Among California’s post-secondary institutions in 2024, the University of California-Santa Cruz ranked 58th in average coaching salary, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
At that time, the university provided its coaches with an average salary of $61,382, with the top coaching salary reaching $61,694.
The University of Southern California led California with the highest average coaching salary in 2024, offering $959,264.
In 2024, coaches at California post-secondary institutions earned an average salary of $91,045, marking a 5% increase from the $86,737 average salary paid the previous year.
A Knight Commission report projects that within a decade, some Power 5 football coaches will earn more than their schools spend on scholarships and medical care for all athletes. The study estimates more than $1 billion in new annual revenue from the expanded College Football Playoff and media rights deals. By 2032, nearly half of public Power 5 schools could reach this ‘crossover point.’
Incomplete data provided by post-secondary institutions can sometimes skew salary data.
| Institution | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| The University of Southern California | $959,264 |
| The University of California-Los Angeles | $718,416 |
| San Diego State University | $503,341 |
| The University of California-Berkeley | $469,908 |
| Stanford University | $441,828 |
| California State University-Fresno | $271,744 |
| Saint Mary’s College of California | $239,472 |
| The University of San Francisco | $235,575 |
| San Jose State University | $227,636 |
| California Baptist University | $215,062 |
Information in this story was obtained from the U.S. Department of Education. The source data can be found here.
