Career Coach Salary: How Much Can You Expect to Earn?

Career coaching is often a satisfying career for those looking to help others in their journey to finding a fulfilling career. You may help job seekers craft resumes, search for roles, apply for jobs, or earn promotions. Career coaches work in various fields, some niche and others more general, and since you have more than one way to work as a career coach, salaries are highly variable for these roles. Choosing to work independently or full-time can also affect your income.

If you are considering becoming a career coach, it’s helpful to understand what you can expect in terms of salary. Explore the average career coach salary, considering location and industry, as well as your experience, education, and certifications.

What is a career coach? 

As a career coach, you will help clients improve their career prospects, whether deciding what they want to do, navigating a tricky time at work, working toward a promotion, or finding a new role. As with any coach, your role is to guide and motivate clients so they feel confident about making their own career decisions. 

Career coaches work within both the private and public sectors, but no matter where they work, they generally have the following responsibilities:

• Support clients as they navigate career transitions

• Ask open questions that help clients make career decisions

• Collaborate with the client to set career goals

• Motivate clients while providing accountability

• Offer resume writing advice

• Provide interview coaching and mock interviews

• Advise on job search techniques

• Help with job offer negotiations

What skills does a career coach need?

To become a successful career coach, you must master workplace and technical skills. Career coaching requires training, knowledge, and people skills for working directly with clients.

Workplace skills:

• Communication skills

• Active listening

• Patience

• Time management

• Ability to motivate others 

• Empathy

• Attention to detail

• Observation skills

• Relationship building skills

• Growth mindset

Technical knowledge and skills:

• Goal setting

• Knowledge of the industry or area covered

• Job market knowledge

• Business skills

• Resume writing skills

What is the average career coach's salary? 

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), a career coach earns a median annual pay of $61,710 in the United States [1]. To get a more specific idea of the average salary for career coaches, it helps to review data from sources such as Glassdoor and Payscale, which reveal that the average annual career coach base salary varies widely. Remember that these figures represent general career coach salaries rather than career coach salaries for a specific field or specialization. 

Clients often hire career coaches on an individual basis. According to Business News Daily, career coaches can charge anywhere from $75 to $150 per hour [6]. 

Factors that impact career coach salaries  

As a career coach, you’ll find many factors, including location, type of employment, education, and experience, that can impact your salary. Below, examine each in more detail to gain an understanding of the role it plays. 

Location 

Generally, where in the country you work can significantly affect your salary. For example, in general, working in cities contributes to higher earnings. According to the BLS, the top-paying states and their average annual salary for career coach jobs are as follows [4]:

1. California: $85,820

2. Washington: $81,280

3. Massachusetts: $79,670

4. New Jersey: $79,030

5. Maryland: $76,250 

Type of employment and hours worked.

Whether you are salaried or self-employed can significantly impact your earnings in a career coaching position. According to the 2023 Global Coaching Study from the International Coaching Federation (ICF), the average coaching fee for a one-hour session in North America is $272 [5]. These figures starkly contrast the salary you can expect if you are employed, which is an average of about $30 per hour [3]. 

However, it’s important to remember that while contractors can bill higher hourly earnings, they must also consider costs like insurance and non-billable time spent on marketing and strategizing. 

Education 

Career coaches can come from various educational backgrounds, depending on where and for whom you work.  Roughly 65 percent of career coaches hold a bachelor’s degree, 20 percent hold a master’s, and 10 percent have an associate degree, according to Zippia [6].  A degree can add to your credibility as a coach, even if you are self-employed, and may lead to a higher salary. Popular degree majors for career coaches include English, business, communication, and human resources. Another approach is to study for a degree in the field you want to coach. 

Some industries may have specific requirements. For example, if you want to work as a career coach in a school or college, you typically need a master’s degree in a subject such as counseling or psychology. 

Career coach certification

However, a degree isn’t the only option for showcasing your value. A career coach certification is essential for many industries. 

Some industries prefer a professional certification, which can also help self-employed professionals. Coaching is not a regulated industry, so having a certification from a professional body makes you stand out as reputable. 

You may consider certifications from any of the following professional bodies:

• Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (PARWCC)

• National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) 

• International Coaching Federation

• National Career Development Association (NCDA)

• The Career Development Network

It might also help to have certifications related to your coaching industry. For example, with proper training, someone with an IT background or education could coach IT professionals later.

Industry

The industry you work in as a career coach affects your earning potential. According to Glassdoor, the median annual total salary for the concentrated industries for career coaches includes [2]:

• Construction, repair, and maintenance services: $63,341

• Information technology: $70,513

• Human resources and staffing: $62,769

• Education: $66,233

• Manufacturing: $65,607

Experience

Experience counts greatly in the coaching industry and can affect your earning power. For example, according to Zippia, an entry-level career coach with two years of experience or less earns an average of $30,547, while someone with at least seven years of experience makes an average of $55,306 annually [7]. 

As the industry’s not regulated, the more experience you have and the longer your roster of happy clients, the higher the rates you can typically charge. Because your clients will look to you to help them identify their goals and strategize how to reach them, it's helpful to have experience to draw from.

Experience in your industry is also extremely valuable if you choose to specialize. Using the example of IT professionals, a background in IT shows that you understand the industry, which can help you guide your clients.

Job outlook

The job outlook for career coaches is generally promising. The BLS predicts that school and career coaching positions will grow by 4 percent between 2023 and 2033, a rate that is as fast as the national average for all jobs [2]. 

Getting started on Coursera

Career coaching salary varies widely depending on education, certification, experience, and industry. Building communication skills is one way to maintain happy clients and a steady income as a career coach. 

Now that you know more about the average salary you can expect consider exploring the field and earning resume-boosting credentials with courses like the Goodwill Career Coach Navigator Professional Certificate, delivered by Goodwill Academy listed on Coursera. 

To further prepare for a coaching career, you may also want to work on Improving Communication Skills with a course from the University of Pennsylvania. Or, if you are considering becoming a self-employed coach, consider completing the Entrepreneurship Specialization offered by the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business.