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The differences between coaches and head 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 and a head coach. Additionally, a head coach has an average salary of $44,062, which is higher than the $42,716 average annual salary of a coach.
The top three skills for a coach include customer service, CPR and food handling. The most important skills for a head coach are CPR, NCAA, and athletic program.
| Coach | Head Coach | |
| Yearly salary | $42,716 | $44,062 |
| Hourly rate | $20.54 | $21.18 |
| Growth rate | 20% | 20% |
| Number of jobs | 16,688 | 22,027 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Average age | 36 | 36 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
The main responsibility of a coach is to motivate an individual or an entire team. Coaches are focused on improving the performance and skills of athletes by conducting training sessions, coordinating practice drills, and providing guidance. Their work is conducted both on and off the field - not only while an athletic event is in session. Coaches are sometimes tasked with recruitment activities in order to fill a team's roster to help them succeed. Other duties of a coach include fundraising, overseeing facilities, and promoting a safe environment.
A head coach is responsible for managing teams, monitoring each player's performance, conditioning the team's skills by conducting training sessions, and encouraging the trainees to reach their full potential. Head coaches assess the team's coordination during training or a game, adjusting strategies and improving techniques as needed. A head coach evaluates the team's strengths and weaknesses while educating them on the proper sports ethic. A head coach must have strong leadership and organizational skills to develop plans and reach set goals.
Coaches and head coaches have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Coach | Head Coach | |
| Average salary | $42,716 | $44,062 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $66,000 | Between $30,000 And $63,000 |
| Highest paying City | Piscataway, NJ | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | New York |
| Best paying company | AEA Investors | Kern Community College District |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Education |
There are a few differences between a coach and a head coach in terms of educational background:
| Coach | Head Coach | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Most common major | Business | Kinesiology |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between coaches' and head coaches' demographics:
| Coach | Head Coach | |
| Average age | 36 | 36 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 48.3% Female, 51.7% | Male, 66.3% Female, 33.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.9% Unknown, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, 13.2% Asian, 5.4% White, 66.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 9.0% Unknown, 5.8% Hispanic or Latino, 13.4% Asian, 5.5% White, 66.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |