What is a typical executive coach salary?
Today, you’ll learn exactly that!
By the end of this article, you’ll be able to answer the question, “How much do executive coaches make?”
Plus, you’ll learn how you can become a highly successful executive coach yourself. (These are the exact steps I’ve used to help thousands of people start their own online coaching businesses.)
Ready?
Let’s dive in.
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Quick overview:
On average, U.S. executive coaches earn $96,461 a year. (This definitely isn’t the limit, though. In fact, as a self-employed coach you can earn much more. Why? Because YOU decide your own rates.)
What is an executive coach?
What is executive coaching?
People often confuse it with leadership coaching, but here’s the difference:
- Leadership coaching helps all kinds of clients become better leaders
- Executive coaching specifically helps CEOs and top managers in this way
As an executive coach, you typically help clients improve their:
- Strategic decision-making
- Visionary leadership
- Communication skills
- Work-life balance
Now, how does an executive coach make these goals a reality?
Let’s dive into that next.
What does an executive coach do?
As a coach, you help clients improve at what you’ve already mastered.
For a quick rundown on the basics of coaching, check out this video:
But for now, let’s dig into the specific tasks you might tackle as an executive coach:
- Keeping track of progress and staying focused on goals
- Providing accountability
- Overcoming personal and professional challenges
- Teaching clearer and more impactful communication techniques
- Boosting confidence
- Acting as a sounding board for ideas
So, that’s what you would do as an executive coach.
But how much can you earn?
How much do executive coaches make a year?
Let’s dig into the numbers.
According to a 2023 executive summary by the International Coaching Federation (ICF), the average U.S. coach pulls in $67,800 each year.
But keep this in mind:
Executive coaching is a high-end service. This makes it extra profitable.
So, for a better picture, let’s check the average executive coach salaries. Here are the numbers according to Salary.com:
| State | Average executive coach salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $88,648 |
| Alaska | $105,046 |
| Arizona | $87,876 |
| Arkansas | $93,953 |
| California | $106,396 |
| Colorado | $98,390 |
| Connecticut | $103,599 |
| District of Columbia | $107,361 |
| Delaware | $97,908 |
| Florida | $91,638 |
| Georgia | $93,278 |
| Hawaii | $100,802 |
| Idaho | $89,998 |
| Illinois | $98,680 |
| Indiana | $93,567 |
| Iowa | $92,313 |
| Kansas | $91,831 |
| Kentucky | $90,770 |
| Louisiana | $91,734 |
| Maine | $93,857 |
| Maryland | $99,451 |
| Massachusetts | $104,950 |
| Michigan | $95,207 |
| Minnesota | $98,680 |
| Mississippi | $86,043 |
| Missouri | $91,927 |
| Montana | $90,095 |
| Nebraska | $90,866 |
| Nevada | $96,847 |
| New Hampshire | $98,101 |
| New Jersey | $105,721 |
| New Mexico | $88,937 |
| New York | $102,827 |
| North Carolina | $92,603 |
| North Dakota | $95,496 |
| Ohio | $94,339 |
| Oklahoma | $89,226 |
| Oregon | $98,004 |
| Pennsylvania | $96,268 |
| Rhode Island | $100,705 |
| South Carolina | $91,059 |
| South Dakota | $86,718 |
| Tennessee | $89,323 |
| Texas | $94,435 |
| Utah | $91,734 |
| Vermont | $94,628 |
| Virginia | $96,750 |
| Washington | $103,985 |
| West Virginia | $86,815 |
| Wisconsin | $95,303 |
| Wyoming | $92,506 |
As you see, these numbers are far above a regular coach’s salary.
And here’s the thing:
Even these executive coach salaries aren’t the limit. They’re just the average.
After all, these stats often reflect the salaries of employed coaches. But when you’re your own boss, YOU get to decide how much you charge.
This means you can earn way more.
How do I know?
Because I’ve seen so many of my students earn six to seven figures across different industries, including executive coaching.
I’ll share how you can achieve that in a bit.
But first, let’s break down how this yearly income relates to your hourly rate.
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How much do executive coaches make per hour?
We’ve looked at yearly earnings, but how much do executive coaches make an hour?
The ICF (per the executive summary) reports the average hourly fee for general U.S. coaches is $272.
Now, remember:
When you’re self-employed, how much you earn depends on how much you charge.
Your rate? You set that based on your expertise and the unique value you bring to the table.
To make sure you don’t sell yourself short, I’ll share a little eye-opener with you. Studies show that executive coaching can yield a whopping 788% ROI for companies.
That’s because you boost key areas like:
- Productivity
- Employee satisfaction
- Conflict resolution
That said, I know setting your rates can be tricky at first.
