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The differences between certified personal trainers and fitness trainers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a certified personal trainer and a fitness trainer. Additionally, a certified personal trainer has an average salary of $32,039, which is higher than the $28,702 average annual salary of a fitness trainer.
The top three skills for a certified personal trainer include CPR, customer service and injury prevention. The most important skills for a fitness trainer are customer service, front desk, and CPR.
| Certified Personal Trainer | Fitness Trainer | |
| Yearly salary | $32,039 | $28,702 |
| Hourly rate | $15.40 | $13.80 |
| Growth rate | 19% | 19% |
| Number of jobs | 65,615 | 23,881 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A Certified Personal Trainer is a person who will guide, help, and motivate you to move forward and become successful. Anyone with a mastery of a specific subject can become a personal trainer; however, certification is given only by accredited organizations that can offer licensure or certification programs. Many hope to find their own certified personal trainer in this hectic and convoluted society to accompany them through thick and thin in life.
The job of a fitness trainer is to instruct and motivate individuals and groups in physical activities, including stretching, cardiovascular exercise, and strength training. The typical duties of a fitness trainer include demonstrating how to perform various exercises, guiding them during the exercise to improve fitness and minimize injuries, and monitoring their progress. As a fitness trainer, you are also responsible for explaining and enforcing safety rules on exercise equipment usage, recreational activities, and sports, and giving clients resources and information about weight control, lifestyle issues, and nutrition.
Certified personal trainers and fitness trainers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Certified Personal Trainer | Fitness Trainer | |
| Average salary | $32,039 | $28,702 |
| Salary range | Between $21,000 And $47,000 | Between $19,000 And $41,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | City and County of Denver Government | Kohler Co. |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Hospitality |
There are a few differences between a certified personal trainer and a fitness trainer in terms of educational background:
| Certified Personal Trainer | Fitness Trainer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Most common major | Kinesiology | Kinesiology |
| Most common college | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Here are the differences between certified personal trainers' and fitness trainers' demographics:
| Certified Personal Trainer | Fitness Trainer | |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 53.5% Female, 46.5% | Male, 59.8% Female, 40.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.1% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 10.6% Asian, 5.1% White, 71.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 7.1% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 10.6% Asian, 5.1% White, 71.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 13% | 13% |