# Coaches and Scouts

US SOC code 27-2022. Markdown version of https://futurehistory.earth/timeline/27-2022

Also called: Coach, Athletic coach, Head coach, Assistant coach, Sports scout.

## In brief

In May 2025, [BLS](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip) counted **248,950** US coaches and scouts, with median pay of **$47,320** a year. Of the BLS counts since 2003, the highest was **250,940**, in May 2024, close to the May 2025 count. The earliest figure here is [an estimate](https://usa.ipums.org/usa/volii/9050occup.shtml) of **3,500** from 1900, not measured the same way as today's count. The last full technology era for coaches and scouts: Hudl (video hosting and film analysis for all levels of sport), 2006 to 2020.

## What the sources say

### Official outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 6.1% from 2025 to 2035. Source: [BLS Employment Projections 2025-35](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=27-2022&ioType=o).

### AI exposure studies

- **14.4%** of this job's tasks are exposed to large language models. Not a forecast of job losses. [Eloundou and others, 2023](https://github.com/openai/GPTs-are-GPTs/blob/main/data/occ_level.csv)
- **0.013** estimated probability that the whole occupation could be computerised, over an unspecified number of years. Not a forecast of job losses. [Frey and Osborne, 2013](https://oms-www.files.svdcdn.com/production/downloads/academic/The_Future_of_Employment.pdf)

### Since the 2013 prediction

In 2013, Frey and Osborne put this job's probability of computerisation at 0.013. BLS counted **206,080** of these jobs in May 2013 and **248,950** in May 2025 (+21%, a change derived by Future History).

Data as of BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025-35. BLS publishes these counts as yearly survey snapshots and cautions against reading them as a precise trend. In May 2021 BLS changed how it estimates these counts (a model-based method using three years of survey data) and moved fully to the 2018 occupation codes, so part of a change across 2021 can come from the method rather than the work.

## Coaches and Scouts employment and pay by year

- On record since: 1869
- Latest US employment: 248,950 (May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 [6]
- Latest US median pay: $47,320 (May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 [11]
- Outlook: +6.1% by 2035. Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 [32]

### In other countries

The latest figure each country's statistics agency publishes for this job. Each uses its own occupation definition, survey basis and currency, so the numbers are not directly comparable with each other or with the US figures.

- **Canada** (NOC 53201)
  - Employment, 2020: 13,940. Source: Statistics Canada Census 2021 [9]. Statistics Canada Census of Population 2021: number of persons with employment income in NOC 53201 Coaches, Canada, reference year 2020. A recipients basis (anyone with employment income during the year), slightly broader than a point-in-time employed count. Statistics Canada Open Licence.
  - Median pay, 2020: C$55,200. Source: Statistics Canada Census 2021 [15]. Statistics Canada Census of Population 2021 (Table 98-10-0586): median employment income for NOC 53201 Coaches, Canada, reference year 2020, full-year full-time workers (the basis comparable to the US OEWS full-time median). Statistics Canada Open Licence.

