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Sports instructor salary
Average sports instructor salary
$35,285
Average Sports Instructor Salary
The average salary for a Sports Instructor in the United States is approximately $35,285 annually, equating to around $17 per hour. However, this figure can vary significantly based on various factors such as geographic location, level of experience, and specific industry.
Geographic Variation
Different states offer varying compensation levels for sports instructors. For instance, states with a higher cost of living, such as California and New York, typically pay more. Urban areas often provide higher salaries due to increased demand for sports programs.
Experience Matters
Experience plays a crucial role in determining salary. Entry-level sports instructors may earn less, while those with years of experience or specialized skills can command significantly higher salaries. Positions in specialized sports education or coaching can also result in increased earnings.
Industries with Higher Salaries
Industries such as private sports academies and fitness centers tend to offer more competitive salaries. Additionally, roles that require advanced certifications or degrees may lead to higher pay. Understanding these dynamics can help sports instructors negotiate better salaries and make informed career choices.
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Where can a Sports Instructor earn more?
Average sports instructor salary by state
The average sports instructor salary in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Hampshire are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average sports instructor salary states are New Mexico, Arkansas, and Nebraska.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for sports instructors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $39,821 | $19.14 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $37,679 | $18.11 |
| 3 | North Dakota | $38,021 | $18.28 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $41,877 | $20.13 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $44,214 | $21.26 |
| 6 | California | $38,219 | $18.37 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $41,619 | $20.01 |
| 8 | Michigan | $35,428 | $17.03 |
| 9 | Vermont | $39,385 | $18.94 |
| 10 | Maryland | $37,334 | $17.95 |
| 11 | Maine | $39,317 | $18.90 |
| 12 | Wyoming | $30,876 | $14.84 |
| 13 | Delaware | $33,957 | $16.33 |
| 14 | New York | $35,100 | $16.88 |
| 15 | Kentucky | $32,987 | $15.86 |
| 16 | West Virginia | $34,234 | $16.46 |
| 17 | Nevada | $30,650 | $14.74 |
| 18 | Minnesota | $34,231 | $16.46 |
| 19 | Alaska | $31,372 | $15.08 |
| 20 | Illinois | $32,338 | $15.55 |
| 21 | Hawaii | $33,073 | $15.90 |
| 22 | Mississippi | $30,400 | $14.62 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | $31,537 | $15.16 |
| 24 | Florida | $30,481 | $14.65 |
| 25 | Arizona | $31,074 | $14.94 |
| 26 | South Carolina | $28,606 | $13.75 |
| 27 | North Carolina | $28,810 | $13.85 |
| 28 | Colorado | $28,899 | $13.89 |
| 29 | Washington | $33,466 | $16.09 |
| 30 | Virginia | $29,906 | $14.38 |
| 31 | Pennsylvania | $29,443 | $14.16 |
| 32 | District of Columbia | $36,743 | $17.66 |
| 33 | Utah | $29,703 | $14.28 |
| 34 | Indiana | $30,860 | $14.84 |
| 35 | Oregon | $27,998 | $13.46 |
| 36 | Montana | $26,759 | $12.86 |
| 37 | South Dakota | $27,336 | $13.14 |
| 38 | Tennessee | $26,836 | $12.90 |
| 39 | Texas | $25,939 | $12.47 |
| 40 | Iowa | $24,331 | $11.70 |
| 41 | Georgia | $24,088 | $11.58 |
| 42 | Kansas | $27,183 | $13.07 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $24,760 | $11.90 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $27,125 | $13.04 |
| 45 | New Mexico | $24,060 | $11.57 |
| 46 | Nebraska | $23,642 | $11.37 |
| 47 | Missouri | $24,715 | $11.88 |
| 48 | Ohio | $20,747 | $9.97 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $23,993 | $11.54 |
| 50 | Alabama | $21,595 | $10.38 |
| 51 | Idaho | $22,084 | $10.62 |
Highest paying cities for sports instructors
The highest-paying cities for sports instructors are Boston, MA, Los Angeles, CA, and Newark, NJ.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston, MA | $44,290 | $21.29 |
| 2 | Los Angeles, CA | $38,428 | $18.48 |
| 3 | Newark, NJ | $37,859 | $18.20 |
| 4 | Ellicott City, MD | $37,463 | $18.01 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $36,748 | $17.67 |
| 6 | Ann Arbor, MI | $35,155 | $16.90 |
| 7 | New York, NY | $35,130 | $16.89 |
| 8 | Eagan, MN | $34,130 | $16.41 |
| 9 | Newark, DE | $34,060 | $16.38 |
| 10 | Seattle, WA | $33,572 | $16.14 |
| 11 | Crystal Lake, IL | $32,604 | $15.68 |
| 12 | Madison, WI | $31,128 | $14.97 |
| 13 | Miami, FL | $30,827 | $14.82 |
| 14 | Leesburg, VA | $30,594 | $14.71 |
| 15 | Centennial, CO | $28,930 | $13.91 |
| 16 | Houston, TX | $25,950 | $12.48 |
| 17 | Saint Charles, MO | $24,893 | $11.97 |
| 18 | Atlanta, GA | $24,023 | $11.55 |
| 19 | Canton, OH | $21,158 | $10.17 |
Sports instructor salary details
A sports instructor's salary ranges from $25,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $49,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a sports instructor's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $49,000 | $4,083 | $24 |
| 75th Percentile | $42,000 | $3,500 | $20 |
| Average | $35,285 | $2,940 | $17 |
| 25th Percentile | $29,000 | $2,417 | $14 |
| 10th Percentile | $25,000 | $2,083 | $12 |
Highest paying sports instructor jobs
The highest paying types of sports instructors are manager/personal trainer, instructor, and yoga instructor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manager/Personal Trainer | $63,117 | $5,260 | $30.34 | 32,592 |
| Personal Trainer | $37,214 | $3,101 | $17.89 | 34,023 |
| Fitness Coach | $38,462 | $3,205 | $18.49 | 22,156 |
| Life Skills Trainer | $30,822 | $2,569 | $14.82 | 39,666 |
| Certified Personal Trainer | $32,039 | $2,670 | $15.40 | 65,615 |
| Personal Fitness Trainer | $38,198 | $3,183 | $18.36 | 33,387 |
Top companies hiring sports instructors now:
Which companies pay sports instructors the most?
