Fitness Trainers and Instructors
Career, Salary and Education Information
What They Do: Fitness trainers and instructors lead, instruct, and motivate individuals or groups in exercise activities.
Work Environment: Fitness trainers and instructors work in facilities such as health clubs, fitness or recreation centers, gyms, and yoga and Pilates studios. They may work nights, weekends, or holidays.
How to Become One: The education and training required for fitness trainers and instructors varies by type of specialty, and employers prefer to hire those with certification.
Salary: The median annual wage for fitness trainers and instructors is $40,700.
Job Outlook: Employment of fitness trainers and instructors is projected to grow 19 percent over the next ten years, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Related Careers: Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of fitness trainers and instructors with similar occupations.
Following is everything you need to know about a career as a fitness trainer or instructor with lots of details. As a first step, take a look at some of the following jobs, which are real jobs with real employers. You will be able to see the very real job career requirements for employers who are actively hiring. The link will open in a new tab so that you can come back to this page to continue reading about the career:
Top 3 Personal Trainer Jobs
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Certified Personal Trainer
- Live Fit Gym - Hayes Valley, Inc.
- San Francisco, CA
Personal trainer Live Fit Gym fitness Personal Trainers provide individualized programming and instruction to each client to achieve the member's health, fitness, and wellness goals. At the same time ...
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Personal Trainer, Marina Del Rey
- Equinox
- Hawthorne, CA
Job Description As an Equinox personal trainer your career becomes an empowered lifestyle founded on maximizing both your personal and client performance. Under the guidance of two dedicated managers ...
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Private Trainer
- 10 Fitness
- Conway, AR
PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE JOB DESCRIPTION AND EXPECTATIONS BEFORE CONTINUING Personal Trainer Job Description 10 Fitness Personal Trainers are expected to uphold and deliver the 10 Fitness member ...
What Fitness Trainers and Instructors Do[About this section] [To Top]
Fitness trainers and instructors lead, instruct, and motivate individuals or groups in exercise activities, including cardiovascular exercises (exercises for the heart and blood circulation), strength training, and stretching. They work with people of all ages and skill levels.
Duties of Fitness Trainers and Instructors
Fitness trainers and instructors typically do the following:
- Demonstrate or explain how to perform various exercises and routines to minimize injuries and improve fitness
- Watch clients do exercises to ensure that they are using the correct techniques
- Provide alternative exercises during workouts or classes for different levels of fitness and skill
- Monitor clients' progress and adapt programs as needed
- Explain and enforce safety rules and regulations on sports, recreational activities, and the use of exercise equipment
- Give clients information or resources about nutrition, weight control, and lifestyle issues
- Give emergency first aid if needed
Both group fitness instructors and specialized fitness instructors plan or choreograph their own classes. Classes may include cardiovascular exercises, such as aerobics or dance; strength training, such as lifting weights; or both. Instructors choose music that is appropriate for their exercise class and create a routine or a set of moves for participants to follow. Some may teach prechoreographed routines that were originally created by fitness companies or other organizations.
Personal fitness trainers design and carry out workout routines specific to the needs of their clients. They may work with individual clients or teach group classes. In larger facilities, personal trainers often sell their training sessions to gym members. They start by evaluating their clients' current fitness level, personal goals, and skills. Then, they develop personalized training programs for their clients to follow, and they monitor the clients' progress.
Fitness trainers and instructors in smaller facilities often do a variety of tasks in addition to their fitness duties, such as tending the front desk, signing up new members, giving tours of the facility, or supervising the weight-training and cardiovascular equipment areas. Fitness trainers and instructors also may promote their facilities and instruction by various means, such as through social media, by writing newsletters or blog articles, or by creating posters and flyers.
Gyms and other types of health clubs offer many different activities for clients. However, trainers and instructors frequently specialize in only a few areas. The following are examples of types of fitness trainers and instructors:
Personal fitness trainers work with an individual client or a small group. They may train in a gym or in clients' homes. Personal fitness trainers assess the client's level of physical fitness and help them set and reach their fitness goals.
