Coaches teach amateur or professional athletes the skills they need to succeed at their sport. Scouts look for new players and evaluate their skills and likelihood for success at the college, amateur, or professional level. Many coaches are also involved in scouting.

Coaches and scouts often work irregular hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays. Full-time coaches usually work more than 40 hours a week for several months during the sports season. Coaches travel frequently to sporting events. Scouts may be required to travel more extensively when searching for talented athletes.

Coaches and scouts typically need a bachelor's degree. They must also have extensive knowledge of the game. Coaches typically gain this knowledge through their own experiences playing the sport at some level. Although previous playing experience may be beneficial, it is typically not required for most scouting jobs.

The median annual wage for coaches and scouts was $31,000 in May 2015.

Employment of coaches and scouts is projected to grow 6 percent from 2014 to 2024, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Increasing participation in high school and college sports will boost demand for coaches and scouts.

Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for coaches and scouts.

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Learn more about coaches and scouts by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.