So, let’s go over it together.
How much should you charge as an executive coach?
To me, the real question isn’t “How much do executive coaches make?”
Instead, it’s “How much can YOU make as an executive coach?”
Experience matters, but it’s not enough on its own. You see, your executive coach salary directly correlates with the value you offer.
I’ll explain this more in a bit, but simply put:
Clients will pay you for a genuine transformation.
That’s why I recommend working with packages.
This approach shifts the focus from the hours you put in to the value you deliver. Plus, coaching packages offer clarity — clients know what to expect.
Here’s my advice for creating your coaching packages:
- Start with a $1,500 package for a three-month program. This timeframe is long enough for meaningful change but not overwhelming.
- Schedule regular, spaced-out meetings, like bi-weekly sessions, paired with consistent email support. This gives your clients time to implement strategies and see progress.
Keep in mind that $1,500 is just a starting point. As you gain more experience and testimonials, you can increase your rates to what feels right for you.
In fact, many of my experienced students currently charge over $5,000 per package.
That’s how I got started, too, in a different niche.
Technically, my first package was priced at $5,000. But the reason I was able to ask for that rate was because I had helped my first client for free – for two weeks.
After I unsuccessfully pitched my package to 30 people who all said “no,” I knew I needed a better system to build trust.
So I started offering a $1,500 package.
That price point was an easier sell. And soon enough, I had a good number of testimonials, which helped me increase my rate.
With your coaching package defined, let’s look at what else impacts your pay.
What influences your income?
What influences a typical executive coach salary?
As mentioned above, it’s all about the value you offer your clients.
A 2020 ICF study showed that executive coaches are typically expected to have a certification, but that alone doesn’t prove anything.
What really matters is whether you help your clients get the results they’re after. THAT’S what makes a great coach.
When you achieve this, you earn testimonials. And it’s those glowing testimonials that make it easier to ask for higher rates.
For starters, they boost your confidence. But more importantly, they show potential clients what you’ve already helped others achieve.
This increases your credibility. These potential clients then think, “Hey, working with this person could help me achieve this, too.”
So, we’ve answered the question: How much do executive coaches make?
Now, all that’s left is figuring out how to actually become one.
How to become an executive coach
Becoming a successful executive coach comes down to having the right strategy.
There are three key steps.
Find your niche
Executive coaching is already a niche, but my advice is to specialize even more.
Narrowing down your niche has many benefits:
- Targeted advice: Deliver more precise solutions
- Higher income: Specialization can justify higher fees
- Stand out: Stand out in the crowded market
- Become a go-to solution: Become the sought-after expert for specific challenges
To find your niche, think about:
- What executive skills do you excel in?
- Which types of executives or organizations do you want to work with?
- What challenges can you solve?
Need more help with picking the perfect niche? Then this video is for you:
Next up is figuring out whether you want to get certified or not.
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6-Figure Coaching Business so you can achieve more freedom!
Get certified
Do you need to get certified as an executive coach?
Not really. Some top-tier organizations might ask for a certification. But your value lies in your results.
If you decide you do want to get certified, here are three reputable certification options:
- Executive Coaching Certificate from the University of Toronto
- Certified Personal and Executive Coach Program from the CAPP Institute
- Advanced Executive Coaching Certification from Coaching Training Alliance
No matter what, though, experience is essential. You must have walked in your clients’ shoes to give them advice from real-world experience.
If you don’t have that expertise (yet), you could start as a career coach and work your way up.
Already have the relevant know-how? Then not getting certified might actually benefit you.
It means you can instead focus on tasks that push your business forward — like getting your first clients, for example.
Get your first clients
Finding your first clients can seem difficult, but it’s simpler than you might think.
I lay out the steps in this video:
But here’s a quick condensed guide:
- Tap into your network: Start with the people you know. They can refer you to others.
- Use social media: LinkedIn is a goldmine for professional networking and establishing yourself as an authority. The trick is to focus on building genuine connections.
- Join relevant podcasts: Podcasts are another great tool to network and increase your visibility, so pitch yourself to ones in your niche.
At first, getting clients takes effort. But over time, you’ll notice a shift.
Instead of “chasing” clients, they’ll start coming to you.
What’s next?
And that’s a wrap! You now know what a typical executive coach salary is.
Transforming your expertise into a thriving coaching business can be incredibly rewarding. But it does take dedication and the right strategy.
Want to dive deeper?
Then get my free guide on building a six-figure business from the ground up.
It outlines everything you need to set yourself up for lasting success.
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2 Responses
Interesting read! Now I understand why so many people are drawn to the coaching business—the monetary rewards can be quite lucrative.
Absolutely a huge benefit of this type of business!