### All 29 years of cited US data

| Year | US employment | Annual pay (median unless marked) | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1900 | 3,500 (estimate) | n/a | Est., IPUMS USA [1] |
| 1920 | 12,000 (estimate) | n/a | Est., Wikipedia [2] |
| 1940 | 25,000 (estimate) | n/a | Est., Wikipedia [3] |
| 1960 | 65,000 (estimate) | n/a | Est., Wikipedia [3] |
| 1980 | 105,000 (estimate) | n/a | Est., Title IX, Education Amendments of 1972 [4] |
| 2000 | 68,220 | $26,300 (estimate) | BLS OEWS 2000 (employment) [5]; Est., BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook (pay) [10] |
| 2003 | 105,070 | $26,950 | BLS OEWS May 2003 [6] |
| 2004 | 122,930 | $26,350 | BLS OEWS May 2004 [6] |
| 2005 | 145,440 | $25,990 | BLS OEWS May 2005 [6] |
| 2006 | 154,350 | $26,950 | BLS OEWS May 2006 [6] |
| 2007 | 165,410 | $27,840 | BLS OEWS May 2007 [6] |
| 2008 | 175,720 | $28,340 | BLS OEWS May 2008 [6] |
| 2009 | 179,830 | $28,380 | BLS OEWS May 2009 [6] |
| 2010 | 184,280 | $28,340 | BLS OEWS May 2010 [6] |
| 2011 | 193,810 | $28,470 | BLS OEWS May 2011 [6] |
| 2012 | 201,800 | $28,360 | BLS OEWS May 2012 [6] |
| 2013 | 206,080 | $29,150 | BLS OEWS May 2013 [6] |
| 2014 | 211,760 | $30,640 | BLS OEWS May 2014 [6] |
| 2015 | 224,110 | $31,000 | BLS OEWS May 2015 [6] |
| 2016 | 230,930 | $31,460 | BLS OEWS May 2016 [6] |
| 2017 | 235,400 | $32,270 | BLS OEWS May 2017 [6] |
| 2018 | 236,970 | $33,780 | BLS OEWS May 2018 [6] |
| 2019 | 241,390 | $34,840 | BLS OEWS May 2019 [6] |
| 2020 | 208,180 | $36,330 | BLS OEWS May 2020 [6] |
| 2021 | 193,740 | $38,970 | BLS OEWS May 2021 [6] |
| 2022 | 218,970 | $44,890 | BLS OEWS May 2022 [6] |
| 2023 | 238,980 | $45,910 | BLS OEWS May 2023 [6] |
| 2024 | 250,940 | $45,920 | BLS OEWS May 2024 [6] |
| 2025 | 248,950 | $47,320 | BLS OEWS May 2025 [6] |

## Sources (99)

### Employment series

1. [IPUMS USA — 1900 Census occupational categories; "athletes and sporting persons" historical category](https://usa.ipums.org/usa/volii/9050occup.shtml), IPUMS / University of Minnesota
2. [Wikipedia — National Collegiate Athletic Association (founded 1906, growth in athletic programs through 1920s)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Collegiate_Athletic_Association), Wikipedia / National Collegiate Athletic Association
3. [Wikipedia — National Federation of State High School Associations: history of high school sports organization and growth](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Federation_of_State_High_School_Associations), Wikipedia / National Federation of State High School Associations
4. [Title IX, Education Amendments of 1972 — women's sports participation impact; NFHS data on high school girls' sports growth](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Title_IX), Wikipedia / US Department of Education
5. [BLS OES 2000 national estimates (flat file)](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oes00nat.zip), Bureau of Labor Statistics
6. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2003](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm03nat.zip), [2004](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm04nat.zip), [2005](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm05nat.zip), [2006](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm06nat.zip), [2007](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm07nat.zip), [2008](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm08nat.zip), [2009](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm09nat.zip), [2010](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm10nat.zip), [2011](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm11nat.zip), [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip), [2017](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm17nat.zip), [2018](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18nat.zip), [2019](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19nat.zip), [2020](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm20nat.zip), [2021](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm21nat.zip), [2022](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm22nat.zip), [2023](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm23nat.zip), [2024](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24nat.zip), [2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip)
7. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2006, Table 97-563-XCB2006069 (Wage and salary statistics by occupation, NOC-S 2006), income reference year 2005](https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/tbt/Rp-eng.cfm?LANG=E&PID=96285), Statistics Canada
8. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2016, Table 98-400-X2016356 (Occupation by employment income statistics, NOC 2016), income reference year 2015](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/catalogue/98-400-X2016356), Statistics Canada
9. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2021, Table 98-10-0586 (Employment income statistics by occupation unit group, NOC 2021), income reference year 2020](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810058601), Statistics Canada

