Coaches and Scouts
Machines can already do 22% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 48%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Coaches and Scouts in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 22% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 0% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2036, and 48% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 248,950 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $47,320 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 74% for contact with people.
- Also called: Baseball Coach, Basketball Coach, Coach, Cross Country Coach.
- Competency here means how well the best AI model, tool or robot available can do a task, scored out of 100: today using the best available now, and for later years the 311 prediction of what AI and robots will be able to do.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plan, organize, and conduct practice sessions | 22% | 25% to 50% | |
| Instruct individuals or groups in sports rules, game strategies, and performance principles, such as specific ways of moving the body, hands, or feet, to achieve desired results | 11% | 25% to 50% | |
| Provide training direction, encouragement, motivation, and nutritional advice to prepare athletes for games, competitive events, or tours | 8% | 25% to 50% | |
| Serve as organizer, leader, instructor, or referee for outdoor and indoor games, such as volleyball, football, and soccer | 7% | 3% to 30% | |
| Plan strategies and choose team members for individual games or sports seasons | 5% | 30% to 54% | |
| Adjust coaching techniques, based on the strengths and weaknesses of athletes | 4% | 15% to 36% | |
| Coordinate travel arrangements and travel with team to away contests | 4% | 3% to 30% | |
| Plan and direct physical conditioning programs that will enable athletes to achieve maximum performance | 4% | 25% to 50% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills coaches and scouts use most, most used first.
Human value: what makes people in this job hard to replace
How much coaches and scouts rely on each one, from 0 to 10. 311 estimates, medium confidence.
- Go-to problem solver6/10
- Trust and reliability7/10
- Know-how about the organisation6/10
- Network and relationships6/10
- Mentoring and developing others9/10
- Culture and morale8/10
- Initiative beyond the role7/10
- Calm in a crisis7/10
- Bridge between teams6/10
- Reputation and influence6/10
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers47% of tasks by 2035 · US median $49,100
- Chefs and Head Cooks43% of tasks by 2035 · US median $62,470
- Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School45% of tasks by 2035 · US median $66,270
- First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers42% of tasks by 2035 · US median $93,530
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Coaches and Scouts?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2036. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of coaches and scouts?
Machines can do 22% of the tasks of coaches and scouts today and 48% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 27-2022.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring, forecast and human value: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit (human value scores are 311 estimates, medium confidence); after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Coaches and Scouts: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/coaches-and-scouts/