Executive and Career Coaching: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Executive and Career Coaching is a specialized field dedicated to empowering professionals and organizational leaders to achieve personal and strategic objectives through evidence-based guidance and developmental strategies. This program equips individuals with the tools to foster sustainable growth, enhance leadership effectiveness, and drive meaningful transformation within teams and institutions.
- Executive Coaching: A one-on-one developmental process designed to improve leadership performance, strategic decision-making, and long-term organizational impact through personalized feedback and goal setting.
- Group Dynamics: The study of how individuals interact within teams, including patterns of communication, conflict resolution, and collective behavior that influence group outcomes.
- Leadership Development: Focuses on cultivating core leadership competencies such as vision-setting, influence, adaptability, and ethical decision-making in complex environments.
- Management Principles: Explores foundational practices in planning, organizing, directing, and controlling resources to achieve operational efficiency and strategic alignment.
- Organizational Behavior: An analytical approach to understanding individual and group actions within workplaces, emphasizing motivation, culture, and psychological factors affecting performance.
- Organizational Communication: Examines the flow of information across levels and functions, emphasizing clarity, transparency, and effectiveness in internal and external messaging.
- Team Building: A practical framework for developing trust, cohesion, and collaborative problem-solving skills to enhance team productivity and innovation.
Executive and Career Coaching Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Executive and Career Coaching Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Executive and Career Coaching degrees, including Human Resources Managers, Training and Development Managers and Human Resources Specialists. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 1,990,240 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Human Resources Managers 11-3121 | $140,030 | $83,790 - $239,200 | 215,520 | $67.32 |
| Training and Development Managers 11-3131 | $127,090 | $75,810 - $219,990 | 44,960 | $61.10 |
| Human Resources Specialists 13-1071 | $72,910 | $45,440 - $126,540 | 917,460 | $35.05 |
| Training and Development Specialists 13-1151 | $65,850 | $37,510 - $120,190 | 436,610 | $31.66 |
| Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors 21-1012 | $65,140 | $43,580 - $105,870 | 342,350 | $31.32 |
| Counselors, All Other 21-1019 | $49,830 | $36,160 - $91,420 | 33,340 | $23.96 |
Executive and Career Coaching Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $63,995 in Arkansas to $109,628 in District of Columbia—a 71% difference. The highest-paying states include District of Columbia, New York, and Virginia. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 1,990,240 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Executive and Career Coaching by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 10 institutions offering Executive and Career Coaching programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Executive and Career Coaching is found at University of Charleston (UC) (21 graduates), Baylor University (17 graduates), Rockhurst University (15 graduates), North Greenville University (NGU) (10 graduates), and Huntington University (9 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 101 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Charleston (UC) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
21 | Charleston, West Virginia | Private | ucwv.edu |
| Baylor University |
Postbac Cert.
|
17 | Waco, Texas | Private | baylor.edu |
| Rockhurst University |
Master's
|
15 | Kansas City, Missouri | Private | rockhurst.edu |
| North Greenville University (NGU) |
Master's
|
10 | Tigerville, South Carolina | Private | ngu.edu |
| Huntington University |
Postbac Cert.
|
9 | Huntington, Indiana | Private | huntington.edu |
| American Public University System (APUS) |
Postbac Cert.
|
9 | Charles Town, West Virginia | Private | apus.edu |
| University of Alaska (UAF) |
Postbac Cert.
|
4 | Fairbanks, Alaska | Public | uaf.edu |
| Presbyterian Theological Seminary in America |
Master's
|
4 | Santa Fe Springs, California | Private | ch.ptsa.edu |
| William Jessup University |
Postbac Cert.
|
2 | Rocklin, California | Private | jessup.edu |
| Duquesne University |
Postbac Cert.
|
2 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Private | duq.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Executive and Career Coaching programs
How much can I earn with a Executive and Career Coaching degree?
Salaries for Executive and Career Coaching graduates vary by role and location. Human Resources Managers earn a median of $140,030 annually, while Training and Development Managers earn around $127,090. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in District of Columbia average $109,628 compared to $63,995 in Arkansas. Approximately 1,990,240 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Executive and Career Coaching programs?
Currently 11 accredited institutions offer Executive and Career Coaching degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include University of Charleston (UC) (21 graduates), Baylor University (17 graduates), and Rockhurst University (15 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
What career paths are available with a Executive and Career Coaching degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Human Resources Managers, Training and Development Managers, and Human Resources Specialists. Related occupations employ approximately 1,990,240 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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