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Wellness coach vs wellness specialist

The differences between wellness coaches and wellness specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a wellness specialist has an average salary of $41,677, which is higher than the $40,248 average annual salary of a wellness coach.

The top three skills for a wellness coach include CPR, health education and rehabilitation. The most important skills for a wellness specialist are CPR, mental health, and blood pressure.

Wellness coach vs wellness specialist overview

Wellness CoachWellness Specialist
Yearly salary$40,248$41,677
Hourly rate$19.35$20.04
Growth rate12%19%
Number of jobs21,9638,650
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Average age4747
Years of experience--

What does a wellness coach do?

A wellness coach is responsible for guiding clients on their fitness and health objectives, mentoring them on activities for a healthy lifestyle, and creating customized wellness plans to manage their developmental conditions. Wellness coaches conduct counseling sessions to listen to the clients' issues, including their stress, practices, meal plans, and other daily lifestyle activities. They also plan and suggest activities for the clients while observing their behaviors and create instructional guides to sustain a positive emotional and mental perspective.

What does a wellness specialist do?

A wellness specialist is responsible for guiding clients in achieving their wellness and healthy lifestyle goals by creating fitness training and programs according to clients' needs and concerns. Wellness specialists conduct regular counseling for their clients regarding their daily activities, exercise routines, stress levels, and eating habits to identify customized wellness plans and proper lifestyle balance. They also coordinate with other health professionals as needed, especially in cases requiring immediate medical attention. A wellness specialist suggests various supplementary medication and meal recommendations to help stabilize the clients' immune system and energize them on their daily tasks.

Wellness coach vs wellness specialist salary

Wellness coaches and wellness specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Wellness CoachWellness Specialist
Average salary$40,248$41,677
Salary rangeBetween $25,000 And $62,000Between $25,000 And $67,000
Highest paying CityRichmond, CASanta Clara, CA
Highest paying stateAlaskaCalifornia
Best paying companyStanford UniversityHeartland Home Health Inc.
Best paying industryFinanceManufacturing

Differences between wellness coach and wellness specialist education

There are a few differences between a wellness coach and a wellness specialist in terms of educational background:

Wellness CoachWellness Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Most common majorKinesiologyKinesiology
Most common collegeUniversity of Michigan - Ann ArborUniversity of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Wellness coach vs wellness specialist demographics

Here are the differences between wellness coaches' and wellness specialists' demographics:

Wellness CoachWellness Specialist
Average age4747
Gender ratioMale, 34.2% Female, 65.8%Male, 34.0% Female, 66.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.3% Asian, 4.4% White, 66.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 10.5% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 4.4% White, 65.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage16%16%

Differences between wellness coach and wellness specialist duties and responsibilities

Wellness coach example responsibilities.

  • Provide market research and generate leads using social media (facebook) in order to target prospective clients.
  • Develop nutritional classes and provide some exercises for patients with diabetes, cholesterol, hypertension and obesity.
  • Front desk liason for clients, aid in booking and rescheduling appointments, suggesting additional services.
  • Aid patients with EKG setup, monitoring of blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen levels during exercise.
  • Calibrate EKG strips and transfer client data such as maximum blood pressure, heart rate, workload, and perceive exertion.
  • Teach TRX classes, abs and core.
  • Show more

Wellness specialist example responsibilities.

  • Prepare patients for tests by placing ECG leads and taking resting vitals.
  • Manage a fully operational wellness program with a wide range of modalities from monitoring heart rates, BMI's to nutrition/exercise.
  • Instruct a beginner yoga exercise class and stretching workout regimens.
  • Certify CPR instructor---Teaching students life saving skills in the presence of an emergency cardiac event.
  • Interpret ECG readings before, during, and after assign exercise session; chart progress and provide feedback for physicians.
  • Implement fitness and wellness classes: smoking cessation, core strengthening, circuit training, lunch-n-learns, and teach yoga classes.
  • Show more

Wellness coach vs wellness specialist skills

Common wellness coach skills
  • CPR, 20%
  • Health Education, 9%
  • Rehabilitation, 8%
  • Patients, 8%
  • Health Promotion, 7%
  • Wellness Programs, 5%
Common wellness specialist skills
  • CPR, 15%
  • Mental Health, 14%
  • Blood Pressure, 7%
  • Community Resources, 6%
  • Health Education, 5%
  • Health Screenings, 5%

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