### Wage series

10. [BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — Coaches and Scouts (historical wage context, circa 2000)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/entertainment-and-sports/coaches-and-scouts.htm), Bureau of Labor Statistics
11. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2003](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm03nat.zip), [2004](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm04nat.zip), [2005](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm05nat.zip), [2006](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm06nat.zip), [2007](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm07nat.zip), [2008](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm08nat.zip), [2009](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm09nat.zip), [2010](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm10nat.zip), [2011](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm11nat.zip), [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip), [2017](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm17nat.zip), [2018](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18nat.zip), [2019](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19nat.zip), [2020](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm20nat.zip), [2021](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm21nat.zip), [2022](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm22nat.zip), [2023](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm23nat.zip), [2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip)
12. [BLS OEWS May 2024, national cross-industry estimates (flat file)](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24nat.zip), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
13. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2006, Table 97-563-XCB2006069 (Wage and salary statistics by occupation, NOC-S 2006), income reference year 2005](https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/tbt/Rp-eng.cfm?LANG=E&PID=96285), Statistics Canada
14. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2016, Table 98-400-X2016356 (Occupation by employment income statistics, NOC 2016), income reference year 2015](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/catalogue/98-400-X2016356), Statistics Canada
15. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2021, Table 98-10-0586 (Employment income statistics by occupation unit group, NOC 2021), income reference year 2020](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810058601), Statistics Canada

### Tool eras

16. [Wikipedia — Henry Chadwick (inventor of the box score, 1858)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Chadwick_%28writer%29), Wikipedia
17. [Wikipedia — Cincinnati Red Stockings (1869, first all-professional team, Harry Wright)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cincinnati_Red_Stockings), Wikipedia
18. [Wikipedia — Branch Rickey (20-80 scouting scale, farm system development, Cardinals 1921-1942)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Branch_Rickey), Wikipedia
19. [MLB Scouting Bureau — "Major League Baseball Scouting Bureau" (centralized scouting, founded 1974, Commissioner's office)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_League_Baseball_Scouting_Bureau), Wikipedia
20. [Wikipedia — Bill Walsh (San Francisco 49ers, West Coast Offense, scripted play-calling and film study)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Walsh_%28American_football_coach%29), Wikipedia
21. [Wikipedia — NFL Scouting Combine (history of centralized player evaluation, first held 1982)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NFL_Scouting_Combine), Wikipedia
22. [Wikipedia — Bill James (Baseball Abstract, 1977 first publication, sabermetrics)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_James), Wikipedia
23. [Wikipedia — Sabermetrics (history, SABR founding 1971, Oakland Athletics application)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabermetrics), Wikipedia
24. [Wikipedia — Moneyball (Michael Lewis, 2003; Oakland A's 2002 season, 103 wins)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moneyball_%28book%29), Wikipedia
25. [Wikipedia — SportVU (NBA tracking technology, 2009 debut, 2013-14 league-wide adoption)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SportVU), Wikipedia
26. [Wikipedia — Statcast (MLB sensor system, deployed all 30 parks 2015 season)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statcast), Wikipedia
27. [Wikipedia — MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference (founded 2006, 80+ pro teams represented)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIT_Sloan_Sports_Analytics_Conference), Wikipedia
28. [Wikipedia — Next Gen Stats (NFL RFID tracking, Zebra Technologies partnership 2014, full deployment 2016)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Next_Gen_Stats), Wikipedia
29. [Wikipedia — Hudl (founded 2006, video analysis for coaches and athletes, $72.5M funding by 2015)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hudl), Wikipedia
30. [Wikipedia — Synergy Sports (automatic play tagging, used by NBA and NCAA analytics departments)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synergy_Sports_Technology), Wikipedia
31. [Wikipedia — 2019 NHL All-Star Game (NHL puck and player tracking deployed to all 31 arenas for 2019-20 season, announced by Commissioner Bettman)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_National_Hockey_League_All-Star_Game), Wikipedia

### Forecasts and exposure studies

32. [BLS Employment Projections 2025-35, National Employment Matrix: 27-2022 Coaches and scouts (2025: 298.8 thousand; 2035: 316.9 thousand; +6.1%)](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=27-2022&ioType=o), Bureau of Labor Statistics
33. [Frey & Osborne (2013), "The Future of Employment: How Susceptible Are Jobs to Computerisation?", Appendix (SOC 27-2022 Coaches and Scouts: probability 0.013, rank 58 of 702)](https://oms-www.files.svdcdn.com/production/downloads/academic/The_Future_of_Employment.pdf), Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford
34. [Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin & Rock (2023), "GPTs are GPTs", occupation-level exposure data occ\_level.csv (O\*NET-SOC 27-2022.00, human-rated β 0.144)](https://github.com/openai/GPTs-are-GPTs/blob/main/data/occ_level.csv), OpenAI

