What you can expect to earn as a Strength Coach

A few days ago, I posted a meme (I'm a part-time business owner and a full-time meme poster).

What if janitors who clean college gyms actually make more money than the strength coaches?

This idea got a bunch of likes and we all had a good laugh. But that got me thinking, I wanted to see if it was true.

After doing the math, it turns out it’s not as crazy as it sounds. In this post, I’ll break down what I found and share some advice for anyone dreaming of becoming a strength coach (or a Janitor).

You can watch the full video by clicking here!

Janitors vs. Strength Coaches: What They Make

Janitors: Most janitors start working right after high school, often earning about $16 an hour, or around $30,000 a year. If they keep working, get a little raise every year, and stick to this job, their salary grows over time. Over 47 years, a janitor might end up making about $3 million in career earnings.
Strength Coaches: Strength coaches, on the other hand, usually need at least a college degree, and often a master’s degree too. So, by the time they’re done with school, they’ve spent six years not earning and are also about $170,000 in debt from school costs. When they finally start working, they might make around $36,000–$39,000 a year. Over a long career, their salary will grow faster than a janitor’s, but it takes about 20 years to earn more than a janitor overall.

The Real Costs of Being a Strength Coach

Strength coaches have some hidden costs that janitors don’t:

Debt and Extra Costs: College debt and certification costs (needed to keep their jobs).
Moving for Jobs: As a Strength Coach you're going to have to relocate often to follow your team or because of job changes.
Unstable Employment: Coaching jobs are tied to sports seasons and team needs, which can make employment less stable.

Plus, strength coaches work more hours than janitors—often 50–60 hours a week instead of 40 (and that's pretty conservative compared to some places). This adds up.

If janitors worked those same hours, they’d actually earn as much as a strength coach.

What This Means for Aspiring Coaches

If you’re thinking of becoming a strength coach, know it’s a hard road financially. But if you love coaching, it’s still worth it—just don’t expect to get rich quickly.

Here are a few tips:

Get Paid as Much as Possible: Fight for good pay from the start. Moving between jobs can help you increase your salary.
Create Side Income: Adding something like personal training on the side can help a lot. Just a few hours of side work could add millions over your career.
Have an Exit Plan: If you ever decide to leave coaching, having other skills or a business can make it easier to switch careers.

Coaching is about passion and perseverance. Nobody ever goes into this to make money.

If you want to be a strength coach, you need to stay with it for years to see the financial rewards. And if you’re interested in building a side income to secure your future, check out the resources on my site for ideas on how to start!

Thanks for reading!

Learn how I grossed $1m in side income while working as a strength coach

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What you can expect to earn as a Strength Coach

Janitors vs. Strength Coaches: What They Make

Janitors: Most janitors start working right after high school, often earning about $16 an hour, or around $30,000 a year. If they keep working, get a little raise every year, and stick to this job, their salary grows over time. Over 47 years, a janitor might end up making about $3 million in career earnings.
Strength Coaches: Strength coaches, on the other hand, usually need at least a college degree, and often a master’s degree too. So, by the time they’re done with school, they’ve spent six years not earning and are also about $170,000 in debt from school costs. When they finally start working, they might make around $36,000–$39,000 a year. Over a long career, their salary will grow faster than a janitor’s, but it takes about 20 years to earn more than a janitor overall.

The Real Costs of Being a Strength Coach

Strength coaches have some hidden costs that janitors don’t:

Debt and Extra Costs: College debt and certification costs (needed to keep their jobs).
Moving for Jobs: As a Strength Coach you're going to have to relocate often to follow your team or because of job changes.
Unstable Employment: Coaching jobs are tied to sports seasons and team needs, which can make employment less stable.

What This Means for Aspiring Coaches

Get Paid as Much as Possible: Fight for good pay from the start. Moving between jobs can help you increase your salary.
Create Side Income: Adding something like personal training on the side can help a lot. Just a few hours of side work could add millions over your career.
Have an Exit Plan: If you ever decide to leave coaching, having other skills or a business can make it easier to switch careers.