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Job outlook for wellness coaches in the United States
Wellness coach job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected wellness coach job growth rate is 12% from 2018-2028.
About 15,200 new jobs for wellness coaches are projected over the next decade.
Wellness coach salaries have increased 12% for wellness coaches in the last 5 years.
There are over 34,492 wellness coaches currently employed in the United States.
There are 21,963 active wellness coach job openings in the US.
The average wellness coach salary is $40,248.
Are wellness coach jobs in demand?
Wellness Coach job and salary trends over time
Wellness Coach jobs over time
Wellness Coach job growth rate over time
Year  | # Of Jobs | % Of Population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 34,492 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 31,640 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 32,240 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 30,491 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 27,954 | 0.01% |
Average wellness coach salary over time
Wellness Coach salary by year
| Year | Avg. Salary | Hourly Rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $40,248 | $19.35 | +2.5% |
| 2024 | $39,269 | $18.88 | +3.1% |
| 2023 | $38,074 | $18.30 | +1.5% |
| 2022 | $37,514 | $18.04 | +4.4% |
| 2021 | $35,942 | $17.28 | +1.7% |
Wellness Coach jobs by state
Most common states for wellness coaches
| Rank | State | Population | # of Jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 60 | 10% |
| 2 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 82 | 8% |
| 3 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 236 | 7% |
| 4 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 51 | 7% |
| 5 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 417 | 6% |
| 6 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 198 | 6% |
| 7 | Arkansas | 3,004,279 | 174 | 6% |
| 8 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 87 | 6% |
| 9 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 308 | 5% |
| 10 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 271 | 5% |
| 11 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 249 | 5% |
| 12 | Louisiana | 4,684,333 | 212 | 5% |
| 13 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 151 | 5% |
| 14 | Delaware | 961,939 | 44 | 5% |
| 15 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 35 | 5% |
| 16 | Kentucky | 4,454,189 | 166 | 4% |
| 17 | Oklahoma | 3,930,864 | 143 | 4% |
| 18 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 122 | 4% |
| 19 | West Virginia | 1,815,857 | 81 | 4% |
| 20 | Alaska | 739,795 | 28 | 4% |
Most common cities for wellness coaches
| Rank | City | # of Jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Monterey | 1 | 4% | $55,263 |
| 2 | Wilmington | 2 | 3% | $37,179 |
| 3 | Braintree Town | 1 | 3% | $41,850 |
| 4 | Fort Wayne | 4 | 2% | $43,357 |
| 5 | Columbus | 1 | 2% | $41,833 |
| 6 | Rowlett | 1 | 2% | $34,653 |
| 7 | Toledo | 2 | 1% | $41,555 |
| 8 | Boulder | 1 | 1% | $35,015 |
| 9 | Frisco | 1 | 1% | $34,472 |
| 10 | Pleasanton | 1 | 1% | $53,417 |
| 11 | Quincy | 1 | 1% | $41,702 |
| 12 | Silver Spring | 1 | 1% | $46,804 |
| 13 | New York | 3 | 0% | $45,598 |
| 14 | Chicago | 1 | 0% | $34,366 |
| 15 | Cincinnati | 1 | 0% | $39,814 |
| 16 | Los Angeles | 1 | 0% | $52,484 |
| 17 | Orlando | 1 | 0% | $33,082 |
| 18 | Saint Petersburg | 1 | 0% | $33,866 |
Wellness Coach job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of wellness coach experts
Eastern Kentucky University
Springfield College
University of Massachusetts - Lowell
The University of Utah
Clemson University
University of Nebraska at Omaha
University of Mary Washington
Matthew Sabin PhD, LAT, ATC, SMTC, CIDN
AT Program Director | ProfessorEastern Kentucky University
Sports, Kinesiology, And Physical Education/Fitness
What will help Wellness Coaches increase their earning potential?
