What is a special needs life coach salary in the U.S.? Good questions! If you are a life coach who wants to work with the special needs population, I guess it’s important to know if you can make a good living from it. 

The Special Needs Population

Special needs have to do with individuals who have suffered from one or more of the following; strokes, concussions, traumatic brain injuries, intellectual disabilities within community settings. The National Response Framework (NRF) defines special needs populations as those who may have additional needs. These individuals have other needs before, during, and after an incident in functional areas, including but not limited to maintaining independence, communication, transportation, supervision, and medical care.

Some Alarming Statistics in the United States

• Nearly 54 Million Americans cope with special needs and the rising associated expenses, according to the National Organization on Disability.
• Out of 72.3 million families included in the U.S. Census Bureau Report, about two in every seven reported having at least one member with a disability.
• Nearly one-fifth of all Americans—more than 54 million men, women, and children— suffer from a physical, sensory, or intellectual disability, according to the National Organization on Disability.
• The U.S. Census Bureau says about 20% of Americans between the ages of 16 and 64 suffer physical, mental, or emotional impairment. Thanks to improved care due to medical technology, many of them are outliving their parents. 

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What Do Special Needs Life Coaches do?

The special needs life coaching niche is relatively new and may fall under “family coaching.” These coaches typically work with families and individuals within community settings, ensuring they have access to the support, encouragement, knowledge, and resources needed to live productive and fulfilling lives. Life coaches who work in settings like residential facilities that care for individuals with disabilities are sometimes referred to as Direct Support Professionals. They are responsible for delivering direct support services in a manner that respects the clients’ needs and enhances their independence and dignity within their environment. These coaches work with families and are devoted to improving their clients’ quality of life.

Recent articles have shown that life coaching has become an effective treatment method for this population.  Reports from medical journals like the International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation have concluded that coaching has contributed to the overall improvement in children’s welfare due to the coaching services offered to special needs children’s caregivers and families.

What Can Affect The Special Needs Life Coach Salary?

As of August 2020, the average annual salary of a life coach generalist in the United States, according to ZipRecruiter, is $59,630, and the average yearly salary for a special needs life coach is stated to be $32,826.  Like any other coaching niche, some factors may affect the special needs life coach salary, such as geographical location, skills, education, certification, years of experience.

Let us take a look at the common ones:

1. Geographical Location – Your  location affects your salary. The area you live in may affect life coaching rates for your niche. Coaches in cities and regions with a steeper cost of living may charge more exorbitant rates than those in smaller towns and areas with a lower cost of living.
2. Training/Education – In addition to coaching certification, several organizations that hire these coaching professionals typically request a Bachelor’s in Business, Rehabilitation, Special Education, or a related field.
3. Experience – Life coaches do charge different fees partly due to their level of expertise in the area. Two years or more years of work experience assisting people with disabilities in the community or a relevant field may be required.
4. Alternate streams of income ( i.e coaching packages, writing books and articles for blog sites).

Life Coaching is one of the fastest-growing and most rewarding career paths today. Suppose you’re considering coaching as a profession. Why not think about becoming a special needs life coach, especially if you are passionate about working with families and children. The special needs life coach salary may not be a six-figure salary, but with alternate income streams, it may just become a financially rewarding profession for you.

To learn more about how to generate an endless wave of high paying coaching clients, get your FREE Instant Access to our “ Life Coaching Business Blueprint” video toolkit when you go HERE.

Margaret K. Olubiyi
Life Coach
Writer, Coaches Training Blog community