Getting a chess coach

I was considering getting a chess coach since i feel like i have reached the highest i can get playing and studying on my own. I wanted to know if having some lessons make a big difference, or if i just need to put in more work with the books and game analysis. 

I would continue to study. Get a solid foundation and find a chess coach later. This way when you begin, you coach should be able to build on that foundation more easily. I think you would be surprised at how much accumulated knowledge you already have but just don't know how to use. If you keep building on that (think of a sponge) then you should get more out of a coach.

Much of the above is just a theory I have recently been mulling over...but I believe it may be close to the truth.

Alternatively go ahead and get a coach. My theory may well be incorrect and if you are willing to put in the work and be under someone then you could potentially get a lot out of it.

The first step to building that foundation once you are around 1400 (you have the basics of development and tactics), is getting a fundamental knoweldge of imbalances and piece function. (granted, once you are able to break positions down with imbalances, it can still be challenging to find the right moves. I struggle finding the right moves :P). 

That's where something like this comes in:

http://www.youtube.com/user/TigerLilov

Check out Valerie Lilov's channel which has many terrific videos which introduce concepts which make, sense, but you never really new. 

Also, tactics, tactics, and more tactics (chesstempo.com considering you're not a premium member). My rating on chesstempo.com has always gravitated near my chess standard rating (It's recently been lagging behind about 100 points. Guess what I'm getting burned for in games, tactics :P) . Many of your games probably having winning combinations your not seeing. 

I know I'm only 1500 rating in standard chess, but it's the above things that got me a clear shot from 1400-1500, and I expect it'll cut my work out from 1500 to 1600.

Getting a chess coach is the best way for chess improvement. I'm glad you can afford it. Expect a big improvement after half a year. 

yea i have been looking into coaches in my local area. They seem to range anywhere from $50 an hour, up into the hundreds. i think i would only be able to afford 1 or maybe 2 lessons a month. There is a GM in my area, but his hourly rate is more than i can afford. I think i could learn a lot, but i want to be able to have many lessons, not just one every once in a good while because i cant afford it

You don't need a GM for a coach. A 2000 Fide rating can teach you all the tricks of the chess game. If you cannot afford at least a weekly lessons, better to continue with your self study. 2 weeks gap between lessons is too long IMO.

every time that i go to my chess coach i get various new ideas and when i sit down to play later am able to play well. but sooner or later i return to my old pattern of playing. recently i have started reading books and have figured out that that is the best way for self improvement other than coaching. coaching is a great way to expand your horizons but be prepared to follow up and do the exercises they give you.

also you might feel that you need lessons once every week initially but after a while you will realize that once in two weeks is ideal. its just like practicing guitar. its about absorbing information and it takes time. no point in getting too many lectures if the pervious lectures are still not assimilated properly.

also, remember that your coach will generally have a playing style of his own and will inevitably cast you in his mould. this is of course not a concern at your level since the tactics and postional stuff are the same. for example, my coach is a die hard e4 player and plays grunfeld against d4. i personally find d4 to be better but i learn a lot from him. also as black i prefer the king's indian. where i really feel that i gain a lot from him is the middlegame and endgame as well as general opening principles and exploiting lead in development etc.. he has also given me many very interesting lectures on the french and the bg5 sicilian both of which have become my favorite openings. my earlier, and inferior, coach used to play the english attack against the najdorf which i had also started playing but now i have switched to the Bg5 line.