atlantic | $52,633 | 11.7% | 0.77 |
| New England | $49,882 | 6.2% | 1.31 |
| Far Western US | $46,625 | 19.9% | 1.26 |
| Rocky Mountains | $44,485 | 3.4% | 0.88 |
| Southeast | $43,454 | 21.5% | 0.91 |
| Plains States | $42,352 | 7.7% | 1.28 |
| Great Lakes | $41,332 | 20.0% | 1.48 |
| Southwest | $38,797 | 9.3% | 0.75 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corvallis, OR | OR | $93,640 | 120 |
| Farmington, NM | NM | $66,680 | 40 |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | AL | $66,530 | 210 |
| Salisbury, MD | MD | $65,080 | 80 |
| Flint, MI | MI | $62,630 | |
| Fairbanks-College, AK | AK | $62,520 | 50 |
| Arecibo, PR | PR | $62,230 | 50 |
| Albany, OR | OR | $62,070 | 70 |
Which Industries Hire Coaches and Scouts
The bulk of coaches and scouts are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Educational Services | 174,730 | n/a |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 63,720 | n/a |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 5,940 | n/a |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 800 | n/a |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 710 | n/a |
| Accommodation and Food Services | 710 | n/a |
| Retail Trade | 70 | n/a |
Coaches and Scouts work in the following industries:
Software Coaches and Scouts Use
- Object or component oriented development software: C++ (hot technology)
- Web page creation and editing software: Facebook (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Google Docs (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
Work Environment
Daily working conditions for coaches and scouts reflects the following characteristics:
- Contact With Others
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
How to Become Coaches and Scouts
Entry-level coaches and scouts positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Considerable Preparation Needed (Job Zone 4), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Training and Development Managers (Primary-Long)
- Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare (Supplemental)
- Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary (Supplemental)
- Education Administrators, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
- Fitness and Wellness Coordinators (Primary-Long)
- Training and Development Specialists (Primary-Long)
- Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors (Supplemental)
- Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Long)
Where to Study
Aspiring coaches and scouts commonly pursue programs in:
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness Studies, and Kinesiology
2 programs across 1 majors
Education
1 programs across 1 majors
Psychology
1 programs across 1 majors
Sources
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 27-2022.00 (Coaches and Scouts).
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