Surf coaching is the most visible job in any wave pool. Coaches run learn-to-surf slots on beginner settings, then step up to intermediate and advanced sessions where the work shifts from balance and timing to rail work, pump lines, and reading a machine-made wave that repeats to the centimetre. A typical shift mixes water time, board and wetsuit fitting, tank briefings, and a lot of video review. Most parks want a recognised teaching credential such as ISA Level 1 or 2, Surfing Australia, or Surf England coaching accreditation, plus current CPR and first aid. Lifeguard certification is a strong advantage because coaches are usually the second set of eyes in the water. Pay in the United States and Australia commonly runs from roughly $22 to $35 an hour for coaching staff, with head coaches on salaries in the $55,000 to $80,000 range. European parks tend to pay a lower base with longer seasons. The career path is well worn: seasonal coach, senior coach, head coach, then surf operations manager or programme director. Coaching a repeatable wave is also the fastest way to learn how a pool actually works, which is why a large share of wave pool managers started on the beach with a whistle and a soft-top.