Here we discover which types of sports coaches have the highest earning potential with a one-day-per-week side hustle in the United States.
Sports and wellness coaches are in high demand across various disciplines in the United States and they often offer great flexibility for working on a part-time basis or as a side hustle.
Modern life can easily create a need for greater physical activity. The average office worker in the United States, for example, spends as much as 75% of their workday sitting, which can contribute to various health risks like cardiovascular disease and obesity.
The opportunity to turn a physical activity into a lucrative side hustle, away from the computer, may also appeal to aspiring entrepreneurs with the necessary skills or those looking to develop them for extra income.
Here we have analyzed the U.S. market to discover which types of sports, business and lifestyle coaches can earn the most money per month as a side hustle.
Yoga Teachers Have the Highest Earning Potential as a Side Hustle
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 6 adults in the United States practice yoga. This represents an increase from 5% of the population in 2002 to 16% in 2022, which has no doubt led to the greater demand and sizeable earning potential for people to teach yoga on a side-hustle basis.
Sports coach: average earnings (USD) per month from a one-day-per-week side hustle
1) Yoga Coach: $1,568
2) Ice Hockey Coach: $1,480
3) Cycling Coach: $1,448
4) Boxing Coach: $1,400
5) Pre- and Post-Natal Fitness Coach: $1,384
6) Sports Psychology Coach: $1,369
7) Strength and Conditioning Coach: $1,232
8) Group Fitness Instructor: $1,216
9) Personal trainer: $1,196
10) Running Coach: $1,156
Among Team Sports, Hockey Coaches Can Earn the Most as a Side Hustle
Ice Hockey is one of America's 'Big Four' sports and it requires coaching of a specialist skillset, along with the additional costs that need to be accounted for with equipment and facility hire. Additional costs aside, the average monthly earnings of a ice hockey coach are more than $200 USD greater than that of a group fitness instructor in second place.
The average side hustle earnings of an American football coach and a baseball coach are also over $1,000 USD per month, according to our analysis.
Team Sports coach: average earnings (USD) per month from a one-day-per-week side hustle
1) Ice Hockey Coach: $1,480
2) Group Fitness Instructor: $1,216
3) Football Coach: $1,136
4) Baseball Coach: $1,008
5) Basketball Coach: $976
6) Soccer Coach: $952
7) Volleyball Coach: $920
8) Lacrosse Coach: $876
9) Cheerleading Coach: $760
10) Softball Coach: $640
The Highest Earning Coaching Side Hustles Across Sports and Business
From strategy to sales, business coaches are in high demand both inside and outside of the sports industry. Our analysis shows that a number of sports-related coaching roles rank highly for earning potential even among more corporate coaching roles. However, the most lucrative coaching side hustle of all is leadership coaching which can earn $1,808 USD per month on average.
Coach: average earnings (USD) per month from a one-day-per-week side hustle
1) Leadership Coach: $1,808
2) Business Strategy Coach: $1,684
3) Yoga Coach: $1,568
4) Performance coach: $1,568
5) Hockey Coach: $1,480
6) Cycling Coach: $1,448
7) Boxing Coach: $1,400
8) Pre- and Post-Natal Fitness Coach: $1,384
9) Sports Psychology Coach: $1,369
10) Sales Coach: $1,272
Some of the most famous coaches in sporting history have lent their expertise to the world of business and leadership coaching.
Ex-Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, for instance, has previously collaborated with Harvard Business School to develop a leadership course based on his experiences in football management. Former Duke University basketball coach and five-time National Championship winner Mike Krzyzewski (aka Coach K) has also written numerous books on leadership including Leading With the Heart (2000).
However, you don't need to be a world-renowned coach to make money teaching in your chosen discipline.
Five Steps to Setting Up Your Sports Coaching Side Hustle
1. Obtain the Necessary Certifications
Depending on the sport, you may need specific certifications to coach, especially for youth or specialized training (e.g., CPR certification or sport-specific coaching licenses). Research the requirements for your sport through relevant governing bodies.
2. Choose Your Niche and Target Audience
Identify the sport and level you want to coach (e.g., youth, amateur, elite). Determine your target market—whether it's local community sports, schools, clubs, or private clients. A clear focus will allow you to market your services effectively.
3. Create a Business Plan
Outline your business goals, pricing strategy, and operational plans. Consider how much time you can dedicate to coaching, where you’ll hold sessions (e.g., parks, local gyms), and how much you’ll charge.
4. Market Your Coaching Services
Develop a marketing strategy that includes both online and offline methods. Create a website or social media presence showcasing your experience, services, and testimonials from clients (if available).
5. Secure the Legal and Financial Aspects
Ensure that you have the proper legal setup for your business. This could mean registering as a sole proprietor or an LLC, depending on your needs. You’ll also need liability insurance, especially when working with children or conducting physical training.
Methodology
Starting with a seed list of 67 common sports, business and lifestyle coaching roles, analysts at Sporting Post retrieved the average daily rate (USD) of each job in the United States. They then multiplied each daily rate by four to reveal how much each job could pay as a side hustle from working one it one day per week each month. Pay per side hustle was sourced from Indeed (USA) and Glassdoor (USA).
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