2meetup is used by psychologists, managers, recruiters, educational organizations, and primarily coaches to automate their operations. Today, we have prepared a summary of data on the coaching industry in 2023.

Summary:

  • 1.7 million active coaches on LinkedIn
  • 52,905 certified life coaches in 168 countries in 2022
  • Coaching is one of the fastest-growing industries in the United States In 2022,
  • 23,201 coaching companies were registered
  • The estimated global revenue from coaching in 2022 reached $15.2 billion
  • The overall income of coaches increased by 36% between 2015 and 2019
  • If you aspire to become a coach or are already one, continue reading for more detailed information about the industry below. 👇 Before bursting onto the scene as a coach, you’ll likely want confidence that there are enough opportunities for coaches.

Whether it’s convincing others to support your coaching career or simply confirming your own decision to become a coach, it’s hard to do without cold, hard facts in hand.

That’s why we compiled this coaching industry statistics report. We’ll also explore why coaching is a thriving industry and some challenges you may face as a new coach.

How large is the global coaching industry?

According to the International Coaching Federation (ICF), as of October 2022, there are approximately 52,905 certified life coaches in 168 countries worldwide. This represents significant growth compared to the 33,594 coaches working in the industry in 2019.

In December 2021, the International Coaching Federation experienced the largest increase in new members, with 2,193 coaches joining the association.

Revenue

The estimated global market value of coaching in 2023 is $15.2 billion, a significant increase compared to $2.849 billion in 2019. The coaching industry also ranks 458th in market size in the United States.

Considering that coaching as a concept has only been around for about 40 years, these numbers are truly impressive.

According to many coaching experts, the industry will continue to grow. In fact, most coaches anticipate that the greatest growth in the next year will occur in the life vision and development area.

In terms of growth, coaching is the second-fastest-growing industry in the United States (second only to IT, of course!) and is experiencing increased demand in all 50 states. The largest states in terms of registered life coaching companies are California, Florida, and Texas.

If we consider only certified American coaches, as of October 2022, there are 21,176 registered practicing coaches in the International Coaching Federation.

So how many coaches are there in the market in total?

The statistics we provided only pertain to registered coaching companies and certified practicing coaches.

Since coaching is an unregulated industry with low entry barriers, there is also a significant number of coaches working as individual entrepreneurs without any certifications.

LinkedIn Statistics

Another interesting coaching industry statistic comes from the social network LinkedIn:

A search for the word “coaches” on LinkedIn showed over 1.7 million active coaches in February 2023. To put this into perspective, it’s more than the population of Phoenix, Arizona. A search for the term “life coach” yielded over 104,000 life coaches, with 51,000 of them based in the United States. Looking at it from a different angle, there are more active life coaches than the total population of South Bend, Indiana. Searching for “business coach” resulted in over 37,000 business coaches on LinkedIn, with over 10,000 of them residing in the U.S.

Google Statistics

According to Google Trends, the number of people searching for information about coaching on Google is consistently growing every year.

Furthermore, the search phrase “coach certification” has also gained popularity in recent years, indicating an increasing interest in the coaching profession.

Instagram Statistics

On Instagram, as of February 2023, the top three hashtags related to life coaching have over 19 million posts, including:

#lifecoach #lifecoaching

TikTok Statistics

The numbers are even more impressive on TikTok. As of February 2023, the top three hashtags related to life coaching have over 3 billion views, including:

#LifeCoach – 2.9 billion views #LifeCoaching – 445 million views #CoachingLife – 209 million views

How much do coaches earn?

According to ZipRecruiter data, the average annual income of a professional coach is $53,971, which is approximately $4,497 per month.

Specialized coaches often earn much more. For example, the average annual income of a business coach is $87,281, indicating that specialization in a specific area can be financially rewarding.

Growing demand for coaching support

Currently, more people are realizing the value of coaching and expressing a desire to receive coaching support. Awareness and interest in coaching have noticeably increased, as shown by a 2022 survey conducted by the International Coaching Federation (ICF): 73% of survey respondents were familiar with coaching.

Interestingly, those currently employed demonstrate a higher level of knowledge about coaching and past experience working with a coach. Younger professionals have much higher rates of working with a coach compared to their older counterparts. For example, 47% of millennials have had experience working with a coach, while only 21% of baby boomers sought coaching assistance. This shift in preferences indicates the growing popularity of coaching across different age groups.

The growth in coaching awareness extends beyond individuals to the business sphere. Over the past decade, companies have witnessed how coaches directly impact their financial performance. Career and executive coaches have always offered their services at premium prices as their work contributes to achieving excellent results for companies of all sizes.

Overall, an effective team leads to increased profitability, prompting more companies to hire coaches to invigorate their employees.

However, it’s not just large companies that benefit from having coaches. Due to the increased demands and stresses of modern life, more people are seeking good coaches who can help them navigate through it all.

Whether it’s an overwhelmed CEO of a large company or a young professional in need of assistance, coaches are always ready to provide the best support.

Coaches are true heroes for many people, and in such a fast-paced and diverse world, there will always be demand for your skill set!

Technological Advancements

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the awareness and accessibility of coaching in many aspects.

First and foremost, it has normalized online coaching sessions using digital platforms such as Zoom. Now, you can work with a coach from the comfort of your own home, regardless of where you live.

Technology has also opened up new possibilities for coaches, facilitating marketing, affordable online advertising, and creating an appealing online presence. With the technology available today, there has never been a better time to start a coaching career.

Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has led many people to reconsider what is important to them. Times of transition through challenging life changes often prompt individuals to seek assistance.

That’s where coaches come into play.

Since many coaches specialize in significant life transitions, the demand for them naturally increases in this decade.

The Future of the Coaching Industry

There has never been a better time to start a coaching career. If you have excellent training, certifications, and skills, you are on the right path.

The positive results of coaching are now felt worldwide, and organizations such as the International Coaching Federation (ICF) are always at the forefront, providing the best innovative tools to the global coaching community.

With improved tools and a focus on quality, trust increases, which is always beneficial for coaches. Overall, the coaching industry is experiencing a steady growth trend that shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.