What I Wish Someone Told Me About Health Coach Salaries Before I Quit My Job
Four years ago, I was scrolling through LinkedIn during my lunch break (again) when I saw another post about someone "hitting six figures" in their health coaching business. The comments were full of fire emojis and "living the dream!" responses.
That night, I calculated how much I'd need to replace my corporate salary. Seemed doable, right? If Sarah from Instagram could do it, surely I could too.
Spoiler alert: I had no clue what I was getting into.
Don't get me wrong—I'm not here to crush your coaching dreams. I'm actually doing pretty well now, thank you very much. But I wish someone had given me the real talk about health coach salaries before I dramatically quit my marketing job via a very satisfying email to my boss.
So here we are. Consider this your brutally honest guide to what you can actually expect to earn as a health coach, minus the Instagram filters.
The Numbers Game Everyone's Playing
Let me start with what you probably came here for: the actual numbers.
Self-employed coaches: $40,000 to $240,000+ annually Company-employed coaches: $40,000 to $75,000 annually
See that massive range for self-employed coaches? That's not a typo. It's also not particularly helpful, is it? It's like saying "cars cost between $500 and $500,000" – technically true, completely useless for planning your budget.
Here's what those numbers actually mean in real life:
The $40K coaches are usually either brand new, treating coaching as a side hustle, or (harsh truth coming) not really running a business. They might have 5-10 clients paying $50-100/month, working maybe 10-15 hours per week.
The $240K+ coaches? They're either running coaching empires with multiple revenue streams, charging premium rates ($2K+/month), or they've been at this for years and really know what they're doing.
Most coaches I know personally fall somewhere in the $60K-$120K range after their second or third year. Which, honestly, isn't bad at all. But it's also not the overnight success story you see plastered all over social media.
What Nobody Tells You About Pricing (The Therapy Session You Need)
Can we talk about money for a second? Because this is where most coaches completely lose their minds.
I started charging $75/month because that felt "reasonable." I was fresh out of certification, imposter syndrome was real, and I figured I'd "work my way up." Sound familiar?
Here's the thing about undercharging: it doesn't just hurt your bank account. It makes you resentful, attracts clients who don't value the work, and honestly? It makes you look amateur.
I once had a potential client tell me my rates were "too low" and that it made her question my expertise. She was right. I was basically screaming "I don't believe in my own value!" and expecting others to see something I couldn't.
The coaches making serious money? They believe in their worth. Not in an arrogant way, but in a quiet, confident way that makes clients think "this person has their shit together."
Here's what I wish I'd known about pricing psychology:
Your clients aren't you. Just because you wouldn't pay $500/month for coaching doesn't mean your ideal client won't. I wouldn't pay $200 for a haircut, but my friend Sarah does it religiously because her stylist makes her feel like a million bucks.
Undercharging attracts tire kickers. The clients who questioned every recommendation and complained about everything were usually my cheapest ones. The clients paying premium rates? They show up, do the work, and see results.
Price increases get easier with practice. I still get nervous raising my rates, but now it's more like "butterflies before a first date" nervous instead of "about to throw up" nervous.
Three Lessons That Actually Move the Needle
After talking to dozens of coaches at every income level, three patterns become crystal clear:
Lesson 1: Specificity Beats Generic Every Time
Remember when everyone told you to "find your niche" and you rolled your eyes? Turns out they were right, but not for the reasons you think.
I started as a "wellness coach for busy professionals." Could I be more generic? That's basically saying "I help humans feel better."
Now I work specifically with working moms who want to lose weight without giving up wine or family pizza nights. See the difference?
The magic isn't in excluding people—it's in making the right people think "holy shit, she gets me." When someone feels truly seen, price becomes less of an issue.
My friend Jake coaches tech workers with ADHD. Super specific, right? He charges $400/month and has a waiting list. Another coach I know works exclusively with people going through divorce. She's booked solid at $250/hour.
Specificity doesn't limit you—it magnetizes your ideal clients.
Lesson 2: Most Coaches Play it Too Safe with Their Business Model
Here's an uncomfortable truth: most coaches are basically running expensive hobbies, not businesses.
