Post job

Coach/instructor vs life coach

The differences between coach/instructors and life coaches can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a coach/instructor and a life coach. Additionally, a coach/instructor has an average salary of $52,182, which is higher than the $41,947 average annual salary of a life coach.

The top three skills for a coach/instructor include classroom management, math and instructional support. The most important skills for a life coach are relationship building, mental health, and crisis intervention.

Coach/instructor vs life coach overview

Coach/InstructorLife Coach
Yearly salary$52,182$41,947
Hourly rate$25.09$20.17
Growth rate20%20%
Number of jobs40,98625,642
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 58%Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Average age3636
Years of experience66

What does a coach/instructor do?

A Coach/Instructor teaches athletes the correct way to play a sport. They offer professional development and improvement guidance to high school students, college students, and other individuals.

What does a life coach do?

A Life Coach specializes in presenting techniques and mental roadmaps to help clients progress towards their short and long-term goals in various aspects of life. Their responsibilities include facilitating discussions in a one-on-one or group setting, identifying the clients' needs, developing action plans and other strategies to reach goals, and encouraging the clients' progress. A Life Coach may also create various projects and programs to help clients navigate through multiple paths and obstacles, providing support along the way.

Coach/instructor vs life coach salary

Coach/instructors and life coaches have different pay scales, as shown below.

Coach/InstructorLife Coach
Average salary$52,182$41,947
Salary rangeBetween $37,000 And $72,000Between $27,000 And $64,000
Highest paying CitySunnyvale, CA-
Highest paying stateHawaii-
Best paying companySaint Xavier University-
Best paying industryGovernment-

Differences between coach/instructor and life coach education

There are a few differences between a coach/instructor and a life coach in terms of educational background:

Coach/InstructorLife Coach
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 58%Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Most common majorElementary EducationPsychology
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityNorthwestern University

Coach/instructor vs life coach demographics

Here are the differences between coach/instructors' and life coaches' demographics:

Coach/InstructorLife Coach
Average age3636
Gender ratioMale, 41.8% Female, 58.2%Male, 32.5% Female, 67.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.9% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 13.3% Asian, 5.4% White, 66.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 8.7% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 5.4% White, 66.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between coach/instructor and life coach duties and responsibilities

Coach/instructor example responsibilities.

  • Manage and schedule local and national soccer competitions.
  • Present information of math program through PowerPoint presentation to parents and community.
  • Teach students in GED program.
  • Serve on district wide PBIS team.
  • Monitor data on ESE, ESL populations.
  • Assist in IEP development and transition plan development.
  • Show more

Life coach example responsibilities.

  • Assist clients with personal and professional coaching, copywriting, managing, marketing and promotions.
  • Incorporate MBTI and other coaching tools to help executives and sales teams achieve increase productivity.
  • Train and experience at managing challenging classroom situations using CPI methods and positive behavior reinforcement practices.
  • Perform additional responsibilities as deemed appropriate by school and district supervisors such as organizing and managing elementary school mathematics information nights.
  • Deliver MBTI leadership workshop for executive staff providing organizational development solutions.
  • Provide support to individuals in vocational rehabilitation and work with them learning employment and socialization skills.
  • Show more

Coach/instructor vs life coach skills

Common coach/instructor skills
  • Classroom Management, 8%
  • Math, 6%
  • Instructional Support, 6%
  • Student Learning, 6%
  • Professional Growth, 6%
  • Curriculum Development, 6%
Common life coach skills
  • Relationship Building, 17%
  • Mental Health, 10%
  • Crisis Intervention, 6%
  • Community Resources, 6%
  • Developmental Disabilities, 5%
  • Behavior Modification, 5%

Browse arts, entertainment, sports, and media jobs