by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Executive/Career Coaching involves the study of A Program Of Study That Focuses On Assisting Individuals Achieve Career Goals Or Assisting Business Leaders Achieve Organizational Change. Includes Instruction In Executive Coaching, Group Dynamics, Leadership, Management, Organizational Behavior, Organizational Communication, And Team Building. Read on to learn the key facts every executive/career coaching student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering executive/career coaching programs.
In the U.S., executive/career coaching is a widely-pursued major, with 101 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Executive/Career Coaching Schools ranking analyzes these 11 schools to determine the best overall colleges for executive/career coaching students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of executive/career coaching programs later in this article.
Coursework for Executive/Career Coaching emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations executive/career coaching graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a executive/career coaching program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a executive/career coaching major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several executive/career coaching degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 80 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 21 |
People currently working in careers related to executive/career coaching tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 69.5% |
| Master’s degree | 14.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 5.1% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.1% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.8% |
| Some college courses | 2.2% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.2% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.1% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in executive/career coaching careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying executive/career coaching can lead to many career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to executive/career coaching.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to executive/career coaching.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Training and Development Specialists | 622,945 | 11.3% |
| Human Resources Specialists | 405,890 | 11.8% |
| Human Resources Managers | 404,262 | -3.6% |
| Training and Development Managers | 394,938 | -0.4% |
| Counselors, All Other | 229,390 | 4.5% |
| Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors | 204,799 | 5.9% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of executive/career coaching graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $56,722 |
| 4 years | $57,321 |
| 5 years | $65,449 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for executive/career coaching graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers executive/career coaching grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Training and Development Managers | $139,524 |
| Human Resources Managers | $95,702 |
| Human Resources Specialists | $90,840 |
| Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors | $87,699 |
| Counselors, All Other | $81,766 |
| Training and Development Specialists | $63,210 |
With 11 different executive/career coaching programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased executive/career coaching school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in executive/career coaching, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General | 17,602 |
| Organizational Behavior Studies | 3,447 |
| Human Resources Development | 1,604 |
| Labor and Industrial Relations | 1,540 |
| Human Resources Management and Services, Other | 950 |
| Labor Studies | 180 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
