Life coaching gives you an amazing way to guide others along the path to personal growth and discover more about yourself in the process. But you may be curious about how much you can expect to make as a life coach. A quick online search may not give you a simple answer: Some coaches claim to earn six figures, and others cite more modest figures.
Knowing the true earning potential for life coaches can help you plan out this fulfilling career, though the truth is a bit more nuanced than you might think.
We’ll break down the real factors that influence how much life coaches make and help you separate myths from reality. We’ll also provide tips on the habits of successful life coaches.
Why this question is so common (and complicated)
Becoming a life coach means you get to help others change their lives for the better. It’s a rewarding career in terms of personal fulfillment, but is it also financially rewarding? That’s a practical concern to have, though it’s not a simple question to answer. We’ll explore the reasons why it’s such a common question—and why the answer is complex.
Coaching is a flexible, self-run business
Have you always wanted to be your own boss? Working as a life coach gives you that opportunity. Coaching is run as a business. Many coaches are self-employed individuals who run their own coaching practices.
Being a life coach and business owner means your income depends on efficient business-building, marketing efforts, and whether or not you have consistent bookings for sessions. That might sound like a lot to handle, but the right life coach training program makes it much easier to accomplish this.
Some coaches do work in an agency type of setting and earn a regular life coach salary, without having to worry about finding and keeping clients. But being an employee can ultimately limit your earning potential and ability to choose who you work with.
Social media and forums don’t always show the full picture
Posts, forums, and other online content may give the impression that becoming a life coach is a lucrative way to make money. Or, on the other hand, you might see threads and posts warning against this career due to low pay.
Keep in mind that what some consider low or high pay is subjective. There are plenty of ways to make your desired amount as a life coach, and we’ll discuss some of those later on.
Instead of zeroing in on specific one-off claims, look for positive or negative patterns. These will give you a clearer picture of coaching incomes, particularly within a specific niche or location.
Yes, many coaches do make money, but it varies widely
Earnings really depend on many variables, such as niche, audience, offerings, pricing, and personal effort. Some coaching niches might have higher demand than others, resulting in more business and higher income. Some life coaches might put more effort into marketing their businesses, attracting more clients and boosting their income.
Data from the International Coaching Federation (ICF) shows that the average annual income from coaching in North America was estimated to be $67,800 in 2022. However, some Jay Shetty Certification School graduates have reported earnings over six figures.
That’s really more of a ballpark figure. You can always find opportunities to make what you consider good pay as a life coach, whether you choose or change your niche or build your marketing skills. But remember, this path doesn’t revolve around your income. It’s more of a chance to live a meaningful life and help others do the same.
What factors influence how much a life coach earns
Who you coach, how you run your life coaching business, what kind of credentials you have all play a part in how much you make in this career. Below, we’ll go over some of the biggest factors that impact your earning potential as a life coach.
Niche and target audience
You don’t have to choose a life coaching niche, but doing so may lead to a higher income. Coaching a clear, high-need audience, such as those seeking a career change or struggling with burnout, tends to result in more referrals that bring in more clients. You might also charge premium pricing when providing services that are in high demand.
Niches that aren’t in demand as much or those with a narrower audience can make it harder to stay booked, potentially limiting your income. For example, career coaching and relationship coaching typically have higher demand and a larger target audience compared to highly specialized niches, like coaching individuals with specific illnesses or conditions.
Note: Life coaches do not provide medical guidance. Those with health conditions should always consult licensed medical providers.
Training and credibility
There’s no formal education or licensing required to be a life coach. But earning your certification from a respected training program gives you greater credibility and helps build trust with your clients.
Becoming a certified coach shows clients that you’ve had formal training and follow industry-vetted methodologies to provide them with the help they need. It lets them know that you use evidence-based techniques and approaches backed by science for proven results.
With this training and credibility, you might consider charging higher fees for your services, especially if you specialize in a certain area.
Want to earn your life coach certification from a respected training program? Join the Jay Shetty Certification School today.