Group fitness instructors organize and lead group exercise classes, which can include aerobic exercises, stretching, or muscle conditioning. Some classes are set to music. In these classes, instructors may select the music and choreograph an exercise sequence. They may lead classes that use specific exercise equipment, such as stationary bicycles.
Specialized fitness instructors teach popular conditioning methods, such as Pilates or yoga. In these classes, instructors show the different moves and positions of the particular method. They also watch students and correct those who are doing the exercises improperly.
Fitness directors oversee the fitness-related aspects of a gym or other type of health club. They often handle administrative duties, such as scheduling personal training sessions for clients and creating workout incentive programs. They may select and order fitness equipment for their facility.
Work Environment for Fitness Trainers and Instructors[About this section] [To Top]
Fitness trainers and instructors hold about 306,400 jobs. The largest employers of fitness trainers and instructors are as follows:
| Fitness and recreational sports centers | 52% |
| Self-employed workers | 22% |
| Educational services; state, local, and private | 7% |
| Civic and social organizations | 6% |
| Government | 4% |
Fitness trainers and instructors may work in standalone fitness centers or centers maintained by other types of establishments for their employees or for members of civic and social organizations. Some work in clients' homes.
Fitness Trainer and Instructor Work Schedules
Many fitness trainers and instructors work variable or part-time schedules that may include nights, weekends, or holidays. Some travel to different gyms or to clients' homes to teach classes or conduct personal training sessions. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors sometimes hold jobs in other fields and conduct training sessions or teach fitness classes at times that accommodate their work schedules.
How to Become a Fitness Trainer or Instructor[About this section] [To Top]
Get the education you need: Find schools for Fitness Trainers and Instructors near you!
The education and training required for fitness trainers and instructors varies by type of specialty, and employers prefer to hire those with certification. Personal fitness trainers, group fitness instructors, and specialized fitness instructors each need different preparation. Requirements also vary by facility.
Education for Fitness Trainers and Instructors
Almost all trainers and instructors have at least a high school diploma before entering the occupation. An increasing number of employers are requiring fitness workers, particularly personal trainers, to have an associate's or bachelor's degree related to a health or fitness field, such as exercise science, kinesiology, or physical education. Programs often include courses in nutrition, exercise techniques, biology, anatomy, and group fitness. Personal trainers also learn how to develop fitness programs for clients of all ages.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations for Fitness Trainers and Instructors
Employers prefer to hire fitness trainers and instructors who are certified. Many personal trainers must be certified before they begin working with clients or with members of a gym or other type of health club. Group fitness instructors can begin work without certification, but employers often encourage or require them to become certified. Most specialized fitness instructors receive certification for their preferred type of training, such as yoga or Pilates.
Many organizations offer certification. The National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), part of the Institute for Credentialing Excellence, lists certifying organizations that are accredited.
All certification exams have a written part, and some also have a practical part. The exams measure the candidate's knowledge of human physiology, understanding of proper exercise techniques, and ability to assess clients' fitness levels and develop appropriate exercise programs. Many certifying organizations offer study materials to prepare for the exam, including books, webinars, other audio and visual materials, and exam preparation workshops and seminars.
Most trainers or instructors need certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillators (AED) before applying for certification in physical fitness.
Fitness Trainer and Instructor Training
After becoming a certified personal trainer, new trainers typically work alongside an experienced trainer before they are allowed to train clients alone.
Training for specialized fitness instructors can vary greatly. For example, the duration of programs for yoga instructors can range from a few days to more than 2 years. The Yoga Alliance offers several credentials that require a minimum of between 200 and 500 hours, with a specified number of hours in techniques, teaching methods, anatomy, physiology, philosophy, and other areas.
Important Qualities for Fitness Trainers and Instructors
Customer-service skills. Many fitness trainers and instructors must sell their services, motivating clients to hire them as personal trainers or to sign up for the classes they lead. Fitness trainers and instructors must therefore be polite, friendly, and encouraging, to maintain relationships with their clients.
