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The differences between class instructors and personal 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 class instructor and a personal trainer. Additionally, a class instructor has an average salary of $37,717, which is higher than the $37,214 average annual salary of a personal trainer.
The top three skills for a class instructor include CPR, customer service and yoga. The most important skills for a personal trainer are CPR, customer service, and resuscitation.
| Class Instructor | Personal Trainer | |
| Yearly salary | $37,717 | $37,214 |
| Hourly rate | $18.13 | $17.89 |
| Growth rate | 19% | 19% |
| Number of jobs | 52,349 | 34,023 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
Class instructors are teachers who apply to teach hands-on skills. The instructors are tasked with the preparation and delivery of lesson plans and other instructional materials for active learning. They manage student behavior in the classroom by establishing academic rules and procedures. They maintain discipline following the disciplinary systems of the school. These instructors must have the ability to communicate effectively in writing and orally, report to work on a regular and punctual basis, and meet professional instructor's education requirements of the district, school, and state.
A personal trainer is responsible for monitoring the client's fitness goals by assisting the client with specific and customized routines and exercises to promote healthy well-being. Duties of a personal trainer also include evaluating the client's fitness progress, creating safe programs to improve the client's stamina, educating the client with workout benefits, suggesting on a client's best nutrition plans, and motivating clients with their capabilities. A personal trainer should have excellent knowledge of the fitness industry to support the client's needs.
Class instructors and personal trainers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Class Instructor | Personal Trainer | |
| Average salary | $37,717 | $37,214 |
| Salary range | Between $23,000 And $60,000 | Between $26,000 And $53,000 |
| Highest paying City | Long Beach, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Rutgers University | AEA Investors |
| Best paying industry | Education | Retail |
There are a few differences between a class instructor and a personal trainer in terms of educational background:
| Class Instructor | Personal Trainer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Most common major | Business | Kinesiology |
| Most common college | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Here are the differences between class instructors' and personal trainers' demographics:
| Class Instructor | Personal Trainer | |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 42.8% Female, 57.2% | Male, 63.3% Female, 36.7% |
| 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% |