They take clients when they come, charge whatever feels comfortable, and hope things work out. Then they wonder why their income is unpredictable.
The coaches making real money? They plan backwards from their income goals.
Want to make $100K? That's roughly $8,333/month. If you charge $500/month per client, you need about 17 clients. If each client relationship lasts 6 months on average, you need to sign about 3 new clients per month.
Now we're talking in concrete numbers instead of wishful thinking.
Some coaches go high-volume (50+ clients at lower rates), others go premium (10-15 clients at high rates). Both can work, but you have to pick a lane and optimize for it.
Lesson 3: Your Marketing Strategy Is Probably Backwards
Most coaches spend their time creating content about macros and meal prep. Snooze.
Your potential clients don't follow you for nutrition facts they can Google. They follow you because you make them feel understood and hopeful.
The coaches with full client rosters? They share stories. They talk about mindset shifts. They address the emotional stuff that keeps people stuck.
I get more client inquiries from posts about perfectionism and mom guilt than I ever did from sharing smoothie recipes. People don't hire coaches for information—they hire them for transformation.
Why Most Coaches Struggle (And It's Not What You Think)
After watching hundreds of coaches over the years, the ones who struggle usually fall into these traps:
They think credentials equal clients. Having 47 certifications doesn't automatically translate to income. I know coaches with basic certifications making six figures and coaches with walls full of certificates struggling to fill their practice.
They underestimate the business side. Coaching is maybe 40% of running a coaching business. The rest is marketing, sales, admin, content creation, and client management. If you hate talking about money or marketing yourself, this might not be the right path.
They give up too early. Building a sustainable coaching practice typically takes 2-3 years. Most coaches quit after 6-12 months when they're just starting to gain momentum.
They try to be everything to everyone. "I help people lose weight, manage stress, meal prep, and improve their relationships." Pick one thing and get really good at solving that specific problem.
The Real Perks (That Aren't About Money)
Look, I'm not gonna lie—the income potential is nice. But the non-monetary perks are what keep me in this field:
I work from coffee shops, my home office, or sometimes my couch in pajamas. I take vacations without asking permission. When my friend needed support during a family crisis, I could drop everything and be there.
Last month, a client texted me that she finally felt confident in a bikini for the first time in 15 years. Another one told me she stopped the cycle of emotional eating that had plagued her since college.
You can't put a price on that kind of impact.
So, Should You Actually Do This?
Here's my brutally honest assessment framework:
Do it if:
- You genuinely enjoy helping people solve problems
- You're willing to learn business skills (marketing, sales, operations)
- You can survive 6-12 months of inconsistent income
- You have a specific group of people you're passionate about serving
Don't do it if:
- You're looking for quick money
- You hate talking about your services or asking for payment
- You're not willing to put in 2-3 years of consistent effort
- You think a certification is all you need
Maybe do it if:
- You're curious but not ready to quit your day job (smart!)
- You want to start as a side hustle and see how it goes
- You're willing to work for someone else's coaching company first
Your Next Steps (If You're Still Reading)
If you've made it this far, you're probably serious about this. Here's what I'd do if I were starting over:
- Start before you're ready. Offer free coaching to 3-5 people for testimonials and experience. You'll learn more in one month of actual coaching than six months of studying.
- Pick your people. Who specifically do you want to help? "Women over 40 who want to lose weight" is better than "women," but "working moms over 40 who want to lose weight without giving up date nights and family traditions" is even better.
- Test your pricing. Start higher than feels comfortable. You can always come down, but going up is harder psychologically.
- Plan for the long game. This isn't a get-rich-quick scheme. It's a legitimate business that requires time, effort, and patience to build.
- Connect with other coaches. Find a community of coaches who are where you want to be. The learning curve is steep, but it's easier with support.
The health coaching industry isn't going anywhere. People will always need help creating healthier habits and sustainable lifestyle changes. The question is: are you willing to approach this as a serious business owner, or are you just hoping things will work out?
Because hope, as they say, is not a strategy.
What questions are you still wrestling with about this whole coaching thing? Drop them in the comments—I promise to give you the unfiltered truth, even if it's not what you want to hear.