Communication skills. Fitness trainers and instructors must clearly explain or demonstrate exercises to clients.
Listening skills. Fitness trainers and instructors must listen carefully to what clients tell them in order to determine the clients' fitness levels and desired fitness goals.
Motivational skills. Getting fit and staying fit takes a lot of work for many clients. To keep clients coming back for more classes or to continue personal training, fitness trainers and instructors must keep their clients motivated.
Physical fitness. Fitness trainers and instructors need to be physically fit because their job requires a considerable amount of exercise. Group instructors often participate in classes, and personal trainers often need to demonstrate exercises to their clients.
Problem-solving skills. Fitness trainers and instructors must evaluate each client's level of fitness and create an appropriate fitness plan to meet the client's individual needs.
Advancement for Fitness Trainers and Instructors
Fitness trainers and instructors who are interested in management positions should get a bachelor's degree in exercise science, physical education, kinesiology, or a related subject. Experience often is required in order for a trainer or instructor to advance to a management position in a health club or fitness center. Some organizations prefer a master's degree for certain positions.
Personal trainers may eventually advance to a head trainer position and become responsible for hiring and overseeing the personal training staff or for bringing in new personal training clients. Head trainers also are responsible for procuring athletic equipment, such as weights or fitness machines. Some fitness trainers and instructors go into business for themselves and open their own fitness centers.
Fitness Trainer and Instructor Salaries[About this section] [More salary/earnings info] [To Top]
The median annual wage for fitness trainers and instructors is $40,700. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $22,960, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $75,940.
The median annual wages for fitness trainers and instructors in the top industries in which they work are as follows:
| Fitness and recreational sports centers | $46,260 |
| Educational services; state, local, and private | $39,310 |
| Government | $38,840 |
| Civic and social organizations | $34,590 |
Many fitness trainers and instructors work variable or part-time schedules that may include nights, weekends, or holidays. Some travel to different gyms or to clients' homes to teach classes or conduct personal training sessions. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors sometimes hold jobs in other fields and conduct training sessions or teach fitness classes at times that accommodate their work schedules.
Job Outlook for Fitness Trainers and Instructors[About this section] [To Top]
Employment of fitness trainers and instructors is projected to grow 19 percent over the next ten years, much faster than the average for all occupations.
About 65,500 openings for fitness trainers and instructors are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Employment of Fitness Trainers and Instructors
As employers continue to recognize the benefits of health and fitness programs for their employees, incentives to join gyms or other types of health clubs are expected to increase the need for fitness trainers and instructors. For example, some organizations may open their own exercise facilities onsite to promote employee wellness.
Other employment growth will come from the continuing emphasis on exercise to combat obesity and encourage healthier lifestyles for people of all ages. In particular, the baby-boom generation should continue to remain active to help prevent injuries and illnesses associated with aging.
Participation in yoga and Pilates is expected to continue to increase, driven partly by older adults who want low-impact forms of exercise and relief from arthritis and other ailments.
| Occupational Title | Employment, 2021 | Projected Employment, 2031 | Change, 2021-31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percent | Numeric | |||
| Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors | 306,400 | 364,200 | 19 | 57,800 |
More Fitness Trainer and Instructor Information[About this section] [To Top]
For more information about fitness careers and about health and fitness programs in universities and other institutions, visit
American College of Sports Medicine
National Strength and Conditioning Association
For information about certifications for personal trainers and group fitness instructors, visit
National Academy of Sports Medicine
National Federation of Professional Trainers
National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), part of the Institute for Credentialing Excellence
US Registry of Exercise Professionals
National Council on Strength and Fitness
International Sports Sciences Association
For information about health clubs and sports clubs, visit
International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association
For information about yoga teacher certification and a list of registered schools, visit
A portion of the information on this page is used by permission of the U.S. Department of Labor.