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Head coach salary
Average head coach salary
$44,062
Understanding Head Coach Salaries
A Head Coach plays a critical role in shaping athletic programs, and their compensation can vary significantly based on several factors. The average salary of $44,062 per year reflects the various responsibilities and pressures associated with the role. Coaches at high school levels may earn less than those in college or professional leagues, where salaries can soar into the six-figure range.
Additionally, geographic location impacts earnings. States like California, Texas, and Florida often offer higher salaries due to the demand for competitive sports programs. For instance, a head coach in California could earn significantly more than the national average because of the state's large population and investment in athletics.
Experience also plays a pivotal role in salary determination. Coaches with a proven track record and years of experience typically command higher salaries. Aspiring coaches should consider starting in smaller programs to build their credentials before moving to higher-paying positions.
In summary, understanding the salary landscape enables current and prospective head coaches to make informed career choices, identifying opportunities that align with their professional goals.
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Where can a Head Coach earn more?
Head coach salary estimates from across the web
Average head coach salary by state
The highest-paying states for head coaches are New York, West Virginia, and Massachusetts. The lowest average head coach salary states are Kentucky, Utah, and South Dakota.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for head coaches
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $53,543 | $25.74 |
| 2 | New York | $57,551 | $27.67 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $56,996 | $27.40 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $53,369 | $25.66 |
| 5 | Delaware | $50,523 | $24.29 |
| 6 | District of Columbia | $55,126 | $26.50 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $53,744 | $25.84 |
| 8 | Louisiana | $45,447 | $21.85 |
| 9 | Minnesota | $47,170 | $22.68 |
| 10 | Vermont | $52,976 | $25.47 |
| 11 | West Virginia | $57,351 | $27.57 |
| 12 | Hawaii | $53,197 | $25.58 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $48,700 | $23.41 |
| 14 | Oregon | $46,233 | $22.23 |
| 15 | Maine | $47,091 | $22.64 |
| 16 | South Carolina | $47,735 | $22.95 |
| 17 | New Hampshire | $43,197 | $20.77 |
| 18 | Virginia | $48,489 | $23.31 |
| 19 | Mississippi | $45,993 | $22.11 |
| 20 | California | $46,666 | $22.44 |
| 21 | Alaska | $49,788 | $23.94 |
| 22 | Nebraska | $46,037 | $22.13 |
| 23 | New Mexico | $43,772 | $21.04 |
| 24 | Texas | $43,750 | $21.03 |
| 25 | Arizona | $41,608 | $20.00 |
| 26 | North Carolina | $42,285 | $20.33 |
| 27 | Nevada | $44,229 | $21.26 |
| 28 | Michigan | $40,095 | $19.28 |
| 29 | Indiana | $40,671 | $19.55 |
| 30 | Colorado | $39,824 | $19.15 |
| 31 | Illinois | $41,018 | $19.72 |
| 32 | North Dakota | $40,669 | $19.55 |
| 33 | Florida | $42,807 | $20.58 |
| 34 | Tennessee | $39,099 | $18.80 |
| 35 | Missouri | $37,838 | $18.19 |
| 36 | Washington | $40,176 | $19.32 |
| 37 | Iowa | $34,008 | $16.35 |
| 38 | Maryland | $39,213 | $18.85 |
| 39 | Alabama | $39,087 | $18.79 |
| 40 | Idaho | $34,569 | $16.62 |
| 41 | Montana | $28,479 | $13.69 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $33,688 | $16.20 |
| 43 | Ohio | $36,861 | $17.72 |
| 44 | Wyoming | $24,330 | $11.70 |
| 45 | Kansas | $26,433 | $12.71 |
| 46 | Utah | $31,860 | $15.32 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $35,455 | $17.05 |
| 48 | Georgia | $35,177 | $16.91 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $35,788 | $17.21 |
| 50 | Wisconsin | $35,706 | $17.17 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $29,158 | $14.02 |
Highest paying cities for head coaches
The highest-paying cities for head coaches are New York, NY, Boston, MA, and Paterson, NJ.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $57,822 | $27.80 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $57,078 | $27.44 |
| 3 | Paterson, NJ | $53,804 | $25.87 |
| 4 | Providence, RI | $53,393 | $25.67 |
| 5 | Richmond, VA | $48,105 | $23.13 |
| 6 | Columbia, SC | $47,710 | $22.94 |
| 7 | Minneapolis, MN | $47,161 | $22.67 |
| 8 | San Luis Obispo, CA | $47,149 | $22.67 |
| 9 | Corvallis, OR | $46,487 | $22.35 |
| 10 | Houston, TX | $44,164 | $21.23 |
| 11 | North Miami Beach, FL | $43,822 | $21.07 |
| 12 | Phoenix, AZ | $41,619 | $20.01 |
| 13 | Chicago, IL | $41,126 | $19.77 |
| 14 | Detroit, MI | $40,180 | $19.32 |
| 15 | Castle Rock, CO | $39,852 | $19.16 |
| 16 | Baltimore, MD | $39,452 | $18.97 |
| 17 | Saint Louis, MO | $38,235 | $18.38 |
| 18 | Youngstown, OH | $37,702 | $18.13 |
| 19 | Atlanta, GA | $35,043 | $16.85 |
| 20 | Ottumwa, IA | $34,003 | $16.35 |
Head coach salary details
A head coach's salary ranges from $30,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $63,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a head coach's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $63,000 | $5,250 | $30 |
| 75th Percentile | $53,000 | $4,417 | $25 |
| Average | $44,062 | $3,672 | $21 |
| 25th Percentile | $36,000 | $3,000 | $17 |
| 10th Percentile | $30,000 | $2,500 | $14 |
Highest paying head coach jobs
The highest paying types of head coaches are volunteer coach, basketball coach, and head volleyball coach.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Girls Basketball Coach | $44,777 | $3,731 | $21.53 | 14,526 |
| High School Coach | $44,789 | $3,732 | $21.53 | 35,727 |
| Softball Coach | $44,003 | $3,667 | $21.16 | 14,469 |
| Basketball Coach | $44,858 | $3,738 | $21.57 | 14,517 |
| Soccer Coach | $43,616 | $3,635 | $20.97 | 14,483 |
| Tennis Coach | $43,321 | $3,610 | $20.83 | 14,629 |
Top companies hiring head coaches now:
Which companies pay head coaches the most?
