|| FEATURE
2017 COMPENSATION
SURVEY SAYS... ERICA COHEN // STAFF CONTRIBUTOR
We do it for the love of the game, but increasing competitive demands under current compensation structures are making it harder. United Soccer Coaches conducted its annual compensation survey in October of 2017. More than 4,600 coaches from across the country responded, providing information about their background, education, experience, and compensation structure. Our goal in doing the compensation survey on an annual basis is to provide our community with a snapshot of how coaches are paid across the country that can serve as a baseline for future discussions and negotiations. While the sentiment remains that money is not the driving factor for coaching, many voiced concern about the general lack of standards on salaries and the additional time many coaches are spending outside of the season on recruitment, training, conditioning, etc., in order to keep up with competitive demands. Many coaches also feel that soccer coaches are still not compensated fairly when compared to coaches of other sports. The charts and data included here are a sample of the data collected. The full survey results are available on UnitedSoccerCoaches.org/Pay. 8 | Soccer Journal
YOUTH/HIGH SCHOOL COACHES’ COMPENSATION Youth Coach Snapshot
»» 87% are male »» 35% have a Master’s degree and 43% have a 4-yearcollege degree
»» 43% are former college players »» 49% coach 2-3 teams »» 63% are part-time coaches »» 62% are head coaches High School Coach Snapshot
»» 91% are male »» 40% have a Master’s degree and 37% have a 4-yearcollege degree
»» 47% are former college players »» 44% have more than 21 years’ soccer coaching experience »» 69% are varsity head coaches »» 57% are not a teacher and/or administrator at their school
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“Based on the amount of hours spent to be a competitive program, I calculated I earned
$ 3 cents per hour. I don’t do this for the money, or the persecution, I do it for the kids...” Youth Coaches: Yearly Base Salary Youth Coaches: Yearly Base Salary for Primary Coaching for Primary Coaching Position Position
Among youth coaches, is coaching your Among youth coaches, is coaching your primary of income? primary source ofsource income?
Answered: 887 Answered: 887
Answered: 887 Answered: 887
28.18%
YES
38.56%
28.18%
19.05%
YES
38.56%
19.05% 11.95%
4.06%
NO
NO
61.44%
61.44%
$1-$1,000
4.06%
13.64% 11.95%
18.03% 13.64%
18.03%
4.06%
4.06% 1.01%
1.01%
$1-$1,000 $5,001$1,001- $10,001$5,001- $20,001$10,001- $40,001$20,001- $75,001$40,001- $100,001+ $75,001- $100,001 $1,001$10,000 $40,000 $20,000 $75,000 $40,000 $100,000 $75,000 $100,000 $5,000 $20,000 $10,000 $5,000
YEARLY SALARY RANGES YEARLY SALARY RANGES
“I coach youth soccer because I love the sport and enjoy teaching the children. The compensation doesn’t cover my expenses. It would be great if it did, but I’d rather kids get to play in the most affordable way possible.”
“I do know that at my high school, the boys’ and girls’ soccer coaches are the lowest paid coaches—even lower than assistant football coaches.” “Pay does not seem to be a good measure of coaching quality, or club quality. But on the other hand, we are losing coaches to the clubs that do pay which will hurt the club’s ability to field teams in the competitive play (select level) environment—it’s just a matter of time. I have steadily cut back my involvement due to number of hours donated, and am seriously considering changing to a paid position next year.”
“Based on the amount of hours spent to be a competitive program, I calculated I earned 3 cents per hour. I don’t do this for the money, or the persecution, I do it for the kids; they are the ones that deserve my best efforts. They deserve all the extra hours I can give, not the parents and their often-misinformed opinions or even the institution. It’s about the kids’ needs, period.”
“The hours required to properly coach a team in a youth soccer club far exceed compensation. However, if parents didn’t also require so much time, I’d have no complaint. With the current state of sports parents in the U.S., youth coaching salaries should be higher. The extra time and stress involved in coaching parents leaves passionate, dedicated coaches scratching their heads, wondering why they’re in this line of work.”
“My belief is that at most youth competitive clubs the salary barely covers the cost to travel to/from practice, etc. It offsets costs and most do it for love of game or kids involved.”
High School Coaches: Yearly Base Salary for High School Coaches: YearlyPosition Base Salary for Primary Coaching Primary Coaching Position
“For the amount of time you spend coaching, compensation is not enough. More transparency is needed in showing how much a coach earns, since some parents ask for too much not realizing the compensation for the amount of time you spend coaching does not balance out.”
