Career Explorer Arts, media and sport
Human edge, growing
Coaches and scouts
Instruct or coach groups or individuals in the fundamentals of sports for the primary purpose of competition. Demonstrate techniques and methods of participation. May evaluate athletes' strengths and weaknesses as possible recruits or to improve the athletes' technique to prepare them for competition. Those required to hold teaching certifications should be reported in the appropriate teaching category.
Among the most resilient careers: more resilient than 94% of the 831 careers we score. AI exposure is moderate (the Bureau of Labor Statistics rates it moderate), and US jobs are projected to change by +6.1% by 2035, faster than average. The work leans on creative vision and emotional intelligence.
AI struggles with much of this work, and US employers are expected to hire more people into it than average.
- Median pay (2025)
- $47,320
- Job growth to 2035
- +6.1%
- Openings a year
- 36,400
- People doing it (2025)
- 299,000
- Usual route in
- Bachelor's degree
Where people already use AI for this work
- Coach others
- Maintain current knowledge in area of expertise
- Provide information or assistance to the public
From Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025).
Work AI rarely helps with
- Coordinate artistic or entertainment activities
- Train others on operational or work procedures
- Evaluate personnel capabilities or performance
What the work looks like
- Plan, organize, and conduct practice sessions.
- Provide training direction, encouragement, motivation, and nutritional advice to prepare athletes for games, competitive events, or tours.
- Adjust coaching techniques, based on the strengths and weaknesses of athletes.
- Instruct individuals or groups in sports rules, game strategies, and performance principles, such as specific ways of moving the body, hands, or feet, to achieve desired results.
- Plan strategies and choose team members for individual games or sports seasons.
From O*NET 31.0, US Department of Labor.
What the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects
- More of these jobs, as demand for sports coaching and recruiting needs grow in colleges, universities, and professional schools.
- More of these jobs, as demand for sports and recreation instruction continues to grow within sports and recreation instruction establishments.
Careers using similar strengths, with a stronger outlook
- Occupational therapy assistantsHuman edge, growing, Index 99, +21.5%
- Orthotists and prosthetistsHuman edge, growing, Index 96, +12.9%
- Physical therapist assistantsHuman edge, growing, Index 99, +23.0%
- Nurse anesthetistsHuman edge, growing, Index 95, +9.7%
Also known as: Basketball Coach, Coach, Football Coach, Track and Field Coach, Baseball Coach, Cross Country Coach, Gymnastics Coach, Soccer Coach.
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Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2025 to 2035; O*NET 31.0; Microsoft Research (2025); Anthropic Economic Index (2026); Eloundou and colleagues (Science, 2024); Felten, Raj and Seamans (2023). How we score. Updated 12 October 2026.