Both high school head coaches and college position coaches can make serious money, especially at big-name programs and powerhouse schools. But how do their paychecks really compare?
A head coach at a top high school in Texas or Georgia might pull in six figures, sometimes with bonuses and teaching perks. On the flip side, a college position coach at a Division I school could also make well into six figures, depending on the program.
Ideally, high school football head coaches can earn more per hour than many college position coaches. On average, they make $22.42/hour versus $18.76/hour for position coaches in college. However, college coaching has a higher earning ceiling, with top assistants making over $46/hour.
College Football Coach Salary Breakdown 2025
According to ZipRecruiter reports, college football coaches earn an average of $18.76 an hour. But that’s just the middle of the pack. The pay scale is all over the place, starting as low as $5.53 and reaching up to $46.39 an hour.
Most coaches fall between $13.22 and $19.71, showing a wide spread that reflects differences in program prestige, coaching experience, and geography.
In hotbeds like Chicago, coaches are making slightly more, around $19 per hour, outpacing the national average by about 30 cents. That may not sound like much, but in coaching, it adds up fast, especially when stacked with bonuses and recruiting incentives.
As such, College position coach salaries aren’t set in stone. There’s a real ladder here, and your spot on it depends heavily on where you coach, how good you are, and how successful your team is. This isn’t a one-size-fits-all field, but a competitive market with plenty of room to grow.
Average Salary of High School Football Head Coaches
As of 2025, the average annual salary for a high school football head coach in the U.S. is $46,627, which breaks down to about $22.42 an hour.
Most coaches earn between $40,000 and $50,000 a year, with top earners pulling in up to $64,000. On the low end, some make as little as $11,000, usually in smaller schools or less competitive districts.
The pay range doesn’t vary much, which means even with years of experience, most coaches won’t see major jumps in salary. In cities like Chicago, the average goes slightly higher to around $48,032, but it’s still close to the national figure.
Coaching at a high school level can provide a steady income, especially if you’re at a well-funded school with strong football support. Still, it’s not the kind of job that typically leads to big financial leaps unless you’re leading a top-tier, football-first program.
High School vs. College Coaching Pay: The Verdict
Compared to position coaches in college football, high school head coaches actually earn more per hour.
The average high school head coach makes about $22.42 an hour, while the typical college coach comes in at $18.76.
But that gap narrows quickly. College coaching offers a much broader pay scale, with some assistants making over $46 an hour, depending on the program and role. Meanwhile, most high school coaches stay within the $40,000 to $50,000 range annually.
In short, high school pay is steady, but college coaching opens the door to much bigger earnings.
If you’re chasing consistency and community impact, high school coaching might be your lane. But if you’re aiming for top-tier pay and big-stage pressure, college coaching is where the money grows.