How Much Does A Soccer Coach Make?
Played by over 20 million people in more than 140 countries, soccer is the most popular sport in the world. You’ve probably heard names like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Kylian Mbappé, but what do they all have in common besides being star soccer players? They have all learned from great coaches. Just like players, coaches at each level of soccer have different ranges of salaries. Keep reading to learn about how much money a soccer coach makes at the youth, college, and professional levels.
Youth Coach
The average annual salary for a youth soccer coach in the U.S. is $43,170 ($20.75/hr), while the average entry-level salary is $25,000 a year. The average yearly salary for a youth soccer coach in every state ranges widely from $23,360 ($11.23/hr) in Wyoming all the way up to $67,358 ($32.38/hr) in Massachusetts, almost three times as much. The highest-paying city for a youth soccer coach in the U.S. is Boston, where the average salary is $67,149 a year. While this number is below the average salary in all of Massachusetts, it likely does not include the salaries in the suburbs of Boston, where there is much more space for youth soccer to be played.
College Coach
The average salary for a college soccer coach in the U.S. is $45,473 a year. This includes the NCAA Divisions I-III, as well as the NAIA and NJCAA. The higher the level of the program, the more money the coach will make. For example, the head coaches at the most successful ACC, Big Ten, or Big East programs can make from $100,000 to $200,000 per season, depending on their longevity with the team, the success they’ve had, and the level of recognition the school receives. In general, the head coach will make the most money, but that comes with the highest level of responsibility and being the first one to receive harsh criticism when things don’t go as planned.
Professional Coach
The average annual salary for a professional soccer coach in the U.S. is $46,830 ($22.51/hr). Salaries can range anywhere from $17,000-$105,000, but the majority of coaches make between $30,000 and $52,000 a year. The 90th percentile makes $87,000 a year, and the average pay range varies by as much as $22,000, meaning it very much depends on a coach's skill level, location, and years of experience.
Coach salaries tend to be much higher for national teams. For example, the salaries for the coaches of the teams in the 2022 FIFA World Cup ranged from $350,000-$3.85 million per year. Gregg Berhalter, the head coach of the U.S. men’s national team, made $1,641,398 for the 2021-2022 season, which included $300,000 in bonuses.
FAQ
How much do soccer coaches make on average?
In the States, a youth soccer coach makes $43,170 per year, a college coach makes $45,473, and a professional coach makes $46,830. These numbers vary widely depending on the team the coach works for, their experience, and their level of success. National team coaches make much more money. For example, the head coach salaries of the 2022 World Cup teams ranged from $350,000 to $3.85 million per year.
Is a soccer coach a good career?
If you love soccer and being a critical part of a team, then being a soccer coach is a great career for you. However, in general, the salary for this job is not extremely high unless you work for a big-name organization or national team. It is also very easy to receive criticism as the head coach of a team, so you must keep all these factors in mind when considering accepting a job as a soccer coach.