Chess Coach
♟️Teaches chess to children and adults: openings, tactics, endgames, game analysis. Takes students to tournaments and runs school clubs and online lessons.
Prospects & pay
What the work is like
💼 Job market
🇺🇸 +3.5% jobs by 2035 · 50,000 openings a year
Self-Enrichment Teachers — US: Census ACS 2020–24 (full-time), BLS projections 2025–35
🇬🇧 £30.1k median a year · 19,000 jobs
Sports coaches, instructors and officials — UK: ONS ASHE 2025 (full-time)
🤖 AI & automation
Engines outplay world champions and spot every error, but motivation, a training plan and tournament psychology come from the coach.
Who it suits
Interests: 📖 Teaching and mentoring, 📐 Maths and data, 🏃 Sport and movement.
Key strengths: logic, attention to detail, understanding people.
Where to study
- Course FIDE trainer titles (Developmental Instructor, FIDE Instructor, FIDE Trainer)
- Course National federation coaching courses (e.g. ECF, US Chess)
Key school subjects (A-level / IB / AP): Maths.
🧗 No degree required: a strong rating, FIDE or national federation coaching courses, and club experience. Working with children requires a background check (DBS in the UK).
Things to know
🧸 Being around kids all the time
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