Also called: S&C Coach, Performance Coach
Designs strength, speed and injury-prevention training for college and pro athletes.
At 6 a.m. he runs the football team's lift, tracking bar speed on tablets. Then he meets with athletic trainers about an injured player's return plan.
Head coaches for major programs can earn far more.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 5 years after high school. Bachelor's in exercise science or kinesiology plus CSCS certification; many have a master's.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school, Certification. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Exercise Science, Kinesiology.
Growing much faster than average (about 12% over 10 years).
Low risk for 10 years. Wearables and AI crunch athlete data; coaching lifts, motivating teams and managing injuries stay hands-on.
Classes: Physical education, Anatomy & Physiology, Biology.
Official data: O*NET occupation 39-9031.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.