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The average salary for a college coach is approximately $44,315 per year, or about $21 per hour. This compensation reflects the diverse responsibilities of coaching, including training, mentoring, and strategy development. Factors influencing salary include the coach's level of experience, the particular college or university, and the specific sport.
Compensation can differ widely depending on the institution's budget and the sport's popularity. Coaches at larger universities or those in high-profile sports often earn significantly more, with top positions exceeding $100,000 annually. In contrast, entry-level coaches or those at smaller colleges may earn closer to the average salary.
States with a higher demand for college athletics, such as California and Texas, tend to offer better salary prospects. Additionally, coaches with specialized skills or extensive experience can negotiate higher salaries, particularly in competitive sports.
Understanding regional salary variations is crucial for aspiring coaches. Exploring salary data by state can help identify where opportunities and compensation align best with career goals.
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The highest-paying states for college coaches are Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. The lowest average college coach salary states are Missouri, Kansas, and Iowa.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $65,848 | $31.66 |
| 2 | Arizona | $57,742 | $27.76 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $79,333 | $38.14 |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $64,528 | $31.02 |
| 5 | New York | $59,837 | $28.77 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $61,478 | $29.56 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $61,529 | $29.58 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $58,858 | $28.30 |
| 9 | Oregon | $53,046 | $25.50 |
| 10 | Vermont | $59,076 | $28.40 |
| 11 | California | $58,598 | $28.17 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $49,390 | $23.75 |
| 13 | Louisiana | $46,513 | $22.36 |
| 14 | Nevada | $52,085 | $25.04 |
| 15 | New Mexico | $48,400 | $23.27 |
| 16 | South Carolina | $52,775 | $25.37 |
| 17 | West Virginia | $52,967 | $25.46 |
| 18 | Minnesota | $46,574 | $22.39 |
| 19 | Michigan | $45,435 | $21.84 |
| 20 | Texas | $49,382 | $23.74 |
| 21 | Hawaii | $54,087 | $26.00 |
| 22 | Maine | $51,048 | $24.54 |
| 23 | Alabama | $48,309 | $23.23 |
| 24 | Maryland | $50,153 | $24.11 |
| 25 | Virginia | $50,628 | $24.34 |
| 26 | Indiana | $43,900 | $21.11 |
| 27 | Illinois | $44,746 | $21.51 |
| 28 | North Carolina | $45,643 | $21.94 |
| 29 | Colorado | $40,991 | $19.71 |
| 30 | Alaska | $44,786 | $21.53 |
| 31 | Washington | $46,526 | $22.37 |
| 32 | Nebraska | $41,157 | $19.79 |
| 33 | Kentucky | $39,295 | $18.89 |
| 34 | Mississippi | $44,144 | $21.22 |
| 35 | Oklahoma | $42,135 | $20.26 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $42,371 | $20.37 |
| 37 | Florida | $40,889 | $19.66 |
| 38 | Iowa | $34,229 | $16.46 |
| 39 | North Dakota | $35,753 | $17.19 |
| 40 | Idaho | $36,987 | $17.78 |
| 41 | Kansas | $34,230 | $16.46 |
| 42 | Missouri | $35,482 | $17.06 |
| 43 | Montana | $28,372 | $13.64 |
| 44 | Utah | $37,812 | $18.18 |
| 45 | Delaware | $36,099 | $17.36 |
| 46 | Ohio | $36,714 | $17.65 |
| 47 | Georgia | $39,307 | $18.90 |
| 48 | Wyoming | $24,557 | $11.81 |
| 49 | Wisconsin | $38,945 | $18.72 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $38,658 | $18.59 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $29,436 | $14.15 |
The highest-paying cities for college coaches are Boston, MA, New York, NY, and Oakland, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston, MA | $79,249 | $38.10 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $60,083 | $28.89 |
| 3 | Oakland, CA | $59,881 | $28.79 |
| 4 | Philadelphia, PA | $59,599 | $28.65 |
| 5 | Baltimore, MD | $50,469 | $24.26 |
| 6 | Austin, TX | $49,916 | $24.00 |
| 7 | Saint Paul, MN | $46,691 | $22.45 |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $45,079 | $21.67 |