Matthew Sabin PhD, LAT, ATC, SMTC, CIDN: This often depends on how well I know the individual, their strengths and weaknesses, etc. In general I would start with... "See your career and occupation as a journey. First, get a good sense of the destination prior to leaving. For your career this means you need to understand why you are going on the trip as well as the destination. A destination without purpose often leads to disappointment or dissatisfaction during the journey. If you can connect each step to your purpose, or your "Why", then you can find joy and fulfillment when things don't work out in your favor all the time. That leads to the idea of the destination. Each graduate needs to understand that there are often many stops along the way in getting to where you want to go. I believe one fallacy we often believe is that graduation leads to the perfect job setting. Individuals working in medicine or health and fitness need to continue gaining skills and knowledge after graduation to become even better and more effective in their careers. This requires you to sometimes accept a job that isn't your final destination or maybe one without the perfect benefits package. Don't delay your career waiting for the perfect setting and opportunity because that final destination may be waiting on you to grow and develop along the way before getting there.
Megan Harvey Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Health ScienceSpringfield College
School of Health Sciences
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Wellness Coach job market given the pandemic?
Megan Harvey Ph.D.: I suspect we'll see a boom in health-related professions, including public health and epidemiology! Health care workers are our front-line heroes, and I suspect many graduating students will consider accelerated nursing degrees and physician assistant graduate programs.
What skills stand out on Wellness Coach resumes?
Megan Harvey Ph.D.: More than ever, employers want to hear that students are able to work collaboratively on a team to produce a high quality product. We are giving our students as many opportunities to work across disciplines as possible. This has been true for awhile, but we also hear that employers value students who graduate with the ability to problem solve in a productive way - meaning, problem solve a solution when it's appropriate but being able to recognize which situations require asking for help sooner.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Wellness Coaches to find work opportunities?
Megan Harvey Ph.D.: I assume you mean geographically - rural areas are in desperate need of health care professionals of every kind. It can be difficult to recruit new graduates to rural areas but those who do find themselves working with this population often find it very rewarding. As a bonus, some of these areas are tied to some generous loan forgiveness programs!
Amy Smalarz Ph.D.
Assistant Teaching Professor, Undergraduate Program Coordinator, Pre-Health AdvisorUniversity of Massachusetts - Lowell
Public Health Department
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Wellness Coaches?
Amy Smalarz Ph.D.: Yes, there will be an enduring impact of this pandemic on our students. On one hand, many of our undergraduates have been a part of history: working in vaccine clinics, working in hospitals and urgent care centers providing direct support and putting their learnings into practice. On the other hand, we have all been living in a year of lockdown, quarantine and less social interaction - and while it's important for people of all ages, it's critical for students to have those interactions...interactions they have not been able to have.
What's a day at work look like for a Wellness Coach?
Amy Smalarz Ph.D.: Our recent graduates are so diverse in the where they are going to work - that it's hard to describe what a 'typical' day will look like. One thing I can say is that our Public Health students are uniquely qualified and positioned to be their Department or Organization's go-to Public Health resource - and in this pandemic (and aftermath) - this will be invaluable.
What will help Wellness Coaches increase their earning potential?
Amy Smalarz Ph.D.: One influence that is happening outside of the classroom is a broader understanding and appreciation for not only what Public Health is but how it impacts all of us. Public health is a community-based population discipline and I think many more employers will appreciate the 'Public Health' lens our students bring to their organizations, which translates into increased earning potential.
There has been a re-education of sorts with this pandemic. For example, closing schools impacts not just students' learning but for many, school is where they eat two meals a day so closing schools also impacts access to food. We, in Public Health, think about community-level impacts and this education and background will be valuable to many organizations during our longer pandemic recovery.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Wellness Coach job market given the pandemic?