Answered Primary Coaching: 614, Answered Non-Coaching: 483 Answered Primary Coaching: 614, Answered Non-Coaching: 483 57.49% 57.49% KEY:
KEY:
Primary Coaching Salary Primary Coaching Salary Non-Coaching Salary
Non-Coaching Salary
28.01%
37.68%
28.01%
37.68% 18.63%
16.36%
16.36%
18.63% 16.36%
2.61%
2.61%
$1-$1,000 1.66%
$1-$1,000
2.28%
1.66%
$1,001$5,000
2.28%
$1,001$5,000
2.69%
$5,001$10,000 2.69%
4.56%4.35%
$10,0014.56% 4.35% $20,000
16.36%
2.93%
3.42%
$20,001$40,000 2.93%
$40,001- $75,001- $100,001+ 3.42% $100,000 $75,000
YEARLY SALARY RANGES $5,001$10,001$20,001- $40,001$10,000 $20,000 $40,000 $75,000
.81%
.81%
.16%
“Coaching salary is still below boys’ and girls’ track, softball, baseball, boys’ and girls’ basketball, football, volleyball, boys’ and girls’ cross country, and wrestling.” “As the demands of the game increase at the high school level, it is hard to continue to devote more time to the off-season work while we are not better compensated. The high school game is losing sight of why we play sports in the first place, to learn life lessons and have relationships with other people. The season continues to extend with year-round activities, while the players are not looking to explore other athletic avenues, while at the same time putting strain on coaches to devote unpaid time during the off season.”
.16%
$75,001- $100,001+ $100,000
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ABOVE ALL, WE HEARD ONE
CONSISTENT MESSAGE FROM COACHES.
MONEY MATTERS. BUT, FOR MANY,
IT’S NOT WHY THEY COACH. 10 | Soccer Journal
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“I wish there was a minimum expectation for Division I Women’s Soccer budgets, salaries, & scholarships. The need for coaches at this level to have so many other jobs to make a living means your focus is not 100% on your main job, coaching...”
COLLEGE COACHES COMPENSATION
What is your yearly base salary for coaching college soccer?
College Coach Snapshot
Answered: 484
College Soccer: Yearly Base Salaries Over $100,000 Based on Division Under $10,000
»» 80% are male »» 49% have a Master’s degree and 40% have a 4-year-
Answered: 1,683
$75,001-$100,000
college degree
»» 58% are former college players, 20% are former professional players
»» 73% are head coaches »» 55% coach female players only »» 34% are from Division III, 31% from Division I, 19% from Division II, 16% non-NCAA schools
40% 30%
10%
$50,001-$75,000 NCAA DIVISION I
“Compensation in coaching is not where it needs to be, particularly in the sport of soccer. If compensation is not there in the form of money, it should be awarded in other ways—vehicle, meals, housing, etc.”
“I wish there was a minimum expectation for Division I Women’s Soccer budgets, salaries & scholarships. The need for coaches $50,001-$75,000 at this level to have so many other jobs to make a living means your focus is not 100% on your main job, coaching. The existence of the haves and the have nots creates a lack of$10,001-$25,000 recruiting competition. The recruiting disparity then actually eliminates the competitive parity that makes all sports great.”
“I think coaching as a profession does not generate the respect it deserves given our ability to impact lives.”
NCAA DIVISION III
$10,000-$30,000
$30,001-$40,000
$40,001-$50,000
$50,001-$75,000
$75,001-$100,000
$30,001-$50,000
College Soccer: Yearly Base Salaries Based on Role Answered: 2,007 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10%
HEAD COACH
“The responsibilities of coaches at lower-budget athletic departments reach far$25,001-$50,000 beyond the field. I am also the bus driver, online journalist, SID, venue scheduler, sole recruiter, etc. This may be valuable in analyzing income of lower-tier coaches.” “The ability to earn extra income is very difficult in a public state college system. Coaches are treated like regular college employees and professors but our hours and responsibilities are incomparable to those outside of the athletic department.”
NCAA DIVISION II
Under $10,000
Over $100,000
What is your yearly base salary
“Schools are constantly asking coaches to increase roster size for coaching college soccer? with no rise in compensation, nor is there an increase in budget. Answered: 890 This is adding to the time coaches are having to spend managing their team as well as fundraising. Over $100,000 These increase the time away from family or personal time and this is a definite factor for coach burnout. We are losing too many great coaches Under $10,000due to $75,001-$100,000 schools asking for too much and not rewarding enough.”
$10,000-$30,000
20%
ASSISTANT COACH
GOALKEEPER COACH
Under $10,000
$10,000-$30,000
$30,001-$40,000
$40,001-$50,000
$50,001-$75,000
$75,001-$100,000
Over $100,000
College Soccer: Yearly Base Salaries Based on Division Answered: 1,683
40% 30% 20% 10%
“I feel I am paid less than my peers because I am a female. I feel it’s frowned upon for me to expect/ask for more pay even though it’s less than my male colleagues.” n
NCAA DIVISION I
NCAA DIVISION II
NCAA DIVISION III
Under $10,000
$10,000-$30,000
$30,001-$40,000
$40,001-$50,000
$50,001-$75,000
$75,001-$100,000
Over $100,000
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