What should a coach cost you? Run your numbers.

Why coaches won't tell you these numbers

Quote-after-a-call lets a coach price by the budget you reveal. That's the industry default, and it's why the same PCC coach charges one client 300 USD and another 550 USD for the same hour. The ranges in this calculator come from published market data, so you walk into the first call knowing the number before they ask about your budget.

Three things move the price and one thing doesn't. Credentials roughly double the rate at each ICF step. Your seniority moves it: a VP pays more than an EM for the same coach. Geography halves it: CEE runs at about half of US rates. What doesn't move it: the actual quality of advice for your specific problem. That correlates with whether the coach has lived your role, and the certificate is silent on that.

Five red flags before you pay anyone

• A rate far under the fair band for the seniority they claim. A 90 USD "executive coach" is a different product wearing the label.
• No published pricing anywhere. You should not need a discovery call to learn a number.
• Prepay pressure: 6 to 12 months upfront, before a single session together.
• No specifics. "I work with leaders at top companies" and no names, roles, or outcomes.
• No cheap way to test the fit. Serious coaches offer a free or low-cost intro session.

Go deeper

The full 2026 rate breakdown with the sources behind this calculator: what executive coaching costs. Leading engineers specifically? The engineering manager coach cost page has the real numbers. Not sure whether you need a coach or a mentor: the comparison is here. Want the company to pay? The ROI formula and a forwardable email.