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Coach/instructor vs student athlete

The differences between coach/instructors and student athletes 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 student athlete. Additionally, a coach/instructor has an average salary of $52,182, which is higher than the $45,705 average annual salary of a student athlete.

The top three skills for a coach/instructor include classroom management, math and instructional support. The most important skills for a student athlete are NCAA, teamwork, and GPA.

Coach/instructor vs student athlete overview

Coach/InstructorStudent Athlete
Yearly salary$52,182$45,705
Hourly rate$25.09$21.97
Growth rate20%20%
Number of jobs40,9869,762
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 58%Bachelor's Degree, 84%
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 student athlete do?

A student-athlete competes in various sporting events to represent a school or institution. Most student-athletes are under scholarships and receive an allowance, either from the school or a particular organization. Their responsibility primarily revolves around attending rigorous training and practices, abiding by the university's policies, displaying good sportsmanship, all while maintaining a standard academic grade. Moreover, a student-athlete may also participate in various workshops, represent the school in public gatherings, and become a professional athlete after graduation.

Coach/instructor vs student athlete salary

Coach/instructors and student athletes have different pay scales, as shown below.

Coach/InstructorStudent Athlete
Average salary$52,182$45,705
Salary rangeBetween $37,000 And $72,000Between $26,000 And $77,000
Highest paying CitySunnyvale, CANew York, NY
Highest paying stateHawaiiNew York
Best paying companySaint Xavier UniversityUMass Lowell
Best paying industryGovernmentEducation

Differences between coach/instructor and student athlete education

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

Coach/InstructorStudent Athlete
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 58%Bachelor's Degree, 84%
Most common majorElementary EducationBusiness
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityNorthwestern University

Coach/instructor vs student athlete demographics

Here are the differences between coach/instructors' and student athletes' demographics:

Coach/InstructorStudent Athlete
Average age3636
Gender ratioMale, 41.8% Female, 58.2%Male, 58.1% Female, 41.9%
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, 8.8% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 13.1% Asian, 5.4% White, 66.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between coach/instructor and student athlete 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

Student athlete example responsibilities.

  • Manage class schedule of all assign athletes and ensure that the student-athlete is maintaining the proper GPA.
  • Achieve national swimming championship honors.
  • Achieve all-conference honors junior and senior years
  • Initiate and manage community service, sportsmanship, nutritional and official NCAA programming for student-athletes
  • Provide championship and campus information for ACC website.
  • Oversee study hall, Champs/life skills, SAAC, and academic recovery programs.
  • Show more

Coach/instructor vs student athlete skills

Common coach/instructor skills
  • Classroom Management, 8%
  • Math, 6%
  • Instructional Support, 6%
  • Student Learning, 6%
  • Professional Growth, 6%
  • Curriculum Development, 6%
Common student athlete skills
  • NCAA, 21%
  • Teamwork, 8%
  • GPA, 7%
  • Championship, 5%
  • Soccer, 5%
  • Leadership, 4%

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