Coaches in the US and Canada have seen their earnings take a dive of up to 14 per cent, suggests research.

Income was down 8 per cent for coaches with less than three years’ experience, returning to the levels of two years ago, according to the Sherpa Coaching Survey 2010 Earnings Report. Ten per cent of executive coaches in business for one or two years saw a significant drop in clients, as did 20 per cent of those in business for three to five years.

Earnings were flat for coaches in business for five years or more, after a 10 per cent drop last year. Coaches with more than 10 years in the business reported annual earnings of US$149,000, compared to $118,000 for those with six to nine years’ experience.

Two years ago, HR professionals paid up to $285 an hour for coaching. In the past two years, however, hourly rates have hovered around the $200 mark.

Yet coaches say they charge around $300 an hour, which Sherpa suggests could be down to coaches quoting ‘list price’ and buyers reporting what they are actually charged, or that coaches with lower rates get hired more often.

For more information go to www.coaching-at-work.com or www.sherpacoacing.com/surveyfp.html

Volume 5, Issue 2