How Much Does A Tennis Coach Make?
At all levels of the sport, tennis coaches instruct their students on how to play tennis and bring out the very best in their game. Their duties involve teaching and facilitating tennis drills, conditioning, wrist technique, and tournament etiquette. The various skills a tennis coach has may vary as widely as their salaries. Read on to learn how much tennis coaches make.
Youth Coaches
Some of the most common coaches in the tennis world are youth coaches, who can teach children and young adults how to play tennis, either individually or as part of a tennis team. Most often, youth coaches are hired individually for lessons or are teachers at a local school, where they manage that school’s tennis team.
So, how much do these coaches earn? We will begin by looking at the basic type of youth tennis coach: the high school coach. High school tennis coaches earn an average of $59,602 a year. Since this is a statistic for high school coaches, this salary may also include teaching hours.
Another type of youth coach is a club coach. These coaches work hourly and belong to a country club from which they draw their teaching pool. Youth club coaches usually make about $20-$30 an hour. Additionally, they have more freedom over their work because they schedule their own appointments.
College Coaches
At the beginning of their careers, college tennis coaches average about $30,000 a year. However, this can change if they make a name for themselves and greatly influence their school’s tennis program. Top college tennis coaches can make $80,000 to $120,000 annually. On average, college head tennis coaches make about $55,219 per year.
Lumping all tennis coaches into one average (head tennis coaches and non-head tennis coaches) results in a yearly pay of about $35,000 to $50,000. Unlike high school and youth tennis coaching, college coaching has an incredibly diverse pay range, with the average of college coaches making less than a high school coach.
Professional Coaches
ATP (the Association of Tennis Professionals) and WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) coaches make anywhere between $50,000 and $200,000 a year on average. This coaching group boasts the widest disparity of salaries, and its mean pay is way above that of high school and college coaches.
Additionally, professional tennis coaches usually get about 5% to 15% of their athlete’s prize winnings. If they teach top tennis athletes, that portion of prize money can exceed $1 million a year.
While that might seem enticing, that money does not normally come easily for ATP and WTA coaches. Most professional coaches are traveling coaches. Some are lucky enough to catch a break with a tennis star, but most have to look hard for talent. With the recent COVID-19 pandemic, ATP and WTA coaches found it increasingly difficult to get work.
Therefore, while professional coaching can reap massive benefits, it is the least secure tennis coaching job. Professional coaches must work their own hours, find their talent, and provide health and wellness benefits for themselves,such as insurance.
FAQ
How much do tennis coaches make on average?
Tennis coaches make about $55,000 a year on average. Most high school and youth coaches bring in around $59,000 annually. College coaches average less than that, making about $55,000 a year. However, they have more opportunities for monetary growth, as the top head tennis college coaches make $120,000 annually. Professional coaches have the opportunity to make the most money. They make between $50,000 and $200,000 annually.
Is being a tennis coach a good career?
Being a tennis coach is a great career. High school and youth tennis coaches make a decent amount of money and feel fulfilled as they help students and youth grow into young adults. College coaches have the same gig and make about the same amount of money. Finally, professional tennis coaches have the opportunity to make the most money, but coaching professionals can be much more challenging.