Let’s talk numbers. In this episode of The Craft of Coaching, we’re diving into one of the most common questions aspiring coaches ask: What do life coaches actually earn? What’s the average life coach salary?

Whether you're thinking about coaching as a side gig, a bridge into more meaningful work, or a full-time business, it's important to understand the financial landscape. But here’s the truth: the answer isn’t as simple as a single number. Average salary data for coaches varies widely depending on experience, business model, niche, location, and how you choose to structure your practice.

In this episode, I break down what the research says about average coach income and the factors that influence those numbers. We’ll explore how new coaches typically get started, what income looks like in the early stages, and how successful coaches grow their earnings over time.

You’ll also hear some of my own thoughts on what it really takes to make a sustainable income as a coach—and why focusing on impact and alignment can ultimately lead to greater income than chasing the numbers alone.

I talk with life coach Paula Jenkins about how she helps clients "Jump Start Your Joy" (including navigating the self-consciousness that arises when we start to change).

When a coach works within an organization to bring coaching skills to managers and teams, that requires a slightly modified skill set in executive coaching. Instead of just thinking about the individual in front of you, you’ll need to also think through the systems that individual is operating in, and the leadership qualities that need to be brought to the executive coaching space. Lara Heacock discusses executive coaching training approaches that also apply to personal coaching in this Craft of Coaching episode.

Helping clients change is at the root of coaching work--that's exactly why I wanted to interview life coach Liz Applegate, who's made helping clients change during times of transition central to her work.