Business and marketing strategy
As a life coach and business owner, your income depends on your ability to reach the right people and run your business efficiently and successfully. Marketing your coaching services to your target audience helps you build a strong client base, resulting in more coaching opportunities and higher earnings.
Marketing strategies that reach your intended audience help your coaching business grow, allowing you to attract more clients and help them discover their purpose and build a balanced life.
Branding also plays a part in this. Your brand helps you set your coaching practice apart from the competition, showing potential clients what you offer and why they should choose you as their guide to personal growth.
With effective, consistent branding and marketing strategies, you can maintain a client base for steady income and reach out to new clients for even more earning potential.
Pricing and packaging
When you first start out as a coach, your income might solely revolve around hourly rates for individual clients. As you become more experienced, though, moving beyond this pricing strategy might help you earn more while scaling your business.
A coaching package provides a great way to boost income and offer more value and support to your clients. You might include weekly coaching sessions, access to resources, and text or email support between sessions, for example. Packaging multiple life coaching services gives clients more for their money than a simple hourly rate for each session.
Group programs are another way to scale your coaching business sustainably. In addition to working with individual clients, you may want to offer your services to groups, like families or business teams. These group coaching programs help you reach a broader audience, while also building a sense of community and support among clients.
Consistency and mindset
Remember that coaching won’t bring you overnight or instant success. It takes time and effort to build a successful business and fulfilling career. Having resilience and being willing to persevere tend to determine whether an aspiring coach is able to turn their skills into a source of income.
You might experience times when business is slower or you have trouble finding the right clients, especially as a new coach. Focusing on your own inner growth and personal development, with patience and the right mindset, can help you handle these struggles, setting you up for success and a reliable income.
Habits that set successful life coaches apart
Success as a life coach isn’t about how much money you make. It’s more about being able to effectively guide others through their personal growth journeys and helping them find meaning.
Being a successful life coach means you’re making a difference and building a career that’s in service to others and aligned with your values. With that in mind, let’s explore a few habits that can help you accomplish this.
They lead with purpose and service
Coaches with ongoing success focus on their commitment to serving others deeply, rather than chasing trends or using pressure tactics. Those approaches might bring faster success in some cases, but it’s short-lived and highly limited.
Building trust and establishing lasting relationships with clients are key parts of achieving long-term success, and these elements come from focusing on true impact and transformation.
They invest in personal and professional growth
Top coaches know that they’re not done learning once they complete a training program or get their certification. They continue learning, gaining new insights into how to best serve clients and refining their skill sets. They also develop new skills and practice different techniques to add to their coaching toolkit.
These coaches show up consistently and treat coaching like an actual career, not a side project or a “get rich quick” scheme. They understand that their career requires active participation and ongoing growth, rather than being a source of passive income or an easy way to earn money.
They build a business that fits their values
Every successful life coach has their own personal definition of success. For some, it might be a full-time job with steady income for financial stability. For others, it might be part-time impact for better work-life balance.
No matter the definition, these coaches create a business model that’s aligned with their life, energy, and goals. This allows them to enjoy a career that reflects and honors their values.
Purpose and income can go hand in hand with a life coaching career
Yes, life coaches can and do make money, though incomes vary considerably based on different factors. But keep in mind that the most sustainable and meaningful income as a coach comes from alignment, not ambition. It’s not about how much you make; it’s about how you can serve others.
Coaching is a fulfilling, service-led path that can become both a calling and a career, not a shortcut to earning income. You might not establish a coaching practice overnight. But the Jay Shetty Certification School provides you with the training needed to build the foundations and future of a thriving coaching practice.
Coaching students in this program receive mentorship, business tools, and other resources to help turn purpose into a path toward long-term success, without sacrificing authenticity.
Upon graduation, students also have the opportunity to enroll in the Business Accelerator program, a high-touch, community-driven experience designed to help you launch and grow your coaching business. You'll receive personalized 1:1 mentorship, expert-led group sessions, and ongoing support from a vibrant network of fellow coaches who are growing alongside you.
Ready to build your life coaching career? Join the Jay Shetty program today!
