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Gaming

You can make $50,000 a year as a video game coach

By
Laura Lorenzetti
Laura Lorenzetti
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By
Laura Lorenzetti
Laura Lorenzetti
Down Arrow Button Icon
July 29, 2015, 11:30 AM ET
200559157-020
Man and woman playing computer game, two men cheering, side viewPhotograph by Getty Images

As the world of e-sports heats up, and players battle for prize money that can reach into the millions, the activity has given rise to a field of coaches who want to cash in on training these keyboard-using champions.

An e-sport coach can make anywhere from $30,000 to $50,000 a year, which is pretty much in line with a minor league baseball coach, according to The Wall Street Journal.

One assistant coach of a group called Team Liquid, which competes in the “League of Legends” tournaments, told the paper he makes in the mid-$30,000s annually plus a performance bonus and health insurance. That’s not too shabby when you consider that the annual income for all coaches and scouts in 2012 was $28,360, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Coaches get paid good money primarily because their players have the potential to pull in large payouts, ranging between $35,000 and $120,000 a year depending on how good they are, and which games they play. The annual income doesn’t include the additional team winnings and benefits.

Read more about the world of e-sports at The Wall Street Journal.

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By Laura Lorenzetti
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