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The differences between swim instructors and swim coaches can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a swim coach has an average salary of $33,923, which is higher than the $25,815 average annual salary of a swim instructor.
The top three skills for a swim instructor include lifeguard, cleanliness and customer service. The most important skills for a swim coach are CPR, customer service, and lifeguard.
| Swim Instructor | Swim Coach | |
| Yearly salary | $25,815 | $33,923 |
| Hourly rate | $12.41 | $16.31 |
| Growth rate | 19% | 20% |
| Number of jobs | 24,849 | 15,871 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Average age | 26 | 36 |
| Years of experience | - | 6 |
As the name entails, swim instructors teach both children and adults how to swim. They help people develop their swimming ability through proper swimming techniques. Their responsibilities include ensuring that all swimming equipment is in good condition, evaluating student performance and providing feedback, and preparing reports on attendance and accidents. They are also responsible for preventing injuries and accidents through monitoring. There are several requirements to become a successful swim instructor that may include previous experience as a swim instructor, certifications on CPR and first aid, and swimming abilities.
A swim coach is someone who teaches and trains people how to swim. A swim coach provides tips and techniques for people to follow if they want to learn how to swim. Demand for swimming teachers is growing, especially during summer where people travel to the beach and resorts to enjoy their vacations. A swim coach should know how to determine a student's skill, provide suitable teaching methods, and enhance the student's current swimming skill through specialized and customized swimming lessons.
Swim instructors and swim coaches have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Swim Instructor | Swim Coach | |
| Average salary | $25,815 | $33,923 |
| Salary range | Between $18,000 And $35,000 | Between $24,000 And $47,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | Lynn, MA |
| Highest paying state | Maine | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Massachusetts General Hospital | The Agnes Irwin School |
| Best paying industry | Education | Education |
There are a few differences between a swim instructor and a swim coach in terms of educational background:
| Swim Instructor | Swim Coach | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Kinesiology |
| Most common college | - | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between swim instructors' and swim coaches' demographics:
| Swim Instructor | Swim Coach | |
| Average age | 26 | 36 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 32.0% Female, 68.0% | Male, 41.0% Female, 59.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.7% Unknown, 7.7% Hispanic or Latino, 13.5% Asian, 4.3% White, 68.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 8.9% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 13.2% Asian, 5.4% White, 66.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 8% |