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Lynn Berling-Manuel // Former CEO , United Soccer Coaches ; Bailey Conklin // Marketing & Communications Manager , United Soccer Coaches

READ THE FULL REPORT ON THE TRAINING GROUND : https :// unitedsoccercoaches . streamlxp . com / resource

Nearly 5,000 college , youth / club , high school , pro and amateur adult soccer coaches share details of their careers , compensation , education , benefits and more in the first national survey of U . S . soccer coaches after the return to play from the 2020 lockdown .

The COVID-19 pandemic changed the world in so many ways , and for soccer coaches , the last few years have been tumultuous . So , when United Soccer Coaches planned its first compensation survey since the return to play , the association took a broader look at how coaches are compensated and what it means for their coaching journey .

The 2023 United Soccer Coaches Compensation Survey has been expanded to include an additional aspect of a coach ’ s journey : how they identify themselves as a coach . Traditionally , this periodic survey has focused only on the levels of coaching : college , pro , youth / club and high school . And the levels continue to be critically important to a coach ’ s financial and career planning .

However , how you identify lifestyle as a coach — as your career , as a part-time paid addition to your life , as an aspiring career coach or as a committed volunteer — is an important consideration in both how a coach provides and utilizes the data from this survey .

This is about your personal journey as a soccer coach .

Notes on the survey process :

• Percentages have been rounded off . Total percentages noted may not equal 100 %. Not all respondents may have answered all questions .

• This survey was distributed and promoted to all United Soccer Coaches members in May-June 2023 , and was open and promoted to non-members through media , partner organizations , etc . No compensation was extended to promote response .

• For complete information by coaching level , updates to 2023 salaries , benefits , education and more , please visit the members-only United Soccer Coaches Training Ground at https :// unitedsoccercoaches . streamlxp . com /. If you need assistance with accessing the Training Ground , or renewing or starting a membership , please contact membership @ unitedsoccercoaches . org .

CAREER COACH

Definition : Making a full-time living as a soccer coach in America

32 % responding to the survey identify as career coaches .

For the “ career coach ” making a fulltime living as a soccer coach in America , unsurprisingly , college and youth clubs offer the most abundant opportunities . The majority of responding career coaches ( 52 %) are full-time college coaches and a third ( 33 %) are coaching full time at youth clubs . They also tend to be “ long timers ” with 44 % having coached for 20 + years . A significant percentage have expanded beyond strictly on-the-field coaching , with 16 % serving as Directors of Coaching and 6 % as Executive Directors .

To make a living , however , it often requires more than one coaching position to pay the bills , with 35 % of respondents reporting that they also have a secondary paid coaching role . Youth clubs and high schools offer the most opportunities for these second jobs .

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