Stephanie Bank: I think we have only hit the tip of the iceberg on the mental health toll this pandemic as caused. I think for the past year, most people were in survival mode just trying to make it through. Now, as everyone feels they can relax a bit, the stress is really impacting people in many ways. Re-entry to work environments, relationship issues, and overall happiness has been damaged which is motivating people to seek therapy. Many local social workers are full and not taking on new clients at this time which is pushing clients online to find resources. I think jobs are really going to soar in therapy both online as well as in-person. The demand is very high right now.
What soft skills should all Wellness Coaches possess?
Stephanie Bank: Unlike other fields, our "soft skills" are a large foundational piece of our work. Communication, time management, boundaries, conflict resolution are skills we work on daily in our field. I would hope all social work graduates would poses these qualities.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Wellness Coaches?
Xia Jing: I think so. The COVID-19 pandemic is a historic event, on the tragic side, though. I think everyone who experiences the pandemic will have some levels of long-lasting impacts in their professional or personal lives. For example, their views about public health, one's individual privacy versus public health needs regarding health information sharing, how to have a balanced eco-system between humans and the natural environment and other lives on the earth, self-discipline, be responsible to oneself and to the ones we contact, intentionally or unintentionally. If some of the recognitions/understandings are at the philosophical level, then the impacts may last much longer in one's professional and personal lives.
What's a day at work look like for a Wellness Coach?
Xia Jing: I think a recent graduate faces some unprecedented realities, which very few of us have prior experience. A recent graduate must be prepared to function and thrive without detailed instruction or guidance. This may take a lot of judgment and creativity, which can be tricky for an inexperienced newly graduate; however, this is a reality we have to cope with on a daily basis. On the bright side, this is a great opportunity to grow, to explore your own boundary, and to become a better version of yourselves rapidly.
What technical skills for a Wellness Coach stand out to employers?
Xia Jing: Programming skills, analytic skills, Web development experience, a deep understanding of health system operations in the USA, and a great understanding of medicine and health care delivery will be big pluses in the field. In addition to the technical skills, learning capabilities, adaptabilities, creativities, problem solving, pay attention to details, perform in a team are all critical characteristics in health informatics.
Dr. Dustin Russel Slivka
Associate ProfessorUniversity of Nebraska at Omaha
School of Health and Kinesiology
What's a good job out of college for Wellness Coaches?
Dr. Dustin Russel Slivka: Everyone wants to make a lot of money and have an easy life. That's not a reality for most people. There will be financial and personal struggles along the way. A good job is one where you are happy, can express your talents, and be able to live within your means. Depending on your personal situation, having insurance and other benefits may be an important aspect of a good job, but you need to like what you do.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Wellness Coach job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Dustin Russel Slivka: I believe we will continue to see all aspects of health and wellness come to the forefront. The pandemic has been a big wake-up call for individuals as well as governments to take our health seriously. This could be from a research perspective but also a practitioner's perspective. I think this will become evident in the job market.
What technical skills for a Wellness Coach stand out to employers?
Dr. Dustin Russel Slivka: For most jobs you need to at least check all the boxes of the technical skills. In today's market that may still not be enough to get that job. You need to find a way to set yourself apart. You need to seek out additional opportunities during your training. You need to be involved in the field and in your community. You need to be yourself and explore your own interests that make you an individual and not just another application that checks the boxes. I think UNO does a great job at helping students discover themselves, find unique opportunities, and become more than just checked boxes of technical skills.
Janine Davis Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorUniversity of Mary Washington
College of Education
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Wellness Coaches?
Janine Davis Ph.D.: For our teacher education graduates, the impact of the pandemic will most likely work in their favor when it comes to finding jobs-the pandemic has led to many retirements, which will mean that we will need even more teachers to fill those empty positions. At the same time, the advent of increased virtual learning means that it will no longer be an option that teachers know and use technology, including teaching online and using learning management and data analysis systems-those skills will almost certainly be a non-negotiable for future teaching positions. Finally, I think that this event has highlighted the importance of working as part of a team of teachers and other school leaders.