### Historical notes

35. [Wikipedia — Cincinnati Red Stockings (1869 season: 57-0 record, Harry Wright as first professional manager/coach)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cincinnati_Red_Stockings), Wikipedia
36. [Wikipedia — Walter Camp ("Father of American Football," Yale coaching record 68-2, All-America team selections beginning 1889)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Camp), Wikipedia
37. [Wikipedia — National Collegiate Athletic Association (founded 1906 as IAAUS, 62 charter members, renamed NCAA 1910)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Collegiate_Athletic_Association), Wikipedia
38. [Wikipedia — Branch Rickey (Cardinals farm system: 33 affiliates by 1937; 20-80 scouting scale; introduction of tryout camps)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Branch_Rickey), Wikipedia
39. [Wikipedia — Title IX (signed June 23, 1972; women's college sports +450%, high school girls' sports ×9 between 1972-2006)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Title_IX), Wikipedia
40. [Wikipedia — Bill James (first Baseball Abstract 1977, 75 copies; "sabermetrics" coined ~1980; hired by Red Sox 2003)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_James), Wikipedia
41. [Wikipedia — Moneyball (book published 2003; Oakland A's 2002 season, 103 wins on third-lowest payroll)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moneyball_%28book%29), Wikipedia
42. [Wikipedia — Statcast (deployed all 30 MLB parks 2015; 7 TB data per game; exit velocity, launch angle, spin rate)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statcast), Wikipedia
43. [Wikipedia — Student athlete compensation (NCAA NIL policy adopted June 2021, college athletes permitted endorsement deals)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Student_athlete_compensation), Wikipedia

### Predecessors & successors

44. [Wikipedia — Harry Wright (player-manager of 1869 Cincinnati Red Stockings, prototype coach-from-athlete)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Wright), Wikipedia
45. [Wikipedia — National Federation of State High School Associations (growth of high school sports programs requiring PE teachers to take coaching roles)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Federation_of_State_High_School_Associations), Wikipedia / National Federation of State High School Associations
46. [Wikipedia — Moneyball (book, 2003; rise of quantitative analysts hired alongside traditional scouts)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moneyball_%28book%29), Wikipedia

### Present-day analysis

- [O\*NET 30.3 — Coaches and Scouts (27-2022.00)](https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/27-2022.00), accessed 2026-06-05
- [BLS OOH — Coaches and Scouts, 2024-34 projections](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/entertainment-and-sports/coaches-and-scouts.htm), accessed 2026-06-05
- [Eloundou et al. 2024 — GPTs are GPTs (Science)](https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.10130), accessed 2026-06-05
- [Fisher Phillips — Seattle NWSL Coach Uses AI to Set Game Tactics (2025)](https://www.fisherphillips.com/en/insights/insights/seattle-nwsl-coach-uses-ai-to-set-game-tactics), accessed 2026-06-05
- [Sportico — Algorithms in the War Room: What AI Means for College Sport Leaders (2026)](https://www.sportico.com/leagues/college-sports/2026/what-ai-means-for-college-sport-leaders-1234880280/), accessed 2026-06-05
- [Hudl — Football IQ: AI-powered formation and coverage identification](https://www.hudl.com/products/football-iq), accessed 2026-06-05
- [Heart of America Conference — Synergy AI-Assisted Scouting expansion (May 2026)](https://heartofamericaconference.com/general/2025-26/releases/20260526meqh49), accessed 2026-06-05
- [GlobeNewswire — Catapult Launches Vector 8 (March 2025)](https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/03/27/3050471/0/en/Catapult-Launches-Vector-8-The-Future-of-Athlete-Monitoring.html), accessed 2026-06-05
- [Catapult — Six Reasons Coaches Are Using GPS Athlete Monitoring](https://www.catapult.com/blog/6-reasons-coaches-using-gps-athlete-monitoring), accessed 2026-06-05
- [CBS Sports — AI-powered scouting in college football](https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/meet-the-new-recruit-artificial-intelligence-in-college-football/), accessed 2026-06-05

How to read these figures: https://futurehistory.earth/methodology. Every figure links to its own source; gaps stay gaps.