Sports coach/instructor : Salary and conditions

Starting salaries range from hourly rates of around £15 to annual salaries of £17,000 - £28,000, depending on location and qualifications (salary data collected Nov 09).
Senior coaches might expect £30,000 - £40,000 (salary data collected Nov 09).
Experienced coaches working at national level have the potential to earn in excess of £60,000 (salary data collected Nov 09).
In professional sport, coaches may earn a basic salary with additional bonuses related to competition results, prize money earned or standard of performance achieved. Packages may include company cars, medical insurance and other benefits.
Many posts include evening and weekend work.
Work may be seasonal.
Coaches work in different environments, from gyms to playing fields, and sometimes in adverse weather conditions.
Part-time work and self-employment are common. Currently, many sports coaches offer their coaching services on a purely voluntary basis.
Women are currently underrepresented as coaches. However, initiatives such as the Women's Sport and Fitness Foundation exist to help increase the number of women taking part in sport, including coaching.
Unsocial hours and fixed-term contracts mean the job may have an impact on your personal life.
Frequent travel to reach facilities or to attend competitions, often involving considerable distances, may be necessary.
Absence from home overnight and travel throughout the UK and abroad may be necessary, depending upon the sport and the level at which you are involved.

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Written by Helen Reed, The Nottingham Trent University

Date:

November 2009