Head coach salaries at Kern Community College District and Chicago State University are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average head coach salary at companies like The Branson School and Northern Illinois University are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kern Community College District | $79,476 | $38.21 |
| 2 | Chicago State University | $71,855 | $34.55 |
| 3 | The Branson School | $66,711 | $32.07 |
| 4 | Northern Illinois University | $65,821 | $31.64 |
| 5 | Ross Institute | $65,437 | $31.46 |
| 6 | Misericordia University | $64,590 | $31.05 |
| 7 | Regis College | $64,218 | $30.87 |
| 8 | UMiami Health System | $63,449 | $30.50 |
| 9 | University of Detroit Mercy | $62,672 | $30.13 |
| 10 | Bunker Hill Community College | $62,416 | $30.01 |
| 11 | Wellesley College | $62,091 | $29.85 |
| 12 | Mid Michigan College | $61,994 | $29.80 |
| 13 | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | $61,770 | $29.70 |
| 14 | Saint Louis University | $61,558 | $29.60 |
| 15 | Western New England University | $61,106 | $29.38 |
| 16 | Santa Fe Public Schools | $60,941 | $29.30 |
| 17 | Skidmore College | $60,668 | $29.17 |
| 18 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania | $59,985 | $28.84 |
| 19 | Fontbonne University | $59,970 | $28.83 |
| 20 | Nova Southeastern University | $59,664 | $28.68 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Head Coach salary by industry
The average head coach salary varies across industries:
- The average head coach salary in the education industry is $47,322, the highest of any industry.
- The average head coach salary in the finance industry is $44,375.
- Head coaches in the government industry earn an average salary of $43,047, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for head coaches
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Education | $47,322 | $22.75 |
| 2 | Retail | $44,375 | $21.33 |
| 3 | Hospitality | $43,330 | $20.83 |
| 4 | Government | $43,047 | $20.70 |
High paying head coach jobs
Head coach salary trends
The average head coach salary has risen by $9,533 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average head coach earned $34,529 annually, but today, they earn $44,062 a year. That works out to a 15% change in pay for head coaches over the last decade.
Compare head coach salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average head coach salary over time
Compare head coach salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Head coach salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $44,100 | $21.18 | +4.1% |
| 2024 | $42,300 | $20.31 | +3.0% |
| 2023 | $41,000 | $19.70 | +4.5% |
| 2022 | $39,100 | $18.82 | +2.5% |
| 2021 | $38,200 | $18.34 | +1.5% |
Recently added head coach salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sweetgreen Store + Field Leadership-Internal | USC Village Head Coach | Los Angeles, CA | 06/29/2025 | $78,000 |
| 24 Hour Fitness Worldwide, Inc. | Head Coach | Denver, CO | 06/28/2025 | $43,389 |
| The Principia | Head Coach: Men's Tennis | Elsah, IL | 06/27/2025 | $54,183 |
| Bright Star Schools | Head Coach (Rkhs) | Los Angeles, CA | 06/27/2025 | $62,610 |
| Solidcore | Head Coach & Community Manager-Woodland | Los Angeles, CA | 06/27/2025 | $68,000 |
| Manhattan College | Head Coach, Mens Soccer | New York, NY | 06/26/2025 | $77,000 |
| Suny Plattsburgh | Head Coach, Women's Softball | Plattsburgh, NY | 06/26/2025 | $48,000 |
| Parkrose Sd 3 | Co-Head Coach-Track & Field | Portland, OR | 06/26/2025 | $76,140 |
| Illinois Association of School | Head Boys Track Coach | Granite City, IL | 06/26/2025 | $81,348 |
| Wentworth Institute of Technology | Head Coach, Club Rowing Team | Boston, MA | 06/26/2025 | $54,000 |
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