# Coaches and Scouts

> Instruct or coach groups or individuals in the fundamentals of sports for the primary purpose of competition. Demonstrate techniques and methods of participation. May evaluate athletes' strengths and weaknesses as possible recruits or to improve the athletes' technique to prepare them for competition. Those required to hold teaching certifications should be reported in the appropriate teaching category.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/coaches-and-scouts
- SOC code: 27-2022.00
- Career family: Arts, design and media
- Median annual pay: $47,320 (10th percentile $28,790, 90th percentile $98,860)
- Projected growth: Faster than average, +6.1%
- Openings a year: 36,400
- Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code SER)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 54 |
| Investigative (I) | 19 |
| Artistic (A) | 24 |
| Social (S) | 72 |
| Enterprising (E) | 69 |
| Conventional (C) | 41 |

## What you'd do

- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships (importance 86/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 83/100)
- Coaching and Developing Others (importance 83/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 82/100)
- Developing and Building Teams (importance 81/100)
- Getting Information (importance 76/100)
- Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People (importance 76/100)
- Scheduling Work and Activities (importance 76/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 76/100)
- Thinking Creatively (importance 75/100)

## Skills

Instructing, Speaking, Learning Strategies, Monitoring, Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Judgment and Decision Making, Reading Comprehension, Social Perceptiveness, Active Learning

## Knowledge

Education and Training, English Language, Administration and Management, Psychology, Customer and Personal Service, Communications and Media, Personnel and Human Resources, Public Safety and Security, Computers and Electronics, Administrative

## Also called

Athletic Coach, Athletic Instructor, Athletic Scout, Athletics Teacher, Baseball Club Manager, Baseball Coach, Baseball Scout, Basketball Coach, Bowling Teacher, Boxing Coach

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3105) (CIP 3105, 1,394 colleges)
- [Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1313) (CIP 1313, 1,257 colleges)
- [Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4228) (CIP 4228, 729 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Rice University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/rice-university-2227) | Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $48,301 | $87,404 | not reported |
| [Emory University-Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/emory-university-main-campus-916) | Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $40,920 | $87,254 | $12,250 |
| [California State University-Sacramento](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-state-university-sacramento-375) | Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $69,280 | $82,062 | $23,000 |
| [Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach](https://www.collegesref.com/college/embry-riddle-aeronautical-university-daytona-beach-908) | Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | $48,898 | $82,023 | $24,529 |
| [Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott](https://www.collegesref.com/college/embry-riddle-aeronautical-university-prescott-909) | Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | $48,898 | $82,023 | $24,529 |
| [University of Virginia-Main Campus UVA](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-virginia-main-campus-uva-3072) | Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | not reported | $81,110 | $15,250 |
| [CUNY Brooklyn College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cuny-brooklyn-college-735) | Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $54,793 | $80,207 | $12,875 |
| [University of Scranton](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-scranton-3036) | Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $30,531 | $79,700 | $27,000 |

## Related careers

- [Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/umpires-referees-and-other-sports-officials): $40,710 median pay
- [Athletes and Sports Competitors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/athletes-and-sports-competitors): $66,710 median pay
- [Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/exercise-trainers-and-group-fitness-instructors): $47,160 median pay
- [Athletic Trainers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/athletic-trainers): $62,520 median pay
- [Self-Enrichment Teachers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/self-enrichment-teachers): $46,800 median pay
- [Training and Development Specialists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/training-and-development-specialists): $69,280 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.