Also called: NCAA Head Coach
Leads a college team, recruiting players, running practices, and managing a staff.
College head coaches spend huge amounts of time recruiting: visiting homes, watching high school games, and calling prospects. They also manage player academics, NIL issues, and boosters. Top Division I football and basketball coaches are among the highest-paid public employees in many states.
Estimate. Division II, III, and smaller-sport head coaches often earn $45k-$120k; Division I football and basketball coaches at major schools earn millions.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 12 years after high school. Bachelor's degree plus many years as an assistant coach; many have master's degrees.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school, On-the-job training. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Kinesiology, Sports Management, Physical Education.
Growing faster than average (about 6% over 10 years). Faster-than-average growth for coaches overall.
Low risk for 10 years. AI helps with recruiting databases and scouting; relationships with recruits, families and players stay human.
Classes: Physical education, Psychology, Speech and debate.
Official data: O*NET occupation 27-2022.
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.