Sports instructor salaries at University of California, Berkeley and HoliMont are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average sports instructor salary at companies like Mammoth Mountain and Beyond are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Berkeley | $47,965 | $23.06 |
| 2 | HoliMont | $39,253 | $18.87 |
| 3 | Mammoth Mountain | $37,468 | $18.01 |
| 4 | Beyond | $35,840 | $17.23 |
| 5 | Associated Recreation Council | $35,607 | $17.12 |
| 6 | Deer Valley Ranch | $35,513 | $17.07 |
| 7 | U.S. Central | $35,130 | $16.89 |
| 8 | Prince William County | $34,964 | $16.81 |
| 9 | Good Shepherd Services | $34,815 | $16.74 |
| 10 | Nasc Inc | $34,405 | $16.54 |
| 11 | YMCA | $34,366 | $16.52 |
| 12 | Metropolitan State University of Denver | $34,346 | $16.51 |
| 13 | Wisconsin Youth | $34,221 | $16.45 |
| 14 | Ymca Of Metropolitan Atlanta | $34,134 | $16.41 |
| 15 | Jackson Hole Mountain Resort | $33,714 | $16.21 |
| 16 | United Soccer Academy | $33,452 | $16.08 |
| 17 | Uk-elite-soccer | $33,402 | $16.06 |
| 18 | Challenger Sports | $33,371 | $16.04 |
| 19 | Super Soccer Stars | $33,252 | $15.99 |
| 20 | Telluride Ski Resort | $33,179 | $15.95 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Sports Instructor salary by industry
The average sports instructor salary varies across industries:
- The average sports instructor salary in the education industry is $36,509, the highest of any industry.
- The average sports instructor salary in the finance industry is $31,672.
- Sports instructors in the non profits industry earn an average salary of $25,234, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for sports instructors
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Education | $36,509 | $17.55 |
| 2 | Hospitality | $31,672 | $15.23 |
| 3 | Government | $26,055 | $12.53 |
| 4 | Health Care | $25,827 | $12.42 |
| 5 | Non Profits | $25,234 | $12.13 |
High paying sports instructor jobs
Sports instructor salary trends
The average sports instructor salary has risen by $8,257 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average sports instructor earned $27,028 annually, but today, they earn $35,285 a year. That works out to a 6% change in pay for sports instructors over the last decade.
Compare sports instructor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average sports instructor salary over time
Compare sports instructor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Sports instructor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $35,300 | $16.96 | +0.3% |
| 2025 | $35,200 | $16.91 | +1.4% |
| 2024 | $34,700 | $16.68 | +1.5% |
| 2023 | $34,200 | $16.42 | +2.7% |
| 2022 | $33,200 | $15.98 | +5.2% |
Recently added sports instructor salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Young Mens Christian Association of Rochester | Youth Sports Instructor (Tumbling) | Pittsford, NY | 06/28/2025 | $34,436 |
| I9 Sports | Youth Sports Instructor, Multi-Sports | Lowell, MA | 06/20/2025 | $33,392 |
| Oak Park Park District | Basketball Sports Instructor-Youth Athletics | Oak Park, IL | 06/19/2025 | $31,305 |
| Ymca of Orange County | Fullerton-Sports Instructor | Fullerton, CA | 06/17/2025 | $34,436 |
| Western Illinois University | Instructor of Sports Broadcasting | Moline, IL | 06/17/2025 | $58,668 |
| West Suburban Ymca | Sports Instructor | Newton, MA | 06/16/2025 | $31,305 |
| I9 Sports | Sport Instructor/Athlete Development | Oxnard, CA | 06/13/2025 | $41,740 |
| YMCA | Sports Instructor | Chicago, IL | 06/12/2025 | $33,809 |
| YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago | Sports Instructor | Chicago, IL | 06/11/2025 | $33,809 |
| I9 Sports | Sport Instructor Tennis | Gahanna, OH | 06/10/2025 | $41,740 |
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