| 9 | Mount Pleasant, MI | $44,766 | $21.52 |
| 10 | Richmond, IN | $44,754 | $21.52 |
| 11 | Denver, CO | $40,887 | $19.66 |
| 12 | Atlanta, GA | $39,213 | $18.85 |
| 13 | Madison, WI | $38,168 | $18.35 |
| 14 | Kansas City, MO | $35,012 | $16.83 |
| 15 | Des Moines, IA | $33,884 | $16.29 |
| 16 | Missoula, MT | $28,855 | $13.87 |
A college coach's salary ranges from $25,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $76,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $76,000 | $6,333 | $37 |
| 75th Percentile | $59,000 | $4,917 | $28 |
| Average | $44,315 | $3,693 | $21 |
| 25th Percentile | $33,000 | $2,750 | $16 |
| 10th Percentile | $25,000 | $2,083 | $12 |
The highest paying types of college coaches are scout, eagle scout, and strength and conditioning coach.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scout | $58,288 | $4,857 | $28.02 | 490 |
| Student Athlete | $45,705 | $3,809 | $21.97 | 9,762 |
| Strength And Conditioning Coach | $49,382 | $4,115 | $23.74 | 14,934 |
| Gymnasium Coach | $35,572 | $2,964 | $17.10 | 14,582 |
| Head Basketball Coach | $44,688 | $3,724 | $21.48 | 22,008 |
| Academic Coach | $39,812 | $3,318 | $19.14 | 16,855 |
College coach salaries at Bunker Hill Community College and North Shore Community College are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average college coach salary at companies like Siena Heights University and Research Foundation of The City University of New York are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bunker Hill Community College | $72,891 | $35.04 |
| 2 | North Shore Community College | $72,814 | $35.01 |
| 3 | Siena Heights University | $61,508 | $29.57 |
| 4 | Research Foundation of The City University of New York | $58,936 | $28.33 |
| 5 | Dallas College | $58,861 | $28.30 |
| 6 | Meristem Family Wealth | $57,385 | $27.59 |
| 7 | IDEA Public Schools | $55,883 | $26.87 |
| 8 | Middlesex Community College | $55,756 | $26.81 |
| 9 | Ivy Tech Community College | $51,219 | $24.62 |
| 10 | Grantham University | $51,163 | $24.60 |
| 11 | Northern Essex Community College | $50,250 | $24.16 |
| 12 | Virginia's Community Colleges | $49,923 | $24.00 |
| 13 | Denver Public Schools | $48,697 | $23.41 |
| 14 | Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi | $47,208 | $22.70 |
| 15 | Tyler Junior College | $44,224 | $21.26 |
| 16 | State of West Virginia | $40,921 | $19.67 |
| 17 | Americorps | $38,980 | $18.74 |
| 18 | SMASH | $32,032 | $15.40 |
| 19 | South Florida State College | $26,311 | $12.65 |
The average college coach salary has risen by $9,588 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average college coach earned $34,727 annually, but today, they earn $44,315 a year. That works out to a 15% change in pay for college coaches over the last decade.
Compare college coach salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare college coach salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $44,300 | $21.31 | +4.1% |
| 2024 | $42,500 | $20.43 | +3.0% |
| 2023 | $41,200 | $19.81 | +4.5% |
| 2022 | $39,400 | $18.92 | +2.5% |
| 2021 | $38,400 | $18.45 | +1.5% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee Board of Regents | College Coach | Nashville, TN | 06/26/2025 | $44,148 |
| Heartshare Human Services of New York | Fair Futures College Coach | New York, NY | 05/24/2025 | $53,949 |
| Beyond 12 | College Coach 2025 | Oakland, CA | 04/11/2025 | $53,276 |
| Bright Horizons Children's Centers | College Coach Concierge-Remote | Watertown Town, MA | 04/06/2025 | $52,175 |
| Illinois State | First Star ISU Academy College Coach | Normal, IL | 02/18/2025 | $33,809 |
| Goriverhawksgo | N96464 Gear Up College Coach, Stillwell & Grove | Tahlequah, OK | 02/17/2025 | $40,000 |
| Beyond 12 | College Coach | Oakland, CA | 02/14/2025 | $53,276 |
| Northeastern State University | N96463 Gear Up College Coach (Sapulpa/Skiatook) | Tahlequah, OK | 02/13/2025 | $40,000 |
| Bright Horizons | College Coach Support Specialist | Newton, MA | 01/15/2025 | $45,914 |
| Northeastern State University | Gear Up College Coach | Tahlequah, OK | 05/11/2024 | $37,908 |
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